Ravens @ Bengals

[SurhoffRules]

Ugggh, inches...

[rolliefingers]

Juuuuuuust short...

[MikeAD]

We can't lose the game like this...we need to get in.

[Sports Guy]

Give it to the fullback.

[Hank Scorpio]

Naked boot

[Tank]

Nah, the one in the endzone. He under threw it, almost got picked.

[MChance]

I'm nervous in the service.

[ChaosLex]

Man, talk about a nailbiter.

[MChance]

HEAP! Nooooooooooooo!

[Hank Scorpio]

What a horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible call.

[The Wedge]

WHAT??

We just got robbed boys.

[ixcuincle]

Is He In?

Offensive Pass Interference My Butt!!!!!!!

Wtf

[Tank]

Whaaaaaaaaat!?

[Sports Guy]

OMG! Offensive PI!

That's a horrible call.

[MChance]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! Cinci messed up now!

[Tank]

Make up call? YESSSSSSS!

[FourRunJack]

Make up call

[Sports Guy]

Defensive hold!!!

Good job by Boller just to get it up in the air!

[ixcuincle]

If the Ravens lose on that robbery I will be irate. Boller to Pass fires INCOMPLETE BUT THE FLAG

Holding defense keeps the Ravens alive...because if they didn't drop that flag I'd riot.

[AgentOrange]

worst call I have ever seen.

[The Wedge]

Cheese and rice, if we lose this game, Billick's PC is gonna be epic...

[rolliefingers]

AWFUL call. Terrible terrible terrible.

Also, wow. Zebras need to let the players play.

[paulcoates]

that is a total dogsh|t call

[BaltimoreTerp]

Gotta love make-up calls by moronic referees.

[Hank Scorpio]

That might have been the worst call I've ever seen, agreed. That was terrible and inexcusable.

[AgentOrange]

Thank you M Williams. My boy the terp!

[paulcoates]

just give it to McGahee

[MikeAD]

Its a make up call yes...but it doesn't give us a TD...we had better not mess this up.

[square634]

Believe it or not, this could be advantageous for us by giving the Bengals less time. If we can score that is...

[FourRunJack]

The refs really screwed the end of this game. The really screwed cinci now the Ravens have 4 more shots

[paulcoates]

Gotta love make-up calls by moronic referees.

that wasn't a makeup call. He had a solid grab on Williams. Granted, terrible call in the first place

[rolliefingers]

Damn right that was a makeup call. Zebras just subtracted six points, it's the least they can do.

[Hank Scorpio]

Really like what I'm seeing from Marshall Yanda.

[FourRunJack]

You know Williams pushed off more than Heap did.

[Hank Scorpio]

Too much throwing......

[ixcuincle]

INTERCEPTED?

No...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[The Wedge]

DAMNIT.

Too much zip, Kyle. Too much zip.

What a freaking heartbreaker.

[Tank]

Game over...

F you refs.... f you.

[Sports Guy]

Damn it!!!

How are we not just running the ball down there????

[Hank Scorpio]

Billick lost this game, IMO. You have to run the F'ING BALL.

[paulcoates]

thisis Billick's fault.

He should have run McGahee

[rolliefingers]

Heap, Heap, Heap. Good god, man.

[MChance]

[ Expletive, expletive, expletive! ]

:(

[BaltimoreTerp]

Nice catch, Heap.

[Sports Guy]

Game over...

F you refs.... f you.

Yep...Heap scored and it got taken back.

[rolliefingers]

No doubt they should have run there, though.

[AgentOrange]

Threw that a tad too hard.

[FourRunJack]

DAMNIT.

Too much zip, Kyle. Too much zip.

What a freaking heartbreaker.

Kyle just shouldn't have thrown it there.

[square634]

Terrible loss, especially because I think we outplayed them aside from the turnovers.

[Tank]

Heap flat out dropped it. The refs really screwed us tonight.

[Sports Guy]

Billick lost this game, IMO. You have to run the F'ING BALL.

Yep....Not running the ball there was terrible.

