Steelers 13, Ravens 9: Controversial Call Locks Up Division for Steelers

If you like defense, hard hitting and quarterbacks running for their lives, Sunday's Steelers-Ravens game was everything you could ask for. It's unfortunate that what it will ultimately be remembered for is one of the more controversial replay calls in recent NFL history.

No matter whether you're a Steelers fan or a Ravens fan, this much is indisputable. With the game on the line, Pittsburgh's offense drove 91-plus yards against the league's No. 2 defense in the final minutes of the game. Whether they drove 92 yards is all a matter of opinion.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

On third and goal, Ben Roethlisberger rolled out, scrambled around like Fran Tarkenton and eventually found Santonio Holmes at the goal line. There's no doubt that Holmes feet and legs were in the end zone when he caught the ball, but on the field, the officials ruled that the ball never crossed the line, giving Pittsburgh a fourth and an inch trailing by three with under 45 seconds to go.

Since the play was so close, the referee was called from upstairs to go to the replay booth. Speaking as a Steelers fan who in every way possible wanted Holmes' catch to be a touchdown, I was baffled when Walt Coleman announced that the ruling was overturned to be a touchdown. Apparently the referee saw an angle of the catch that we never saw on TV. Check out the angles here at NFL.com. You could argue that maybe the tip of the ball was over the line when Holmes caught the ball, but to say that there was indisputable evidence to overturn the ruling on the field?

Adding to the confusion is the fact that referee Walt Coleman announced that the call was overturned because Holmes had two feet in the end zone when he caught the ball. From every understanding I have of the NFL rule book , that's pretty much immaterial. What matters is did the ball cross the goal line. We'll hear more hopefully when the pool report with the officials becomes available, but for now, there are a lot of questions to be answered.

It doesn't help that Pittsburgh earlier in the game got a third-down conversion on a similar type of play, but one where the ruling on the field wasn't reversed partly because the angles made it hard to determine whether Gary Russell had reached the first-down marker or not.

Latest NFL Photos

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo passes under pressure from New York Giants' Barry Cofield (R) during the first half of NFL football action in Irving, Texas December 14, 2008. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) tries to avoid the sack by New York Giants defensive tackle Jay Alford (93) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Irving, Texas. Romo lost 7 yards on the play. (AP Photo)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) is tackled by New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross (31) after picking up 25 yards on a pass reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo)

Dallas Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware (top) sacks New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the first quarter of NFL football action in Irving, Texas December 14, 2008. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) picks up 25 yards on a pass play as New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross (31) moves in for the tackle during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton runs in for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second quarter of NFL football action in Irving, Texas December 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton (R) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Giants with teammate Jason Witten during the second quarter of NFL football action in Irving, Texas December 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 14: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on after playing against the Baltimore Ravens on December 14, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 13-9. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger

Getty Images

BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 14: Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 14, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 13-9. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willis McGahee

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BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 14: William Gay #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his interception late in the game against the Baltimore Ravens to clinch the win on December 14, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 13-9. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** William Gay

Getty Images

While the replay-induced touchdown seems bogus, I'm also convinced the Steelers would have won if the call had not been reversed. Even if they kick the field goal on the next play, Baltimore had 80 yards, five first downs and five punts in the second half. Barring a kick return or a turnover, the Steelers defense was not going to allow Baltimore to score again.

There were so many great things about this game: Roethlisberger's late heroics for his 16th game-winning fourth-quarter drive (in only 50 career wins), Nate Washington stepping up again, two great defenses playing outstanding football, and several fluke plays. Hopefully we'll get to focus on that as the week goes along, but right now, the story of this game is the replay reversal.

With the win, Pittsburgh is guaranteed of the AFC North crown. Baltimore now drops into a three-way tie for the final AFC wild card spot, with the Cowboys on the schedule for next week.