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Football Officiating => National Football League => Topic started by: Gaiters97 on December 06, 2010, 05:38:41 PM

Title: Flacco fumble v Steelers
Post by: Gaiters97 on December 06, 2010, 05:38:41 PM
What a great game and the contest turned on 1 play really, when Polamalu hit Flacco and the ball came loose.

My immediate instinct was "fumble" and I would have made the same decision as the guys on the field. However, I was expecting a challenge given the state of the game. Also, looking at the trajectory of the ball and the way that it spun on its way to the ground, I started to question both the call and the non-challenge even more.

Looking at highlights on ESPN I'm inclined to say that the ruling should have been incomplete pass. Has anyone else reviewed the play further and formed a similar opinioin?
Title: Re: Flacco fumble v Steelers
Post by: Atlanta Blue on December 06, 2010, 08:21:16 PM
Flacco's arm was not going forward before the ball was knocked loose.  Clearly a fumble.

Why no challenge?  Because Harbaugh knew it was a fumble and didn't want to waste the TO he figured he would need later.  Even Flacco thought it was a fumble:  "I took three steps and raised my arm and was getting hit. It was pretty shocking." 

Title: Re: Flacco fumble v Steelers
Post by: APG on December 07, 2010, 01:33:24 AM
I didn't really look too close to me...looked like a clear cut fumble. it was a good job of not wasting a timeout on a challenge as you see too often.