[BaltBird 24]

That one hurts. A game we should have won.

Can we see more Boller, please?

[Fist Bump]

Ughh the Refs really blew this game. They cheated us of an overtime.

[ChaosLex]

Heap flat out dropped it. The refs really screwed us tonight.

Yeah, I don't understand how anyone can blame Boller for that.

[Tank]

No doubt they should have run there, though.

Agreed. I would have ran the ball 4 times.

[AgentOrange]

Come on, all of the boller lovers blame heap. How predictable. He threw it too hard, be real.

[Why Not?]

Maybe it's not just the NBA referees that are betting on games?

[The Wedge]

Kyle just shouldn't have thrown it there.

Granted. But he also threw right there, just too hard. Heaps got good hands, but he's not god.

Between the bad play calling at the end, the ****ty refereeing that screwed us out of 7, the TO nightmare, and McNair looking like he should have hung the cleats up...this was one heartbreaking game.

[Hank Scorpio]

Threw that a tad too hard.

Phew..

Tough crowd.

That ball hit right between the 8 and the 6. Point is, they shouldn't even have had to make that play. We should have scored a touchdown on the first pass to Heap.

This is about as painful as a loss can feel.

[BaltBird 24]

I'm not sure how you can't run the ball in that situation. You got the big horse at RB now, you are 2 yards out....... you have to go to for that on the ground.

[BaltimoreTerp]

What a horrible game.

Too many turnovers. Kept the bad QB in too long. Then the refs screw us over.

EVERYONE should be embarrassed: the Ravens, the Bengals, and the refs.

[birdsfan4ever]

Kyle just shouldn't have thrown it there.

Yeah you dont want to hit your receiver between the numbers in the endzone :rolleyes:

[NewMarketSean]

Worst game calling I've ever seen in my lifetime. Numerous 3rd and shorts and we're passing the ball. I can't believe I am saying this but despite the 6 TO's, the blown call by the ref on Heap in the endzone, Billick lost this game with his pass-happy playcalling. What an emotionally draining loss this was.

[Tank]

Come on, all of the boller lovers blame heap. How predictable. He threw it too hard, be real.

Well, I mean Heap did drop it. It hit him in the chest. I'd rather Boller threw the ball too hard than not hard enough.

[AgentOrange]

Yeah, I don't understand how anyone can blame Boller for that.

Come on people, it wasn't a good play to be sure, but he threw the ball too damn hard and Heap didn't catch it.

That is how it goes. No one is to blame, per se. But it is just as much boller's fault as it is heap's.

[ixcuincle]

I can't help but wonder what would happen had they ran it in on a fullback play on 4th and inches , or the QB sneak. We'd probably be playing in OT right now?

[NewMarketSean]

Come on, all of the boller lovers blame heap. How predictable. He threw it too hard, be real.

You're kidding me, right?

[Hank Scorpio]

Ugh, McNine looked terrible today.

[BaltBird 24]

I wouldn't have minded the pass happy play calling had we been using Boller, but trying to open up the passing game with McNair is a terrible idea.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Come on, all of the boller lovers blame heap. How predictable. He threw it too hard, be real.

Bull.

Heap SHOULD make that catch. He HAS made that catch, how many times in the past?

I love how YOU are quick to jump on Boller, though, despite the godawful play from McNair. He looked like Trent Dilfer in comparison.

[ChaosLex]

Yeah you dont want to hit your receiver between the numbers in the endzone :rolleyes:

Yeah, this is unreal. Boller DID his job.

[AgentOrange]

Phew..

Tough crowd.

That ball hit right between the 8 and the 6. Point is, they shouldn't even have had to make that play. We should have scored a touchdown on the first pass to Heap.

This is about as painful as a loss can feel.

Well just open your eyes and you can see he threw the thing too hard. HE played his ass off considering the situation he was in.

Just don't miss the small things though. Both are to blame. It should have been a run, but thats another thread.

[geschinger]

Come on people, it wasn't a good play to be sure, but he threw the ball too damn hard and Heap didn't catch it.

