Flacco fumble v Steelers

[Gaiters97]

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?

[Atlanta Blue]

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." 

[APG]

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.