Officials err on game's final play

By Scott Brown
PIITSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, November 17, 2008


PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 16: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs past Kris Wilson #88 of the San Diego Chargers after a first quarter interception on November 16, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steelers fans that had a betting interest in Sunday's game against San Diego won't be happy to hear this: the referee said a touchdown that Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu scored on the final play of the game should have counted.

With the Steelers holding an 11-10 lead, Polamalu scooped up a fumble at San Diego's 12 and rumbled into the end zone as time expired.

The Steelers, who were considered a 5-point favorite by the bookmakers, would have covered the point spread had Polamalu's touchdown stood following an offical review. But the officials reversed the call on the field and ruled the play dead at San Diego's 26 because of an illegal forward pass.

A touchdown that would have given the Steelers no less than a seven-point win was removed from the scoreboard, and the final score was 11-10.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," referee Scott Green said. "The rule was misinterpreted."

The wild ending came after Jeff Reed kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Steelers a one-point lead with 11 seconds remaining.

San Diego got the ball back on its 21 with 5 seconds left and tried a gimmick play that involved two laterals. The first one, from quarterback Philip Rivers to running back LaDainian Tomlinson, was ruled an illegal forward pass.

The officiating crew, Green said, erred by also ruling that the ball had hit the ground on the first lateral and calling the play dead. The ball did not hit the ground, Green said, therefore the play should have still been live when Polamalu picked up the second lateral and scored a touchdown.

"The ruling should have let the play go on," Green said.

At least one player did not mind that a mistake took a touchdown away from the Steelers.

"I was just like, 'Man, can we just get this over with and get in the locker room with the win,'" Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said.


Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.