NFL 2013

[Malakili]

Well, they made up for it with that holding call on the last drive. 

[Paelos]

Wild ending. Flag isn't a flag at the end.

Patriots got a ton of calls, then they didn't get enough at the end.

[Nevermore]

He was just giving Gronk a hug. 

[Malakili]

Wild ending. Flag isn't a flag at the end.

And for once, it should have been.

[Yegolev]

That was uncatchable.

[sickrubik]

That was uncatchable.

At the very LEAST it was holding, however the reason it was uncatchable was because he was being bear hugged and pushed back.

[Mithas]

It's about time the Patriots have a call go against them. Am I the only one who has unbridled hatred for Belichick and Brady? I smile every time they lose.

[El Gallo]

Can't imagine any way Gronk catches that ball without curbstomping the guy who intercepted it (and had Gronk beaten like a rented mule before the other guy hugged him). 

[Sjofn]

LOLNFCEAST.  The goddamn GIANTS are back in it. That's how shitty that division is. A team goes 0 and fucking 6 to start the season and is still in contention over halfway through the season. Yes, the Eagles are making a case for being taken somewhat seriously - but they are definitely feasting on an easy and lucky schedule. Green Bay without Rodgers. Two games against the Redskins. And this was their first win at home this season so maybe they are learning something.

You have no idea how fucking hilarious I would find it if the Giants somehow managed to derp their way into the post season, but even though no one really wants to win the NFC East (you guys talking about how the Eagles are sort of making a case for themselves just jinxed them, GOOD JOB) (no seriously, good job, I fucking hate the Eagles), I certainly do not even kind of sort of expect such an amazingly dumb thing to happen. Because it would be dumb. So incredibly dumb.

And hilarious.

[Sky]

Gronk turned, saw it was short, made to run back to it but couldn't because of McLovin's huggyarms.. Curb stomp or not, that flag should've stood and they should've gotten another shot. Patriots got robbed there.

That said, it was a great comeback, decent game, and the Pats fucked up several opportunities on the last drive and didn't really deserve to win anyway.

Love the Brady F-bomb in the officials face the censor was a bit slow to nab.

[Yegolev]

That was uncatchable.

At the very LEAST it was holding, however the reason it was uncatchable was because he was being bear hugged and pushed back.

To me it looked like the ball was short.  Holding, yeah, sure looked like that.  Gronk was pushed back but it still looked short to me and I don't think even he could have run back to the line and caught it.  Even if he wasn't in a slap-fight.  But who knows?  That's what is great/awful about football.

Apparently Brady wasn't able to convince the refs to change their minds by arguing with them on the way to the showers.

[Malakili]

If I was going to cover a receiver in the NFL right now I'd just do whatever, because there's apparently no way to know in advance if you're actually going to get called for anything, or alternatively called for nothing.

[shiznitz]

Put me in the camp that agrees with the refs.  The only person who had a chance at that ball caught it.

[ghost]

That play would have had pass interference called on it if it were in the first half of the game and probably the third quarter also.  There is a definite difference in how plays are called with the game on the line. 

[Paelos]

That play would have had pass interference called on it if it were in the first half of the game and probably the third quarter also.  There is a definite difference in how plays are called with the game on the line. 

Yep, and as a DB you know that. You can mug a guy on a hail mary play because the refs don't want to decide the game on a penalty that huge in a home stadium.

I think the entire game was officiated poorly. The refs were flagging things they had no business flagging, and letting crap go that was egregious. The refs converted SIX third or fourth downs into first downs due to penalties.

Finally, I think they all decided that if they let that call stand up for a road team, they were going to get reprimanded by the league. It was that bad all game. Both sides had big penalties for first downs for a total of 8 times.

[sickrubik]

Even if it wasn't Pass Interference (which I still argue is), it's Holding and still a missed penalty and really shitty officiating on a big stage for a big game on the final play. Total BS.

[Paelos]

We can cry about officiating at the end of games, but it's the same across all sports. Refs will not make calls late that they make early. You've watched enough sports to know this as fact.

[HaemishM]

I didn't watch the game but I did see the hightlights of the play. I'm so glad they picked up that flag. Not because they should because... come on. That shit was pass interference or AT LEAST holding any day of the week. No, I'm glad they picked up the flag because FUCK NEW ENGLAND. Cheating assholes can go fuck themselves because again, Belicheat's DB's in that snow playoff game against Indy are the fucking reason we have the no touching on pass plays league where the defenders just have no concept of how to defend anybody because the rules are so fucking pedantic.

[MuffinMan]

I made sure to keep watching for Belichick's press conference. It was awwwwkward. 30 seconds between few questions of him just standing there, staring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7OykATWIHI

[ghost]

Is that different from normal?

[sickrubik]

We can cry about officiating at the end of games, but it's the same across all sports. Refs will not make calls late that they make early. You've watched enough sports to know this as fact.

So, never talk about anything ever because it's stuff that just happens. Okay! gotcha. Message boards are going to be awfully boring from now on.

[Paelos]

Don't be ridiculous. Also, you're defending an action that would benefit the Patriots, so I'm never going to agree with you on pure principle. 

[ghost]

The funny thing about this is that the stance of "not wanting to alter the game" does not logically make sense.  If the referees wanted to not alter the game, they would make the same calls at the same level that they did for the rest of the game.  By taking inaction they are affecting the outcome of the game more than they would by calling the call the right way.  It's stupid. 

[sickrubik]

Don't be ridiculous. Also, you're defending an action that would benefit the Patriots, so I'm never going to agree with you on pure principle. 

I am a fucking Broncos fan, you think there is any love lost between me and the Patriots? But beyond any rivalry, I want a fair game (everyone does, obviously) and we're discussing a major penalty that was not called that possibly formed the outcome of a game. Saying "guys it happens all the time, why bother" is such a horeshit thing to say.

[HaemishM]

I'm loving the fact that the Pats are now 2 games behind in the race for the #1 seed now, and still have to play Denver next week. Of course their schedule after that is mostly mediocre to shitty so if they win against the Broncos, they have a good chance to be right back in it. Denver's schedule is a little bit trickier but not by much.

[Nebu]

If the Pats beat Denver (next week or in the playoffs) it will be entirely because Denver gave the game away.  NE just doesn't have the personnel to outplay the Broncos.

[sickrubik]

Oh hey, ESPN's Playoff Machine is up for this year now.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

[Ingmar]

We can cry about officiating at the end of games, but it's the same across all sports. Refs will not make calls late that they make early. You've watched enough sports to know this as fact.

Baseball doesn't have this problem!

[Fordel]

Strike zone.

[Mithas]

Yeah I was thinking that maybe should have been in green text.

[Ingmar]

The strike zone doesn't really change over the course of the game.

[Mithas]

MLB is about to add replay for certain calls. Enjoy!

[Fordel]

That's not what you said when I asked why they don't just use a robot to figure out balls and strikes!

[Ingmar]

MLB is about to add replay for certain calls. Enjoy!

And it's a fine change - fair/foul and safe/out are an obvious place where replay will add value.

I think what this will end up showing is they get the calls right about 95% of the time anyway. And more to the point what I meant when I said that baseball doesn't have this problem, I mean they don't have the problem of swallowing their whistles at the end of the game. MLB umpires are perfectly happy to let a game end on a balk, a called strike, or an interference call.

[ghost]

Sweet.  Ten hour games.