That is how it goes. No one is to blame, per se. But it is just as much boller's fault as it is heap's.

You gotta put some giddy up on a pass to get it into a small window like he had. That's a catch Heap has to make and will make in the future.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Come on people, it wasn't a good play to be sure, but he threw the ball too damn hard and Heap didn't catch it.

That is how it goes. No one is to blame, per se. But it is just as much boller's fault as it is heap's.

Fine, but you're jumping on people for complaining about a catch that Heap always makes.

[NewMarketSean]

Well just open your eyes and you can see he threw the thing too hard. HE played his ass off considering the situation he was in.

Just don't miss the small things though. Both are to blame. It should have been a run, but thats another thread.
Now Boller throws too hard. LOL. That kid can't win with some of you. Had he thrown it a little softer it would have been batted down before it even hit Heap between the numbers.

[Elbren]

DAMNIT.

Too much zip, Kyle. Too much zip.

What a freaking heartbreaker.

ugh ... typical Boller. Underthrown pass in the endzone, overthrown pass to 37 (whatever his name is) and a heartbreaking INT to end it. Really didn't like him before this year, most definitely didn't like him after hearing about his extension and F'in' hating right now.

As for Heap, I was pissed until that last replay they showed. Looked like the ball was tipped at the line; sailed up a bit on him. Don't even know who to hate on that one .... just don't understand why you're not running the ball when you're that close.

[Camden_yardbird]

Look at it this way.

McNair looked like crap, and then left with an injury
Ogden was out half the game
The offense turned it over 6 times
BJ Sams is out with some unknown injury
Lewis played the entire game with a season ending injury, and his backup is out
The refs called the game for the home team, or their bookies
We faced a really good team at home


And yet we only lost by 7. This team needs to get a lot of stuff straight, but if they do they will be much better.

[Hank Scorpio]

You gotta put some giddy up on a pass to get it into a small window like he had. That's a catch Heap has to make and will make in the future.

Yup...

But even more frustrating is the horrible offensive interference call on the touchdown.

[AgentOrange]

You gotta put some giddy up on a pass to get it into a small window like he had. That's a catch Heap has to make and will make in the future.

Like I said, it should have been caught. But I still don't like the throw or the zip it had. This isn't the first time in Boller's tenure he has thrown the ball way too hard.

Tough situation any way you slice it. He did short arm the one pass so I understand why he did put extra on it.

[glenn__davis]

I don't have a dog in this fight, obviously, but how can you blame Boller for throwing the ball "too hard" when there were about 3 defenders around Heap? Isn't that his job? Heap needs to catch that ball.

[Fist Bump]

Both Heap and Boller got the job done BUT the ref made a bogus call.

[FourRunJack]

Yeah you dont want to hit your receiver between the numbers in the endzone :rolleyes:

Watch the replay, he's blanketed by two defenders:rolleyes:

[AgentOrange]

Now Boller throws too hard. LOL. That kid can't win with some of you. Had he thrown it a little softer it would have been batted down before it even hit Heap between the numbers.

Open your damn eyes sean. I gave the kid his props. I was just commenting on the play. NEver did I once say he didn't play his ass off. He did a great job when he was called upon, in a tough situation. I don't hate on boller but people come to his defense a little too much, this is not one of those times but just as bad as people get on him, people back him.

[Hank Scorpio]

ugh ... typical Boller. Underthrown pass in the endzone, overthrown pass to 37 (whatever his name is) and a heartbreaking INT to end it. Really didn't like him before this year, most definitely didn't like him after hearing about his extension and F'in' hating right now.

Phew... you guys are tough on our best quarterback.

[square634]

Look at it this way.

McNair looked like crap, and then left with an injury
Ogden was out half the game
The offense turned it over 6 times
BJ Sams is out with some unknown injury
Lewis played the entire game with a season ending injury, and his backup is out
The refs called the game for the home team, or their bookies
We faced a really good team at home


And yet we only lost by 7. This team needs to get a lot of stuff straight, but if they do they will be much better.

