Wildcard Weekend Game Thread

[Plympton91]

How many of us at least agree that not calling the PI, the facemask, or the jersey tug was preferable from an impartial fan perspective? In my opinion it's a better NFL when the borderline stuff isn't called, and in normal circumstances the no-call(s) there would have fallen comfortably within the "let them play in the playoffs" mantra. Personally I say let them play all the time, but I digress.
 
That said, once the penalty is announced changing it is inexcusable, doubly so when strict by the book application of the rules warrants the flag. 

I'm not really impartial, but I definitely agree with the sentiment. Nothing is more maddening to me when watching a game between two teams I don't really care about than an endless string of penalties. Just let them play unless it's obviously an unfair advantage.

I would add that interference or not, that ball was so badly underthrown that there's no way the receiver was going to catch it unless he was wide open and could hook back to it.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
True, but let's be fair to everything seen on replay. They should have called the jersey pull and the facemask, meaning the down was replayed.

 
Which would have been fine with me. So would Caldwell having the balls to go for it on 4th and 1, or their punter knowing how to kick

 

[Stitch01]

Meh, Id like to see fewer penalties but don't really have a problem with calling interference on that play.  The defender isn't playing the ball and extends the left arm and pushes the receiver before the ball arrives, its not like the defender was just faceguarding and the two players collide or something.  The calls where both players are playing the ball, there's contact, and the refs throw a flag are more problematic to me.  Id also liberalize the illegal contact rules, but that's another discussion. 

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

I'm not really impartial, but I definitely agree with the sentiment. Nothing is more maddening to me when watching a game between two teams I don't really care about than an endless string of penalties. Just let them play unless it's obviously an unfair advantage.
I would add that interference or not, that ball was so badly underthrown that there's no way the receiver was going to catch it unless he was wide open and could hook back to it.

It hit the defender in the back. Would have been perfect defense (holding on the the route aside) had he not made contact.

 

[soxhop411]

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

 
I must have missed the no-holding apology we received after the game which shall not be named.  Does holding ever get called on a play like that, specifically late in a playoff game?

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
I just watched the replay of this (you can see it here at about :21) and its hilariously blatant.  Suh beats Leary to the inside and is reaching out for Romo while Leary just holds him back with his arm and, ultimately, essentially tackles him at Romo's feet.  Holding gets missed all the time so its not surprising but that was an instance where there really was no question it was a penalty and where if the hold doesn't happen Suh has a free shot at Romo before he delivers the ball.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

TMQ comments on the 3rd-and-one "Phantom Phlag" play, which I will quote because I happen to agree with him:
 

Key issue: Was there pass interference? TMQ thinks no. Despite the popular misconception, NFL pass defenders do not need to turn to the ball -- face-guarding is legal in the pros. (It's not legal in NCAA or NFHS play; these kinds of confusions are one reason football rules should be simplified and standardized.) Boys linebacker Anthony Hitchens made contact with Lions receiver Brandon Pettigrew, but the contact seemed incidental. The NFL rule says that if there is any question about whether there was pass interference, then there was no interference -- and the debate regarding this play demonstrates there were questions.
 
Key fact about the play: Pettigrew was never open. Hitchens had him tightly covered all the way down the field. Defensive pass interference usually entails a desperate defender trying to prevent an open man from making the catch. Hitchens had Pettigrew so well covered that incidental contact was inevitable. An NFL player or coach might say "that's a call you usually get" --- players tailor their style to what officials usually allow or don't allow. But the no-call was correct, if enforced in an odd way that engaged conspiracy theory.

 
He doesn't cover the holding non-call(s), which is weird.  And distinctive.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Key fact about the play: Pettigrew was never open. Hitchens had him tightly covered all the way down the field. Defensive pass interference usually entails a desperate defender trying to prevent an open man from making the catch. Hitchens had Pettigrew so well covered that incidental contact was inevitable

 
Including the blatant hold on the jersey which the NFL admits should have been called. So the PI non-call is irrelevant