WWTBAM Bored

As an unbiased observer, that holding call on the Colts cornerback which would have resulted in a Chargers punt if not called was pure, unadulterated bullshit.
That ref threw a flag long after anything had happened (which is not holding and certainly is never called), realized he couldn't call DPI and therefore decided to call a phantom holding. I'm actually OK with it b/c I don't want to face Peyton if we make it to the Super Bowl but if I were an Indy fan I'd be furious.

I love how every time when Madden was talking over the replay, when Rivers had a lot of time to throw and Madden was showing what a good job whoever was blocking Freeney did, they either blatantly held him or grabbed his facemask.

It was a total garbage call. Yep, there was a little grabbing, but I think your thought is right - the ref wanted to go with DPI, then realized it wouldn't fly, so he threw that in there. What an awful way to end a game.

It was a little ticky-tack, but Rivers threw the pass the way he did to get the call.

I could see any officiating crew going either way with it...but this is Ron Winter's crew, so what did you expect?

Two earlier holding calls against Colts' O-linemen were much worse than that call.

clem21 wrote:As an unbiased observer, that holding call on the Colts cornerback which would have resulted in a Chargers punt if not called was pure, unadulterated bullshit.
That ref threw a flag long after anything had happened (which is not holding and certainly is never called), realized he couldn't call DPI and therefore decided to call a phantom holding. I'm actually OK with it b/c I don't want to face Peyton if we make it to the Super Bowl but if I were an Indy fan I'd be furious.

This is another example of the need for the NFL to change the way they do OT games. Statistics indicate that over 60% of the teams that win the coin toss for possession in OT end up winning the game; this seems blatantly unfair. Seems to me that both teams should have the opportunity to have the ball.

earendel wrote:

clem21 wrote:As an unbiased observer, that holding call on the Colts cornerback which would have resulted in a Chargers punt if not called was pure, unadulterated bullshit.
That ref threw a flag long after anything had happened (which is not holding and certainly is never called), realized he couldn't call DPI and therefore decided to call a phantom holding. I'm actually OK with it b/c I don't want to face Peyton if we make it to the Super Bowl but if I were an Indy fan I'd be furious.

This is another example of the need for the NFL to change the way they do OT games. Statistics indicate that over 60% of the teams that win the coin toss for possession in OT end up winning the game; this seems blatantly unfair. Seems to me that both teams should have the opportunity to have the ball.

I agree too, but I don't think it should go to the college rule, either. Field position is important. If SD's ridiculous punter could keep that up into overtime, that should have counted to their advantage. If the first team that gets the ball scores, there's another kickoff. As long as teams score every possession (and as long as it's tied after an even number of possessions), the game goes on. Even-numbered possession that doesn't result in a tie score, the game's over. After the first non-scoring possession it becomes sudden death.

Or they line 11 people up at each 40 yard line. Lay the ball at midfield. Blow the whistle. Whoever comes up with ball gets first possession.

I think the suggestion that the first team to score six in OT wins is a fair one. And it doesn't have to be that way for the regular season - the NHL changes OT rules in the postseason, and the result is a more exciting product. During the regular season, it would risk having games go too long, so the NHL makes it only a postseason thing.

earendel wrote:Statistics indicate that over 60% of the teams that win the coin toss for possession in OT end up winning the game; this seems blatantly unfair. Seems to me that both teams should have the opportunity to have the ball.

Statistics also show that while 60% of the teams that win the toss may win the game, the majority do NOT, in fact, win the game on their first possession.

So both teams usually DO get a shot at the ball in OT.