It is tough to look at it that rationally after such a devastating loss, but you're right. The problem is, last year's team found ways to win games, whereas in past years we have sometimes found ways to lose them. I hope this isn't the start of a pattern going back toward finding ways to lose.

[ChaosLex]

And yet we only lost by 7.

That won't stop T.J. Houshmandzadeh from walking around, pounding his chest and telling us how much we stink. Man, I can't stand that jerk.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Consider me converted.

Boller 4 QB.

I am burining my McNair jersey and I think that Billick's play-calling at the end of this game was nauseating.

[ChaosLex]

Now Boller throws too hard. LOL. That kid can't win with some of you. Had he thrown it a little softer it would have been batted down before it even hit Heap between the numbers.

While I certainly don't hope McNair's injury is serious, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of Boller next week.

[FourRunJack]

It is only the first game, and on the road. I think they will still go to the playoffs

[AgentOrange]

Fine, but you're jumping on people for complaining about a catch that Heap always makes.

I am jumping on the people that think its all Heaps fault.

[geschinger]

That won't stop T.J. Houshmandzadeh from walking around, pounding his chest and telling us how much we stink. Man, I can't stand that jerk.

Cincy has nothing to pound their chests about. They played poorly tonight and it seemed like a contest of whom could give more away to the opponent.

[Camden_yardbird]

I don't think you can put any of the blame for this loss on Boller. He played well. Not running it for 4 plays when you are on the 5...throwing 15 yards on 3 and 1...fumbling the ball several times...

Boller is way behind the play calling, and the offensive execution in getting blamed for this loss.

[AgentOrange]

Cincy has nothing to pound their chests about. They played poorly tonight and it seemed like a contest of whom could give more away to the opponent.


Well Gesch, your prediction was true. The score may have been a little off, but not by much. I had a feeling it would go down that way.

[ChaosLex]

Cincy has nothing to pound their chests about. They played poorly tonight and it seemed like a contest of whom could give more away to the opponent.

Agreed. However, that won't stop T.J. Doesn't he always call us (and the Steelers) lucky when we beat the Bengals?

[Tank]

I am jumping on the people that think its all Heaps fault.

I can't really blame anyone after that blown call. If I was on that field, I would have been so pissed I wouldn't be able to think straight. But the number one culprit after the ref has to be the play call.

[Elbren]

Phew... you guys are tough on our best quarterback.

What?? I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that. Yeah, McNair looked terrible most of the game but he was playing through a groin problem through most of the game. I'll admit, he definitely gave his all out there today, but I'm just not sure what else people are expecting from him. He showed today pretty much what he's showed his entire time here. He plays hard, but he gives just enough for it to not be enough.

I don't think he's a terrible QB, just not a starting QB.

[AgentOrange]

I can't really blame anyone after that blown call. If I was on that field, I would have been so pissed I wouldn't be able to think straight. But the number one culprit after the ref has to be the play call.

True, we tied that game. It is ashame, but we have to come out swinging next week.

I hope our guys aren't too hurt...

[bernie132000]

I had work, so I just saw the first quarter and the last 2 minutes. My observations:
D. Williams is amazing. Boller played well from what I saw. The throw to Heap in the endzone that was a TD, was a real good throw. That was the worst call. A cinci fan said it was a terrible call. The next play was a good call. Williams got held real bad, although that was a stupid play by Cinci, because if he catches it we still lose the ball. The last throw was really good. He can't throw it soft because it will get knocked down. Heap has to make that catch. Honestly, I expected to lose, as it was on the road, MNF and Cinci isn't bad. Lots of people said we would lose the game, but win the division. I still feel the same.

Apparently Ed Reed is still amazing. Best safety in the league. Top 5 defensive players in the league.

On a final note, any news on Ray? How can he play with a torn triceps?

[NewMarketSean]

What?? I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that. Yeah, McNair looked terrible most of the game but he was playing through a groin problem through most of the game. I'll admit, he definitely gave his all out there today, but I'm just not sure what else people are expecting from him. He showed today pretty much what he's showed his entire time here. He plays hard, but he gives just enough for it to not be enough.

I don't think he's a terrible QB, just not a starting QB.

Stats-wise there is little to no difference between McNair and Boller. McNair might look a little more poised in the pocket but he still makes dumb mistakes and fumbles, just like Boller does. I'm so tired of people acting like McNair is night and day better than Boller. Same results just different ways of getting there.

[Tank]

I want Boller to be our starting quarterback next week.

[NewMarketSean]

I can't really blame anyone after that blown call. If I was on that field, I would have been so pissed I wouldn't be able to think straight. But the number one culprit after the ref has to be the play call.
That guy should be fined and suspended. If there was any interference on that call it was defensive. Unbelievable.

[clapdiddy]

The thing I don't understand is why don't they roll Boller out once in a while. I know the guy is a little error prone, but roll him out quickly and throw that two yard TD pass. They just let him sit back there with all those big hands in the air, and when you throw the football like you're throwing a shot put, its tough to get the ball over the line sometimes.

When you have 6 turnovers, you deserve to lose.

[ChaosLex]

I want Boller to be our starting quarterback next week.

Me too. I guess it on all depends on how serious the injury is to McNair's groin.

[AgentOrange]

Stats-wise there is little to no difference between McNair and Boller. McNair might look a little more poised in the pocket but he still makes dumb mistakes and fumbles, just like Boller does. I'm so tired of people acting like McNair is night and day better than Boller. Same results just different ways of getting there.

After watching this game. I agree with you.

I wouldn't mind seeing Boller get an opportunity. I agree that the pros and cons are different between the two, but the results won't be too much different.

[clapdiddy]

That guy should be fined and suspended. If there was any interference on that call it was defensive. Unbelievable.
Absolutely. That was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. Especially at that point in the game.

[Sports Guy]

After watching this game. I agree with you.

I wouldn't mind seeing Boller get an opportunity. I agree that the pros and cons are different between the two, but the results won't be too much different.

No matter who the QB is, we will still win with the running game, defense and ST.

It all comes down to limiting mistakes.

[geschinger]

That guy should be fined and suspended. If there was any interference on that call it was defensive. Unbelievable.

It happens... At least it was opening day w/a game next week and not in a playoff game that ends a season.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Stats-wise there is little to no difference between McNair and Boller. McNair might look a little more poised in the pocket but he still makes dumb mistakes and fumbles, just like Boller does. I'm so tired of people acting like McNair is night and day better than Boller. Same results just different ways of getting there.

Like I said in the play-calling thread, we need to make a choice right now.

We build our offense around the 2000 method, with the running game king and McNair managing the game with the occasional long pass when the other team isn't. Or, we go for the better offense, play Boller and suck up his mistakes. Neither is suited well for the other's strategy.

[NewMarketSean]

No matter who the QB is, we will still win with the running game, defense and ST.

It all comes down to limiting mistakes.

With Boller you can stretch the field more. Take more shots. I thought Billick would pass to set up the run and he did that to an extent but abandoned the run at the most crucial and obvious point in the game.

[birdystolle]

That was terrible call on what should have been a touchdown. There is no reason why those calls shouldn't be subject to review. Not every penalty should be reviewed but those that affect touchdowns or change of possession should in my opinion. Particularly one's as clearly wrong as this one.

But you can't honestly say the officials lost the game-ironically the way things worked out they actually gave the Ravens a better chance of winning-had the Ravens taken advantage of the second chance. And had the Ravens touchdown been called right- there's no reason to believe the Bengals couldn't have ended up winning either in regulation or in overtime


Ughh the Refs really blew this game. They cheated us of an overtime.

[ChaosLex]

Like I said in the play-calling thread, we need to make a choice right now.

We build our offense around the 2000 method, with the running game king and McNair managing the game with the occasional long pass when the other team isn't. Or, we go for the better offense, play Boller and suck up his mistakes. Neither is suited well for the other's strategy.

Personally, I prefer the latter. It'd be nice to open up the game some rather than depend solely on the run. Especially since a lot of the teams in our division protect so well against it.

[orioles119]

It happens... At least it was opening day w/a game next week and not in a playoff game that ends a season.
I hope you don't look back to this when the Ravens are tied with the Bengals at the end of the season for the division crown and home field in the balance.

[Hank Scorpio]

The thing I don't understand is why don't they roll Boller out once in a while. I know the guy is a little error prone, but roll him out quickly and throw that two yard TD pass. They just let him sit back there with all those big hands in the air, and when you throw the football like you're throwing a shot put, its tough to get the ball over the line sometimes.

When you have 6 turnovers, you deserve to lose.

What he said.

We were lucky to even be in the game at the end.

[Tank]

What he said.

We were lucky to even be in the game at the end.

That last one by McNair was a doozy. I was feeling pretty good up until that point.

[ChaosLex]

Come to think of it, didn't the game we won against the Bengals last year end with a questionable call? I seem to remember the Bengals thinking that there was defensive pass interference on a play, which the referees didn't call.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Personally, I prefer the latter. It'd be nice to open up the game some rather than depend solely on the run. Especially since a lot of the teams in our division protect so well against it.

I don't care which we do, as long as we realize that they can either go one way with one QB, or the other with the other QB.

McNair isn't a downfield QB, and Boller isn't a manager.

We have the ability to go either way with the players we have, but not both ways.

[Tank]

Come to think of it, didn't the game we won against the Bengals last year end with a questionable call? I seem to remember the Bengals thinking that there was defensive pass interference on a play, which the referees didn't call.

Yeah, I think it was #84 that was complaining. Shocking, I know.

[NewMarketSean]

Come to think of it, didn't the game we won against the Bengals last year end with a questionable call? I seem to remember the Bengals thinking that there was defensive pass interference on a play, which the referees didn't call.

Just TJ Houshmanzadeh thinking that there is no possible way anyone could be covering him without being flagged for it.

And it wasn't for a TD either.

This one was much worse.

[Hank Scorpio]

I'm not saying Boller is far and away better than McNair, because he's certainly not.

But I do believe that he gives us a better chance to win.

Here's what he does better :

Runs
Knows the playbook
Arm strength
Sells the playaction

Here's what he has not done better :

Inspire confidence in his teammates
Move subtley in the pocket
Decision making

[birdystolle]

Question for you people. Is there any legitimate reason why calls such as the one that denied the Ravens an apparent touchdown shouldn't be subject to review?

[Hank Scorpio]

Question for you people. Is there any legitimate reason why calls such as the one that denied the Ravens an apparent touchdown shouldn't be subject to review?

They are reviewed - each team submits a tape to the league for review of each officiating crew.

You're talking in game review? Doubt you'll ever see that.

[NewMarketSean]

Question for you people. Is there any legitimate reason why calls such as the one that denied the Ravens an apparent touchdown shouldn't be subject to review?

Because pass interference calls aren't subject for review for some reason. People have said they should be, and after tonight, I doubt you'll find a fan in Baltimore who would disagree.

Hopefully Godell will take a break from smacking down the thugs and make this rule change immediately.

[clapdiddy]

Because pass interference calls aren't subject for review for some reason. People have said they should be, and after tonight, I doubt you'll find a fan in Baltimore who would disagree.

Hopefully Godell will take a break from smacking down the thugs and make this rule change immediately.
Even though I don't blame this loss on the refs, I would agree with this whole-heartedly. That call was horrible, and its pretty bad when all three of the announcers say it...especially since it seemed they were pro-Cincy.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Personally, I think that any call should be subject to review, including penalties.

Someone might claim "delay of game", but that's why they only give two challenges (three if you win both).

Seriously, what's the point if the refs aren't accountable?

[Hank Scorpio]

These are judgement calls, one guy might see it a different way.

You'll never see this up for review. That opens up the biggest, most ridiculous can of worms that the NFL wants no part of.

[geschinger]

Personally, I think that any call should be subject to review, including penalties.

Someone might claim "delay of game", but that's why they only give two challenges (three if you win both).

Seriously, what's the point if the refs aren't accountable?

Never will happen although I do wish there had been a mechanism in place to challenge missed/blown calls back during the 2003 AFC Championship game.

[Mackus]

I think you have to put nearly all of the blame for trailing through the first 55 minutes squarely on the shoulders of Steve McNair. He played terribly. He had a couple interceptions that were flukey to be actually picked off (tipped passes) but were such horribly thrown balls anyway that the only reason they were even tipped is because our receivers made incredible plays to even get one hand on them.

I also think you have to put the blame for not tying the game late squarely on the shoulders of Brian Billick. Not running the ball after the gift holding penalty seemed ridiculous to me, and thats not just hindsight, ask any of my friends watching the game with me who had to bear with me at the time. I think Kyle Boller is a much better option at quarterback for the team than McNair (and today's performances back me up completely) but how you don't run McGahee at least two more times after picking up 4 yards to get to 2nd and goal from the 2 is absolutely mind bogglingling. Perhaps if we were strugging with the running game it would have made sense, but we pretty much dominated the line of scrimmage all game.

So its McNair's fault we were losing, and Billick's fault we couldn't tie it up. McNair is the main goat, because its still only 50/50 at best that we win in OT even if we do tie, but it was certainly a very debateable call by Billick to not run late in the game.

[birdystolle]

So are the calls currently covered by review judgement calls. You can't officially protest a game based on a judgement call--now matter how bad --only a misinterpretation of the rules and one of those is successful about once every 50 years. For your second reason for opposing it-- there's no more reason the worms will escape the can than there was with the current replay/review system as long as the rule allowing review of penalties be limited to a handful of plays each game


These are judgement calls, one guy might see it a different way.

You'll never see this up for review. That opens up the biggest, most ridiculous can of worms that the NFL wants no part of.

[geschinger]

So are the calls currently covered by review judgement calls. You can't officially protest a game based on a judgement call--now matter how bad --only a misinterpretation of the rules and one of those is successful about once every 50 years. For your second reason for opposing it-- there's no more reason the worms will escape the can than there was with the current replay/review system as long as the rule allowing review of penalties be limited to a handful of plays each game

Unless you are only going to allow review of called penalties any key 3rd/4th down would be reviewed. If you look hard enough you can find something that could be called on just about every play. And if you only allow review of called penalties what have you really acomplished when there are just as many obviously blown non-calls as there are blown calls?

[Birds of B'more]

At some point you just have to leave the game in the hands of the on-field officials and hope they get it right. That's not to say that NFL officiating couldn't use some improvement. Start by making NFL officials full-time NFL employees. The league is awash in cash, they can afford it.

[NewMarketSean]

These are judgement calls, one guy might see it a different way.

You'll never see this up for review. That opens up the biggest, most ridiculous can of worms that the NFL wants no part of.

Just wait until a crucial play is blown by a ref in the Super Bowl. I think that would be an even worse can of worms for the NFL.

They seriously need to address this one way or another.

[glenn__davis]

Just wait until a crucial play is blown by a ref in the Super Bowl. I think that would be an even worse can of worms for the NFL.

They seriously need to address this one way or another.

They have addressed it -- they emphatically will not review a judgment call.

And college football had the exact scenario you described a few years ago. Miami had actually won the title, only to have it taken away by a very late, very bogus interference call, and OSU went on to win. It was big news for a few days, but college football seems to have rebounded.

[NewMarketSean]

They have addressed it -- they emphatically will not review a judgment call.

Then they need to start suspending refs who blow calls late in the game that drastically affect the outcome.

[geschinger]

Just wait until a crucial play is blown by a ref in the Super Bowl. I think that would be an even worse can of worms for the NFL.

They seriously need to address this one way or another.

While not the Super Bowl officials blowing or missing obvious calls has happened in huge games in the past. What happened last night is hardly a unique occurrence and any kind of replay solution would likely make things worse.