As much as it pains me to admit this, I don’t think it would have mattered:
Tom Brady, among the league’s best in late-game drives, led the Patriots down field for the winning score against the Steelers in 1:21 on Sunday.
But could he have done it in 29 seconds?
The NFL confirmed Monday that the game clock was improperly set early in the fourth quarter, adding 52 seconds to the game.
The error occurred at the beginning of the fourth quarter. With 14:51 remaining, Steelers receiver Cedric Wilson ran a reverse and was held to no gain; the play ran the clock down to 13:59.
A false start was called on Steelers guard Kendall Simmons on the next play, but instead of resetting the clock to 13:59, the clock operator set it back to 14:51 — the time before Wilson’s running play began. No one noticed the error, including the officiating crew.
Mike Pereira, the NFL’s senior director of officiating, spoke to coaches Bill Cowher and Bill Belichick about the error on Monday and addressed it in a prepared statement.
If this was a case in whcih 3-4 seconds late in the game were accidentally taken away, and the Steelers did not have achance to kick the field goal to tie it, that would be one thing. But this happened at the 14 minute mark, and assuming everything would have played out exactly the way it did is silly. What if the time had been added back? Maybe the Pats would have tried more running plays with 6 minutes left to try and kill more game clock? I just don’t see how this impacted the overall outcome of the game.
The Steelers, as much as I love them, were just bested by the Patriots. The game score was deceptive. I think the Patriots beat them up, and were simply tougher. Had the extra time been there, I have no doubt they would have played the game differently and found out a way to come out on top.
CalDevil
As much as I agree that one can’t predict the impact of this error on the outcome of the game, it’s amazing that it occurred nonetheless.
This is a very controlled league. For an error of this magnitude to occur is absolutely inexcusable.
Think not only of the sporting outcome. Literally millions are riding on the outcome of each game. The NFL knows, but is loathe to admit this. However, such transactions form the bedrock of the league’s enormous fan popularity.
I’m betting (pun intended) that the league is addressing this at high levels as we speak. They can’t afford to let this happen with any sort of frequency.
Anderson
John Cole: reality-based Steelers fan.
TallDave
Good thing this isn’t politics. We’d be hearing forever that the Patriots “stole” the game.
jg
Wrong game, idiot.
Far North
Wanna hear about a really f**ked up call that gave the Patriots a win in a much bigger game? How ’bout Raiders vs Patriots in a January 2002 playoff game. Late 4th quarter with the Raiders up by 3, Brady fumbles the ball after being hit by Charles Woodson. Raiders recover, game over!
But no. Even though Brady was in no way, shape or form, throwing a pass, referee Walt Coleman ruled an incomplete pass based on the “tuck rule”. It was the worst call in NFL history, bar none. You haven’t seen f**ked up officiating until your team has a playoff game stolen from them through a blown call.
Bottom line? The Patriots don’t win 3 Super Bowls if that game isn’t given to them. They probably don’t even win one. No team owes more to NFL officials than the New England Patriots.
Another Jeff
Randel-El’s boneheaded lateral probably had more to do with the Steelers losing than this clock issue.
Slide
yawn
Edmund Dantes
What Far North leaves out of his little rant even though the rule was properly applied was the fact that on the same play where he’s complaining about a play that was called according to the rules is the fact that he is ignoring the blatant and illegal head slap to Brady by Woodson as he goes to knock the ball out of Brady’s hands. However Raiders’ fans like to ignore that little tidbit when complaining about that play because it doesn’t help their cause.
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=370
Trevor
Raiders fans = Loony Left
They complain about judges conspiring against them. They’re leader went off the deep end a long time ago, but none of them are willing to admit it. They are well known for and take pride in underhanded behavior, but are quick to cry foul at the slightest perceived injustice. They dress up in weird costumes when congregated in large groups.
Birkel
The fact is a properly utilized clock would’ve changed the entire complexion of the game all the way down to play calling by both coaches.
It’s impossible to know the net effect. Besides, the Steelers are still likely to make the playoffs and therefore get another shot at the Pats, no?
And with Indy’s D looking better home field may not be something either the Pats or the Steelers could win. Especially if P.Manning gets it together.
jg
Thanks Edmund. I’m tired of pointing that out. Never yet has a raiders fan responded to that when I said it.
I don’t get the ‘game over’ part. The Pats still could’ve forced a 3 and out and got the ball back. Even with the tuck rule (the right call, weird but right) the Pats had to score twice and did. Did that call just completely demoralize the Raiders, did they quit?
Tom Brady
of course the Pats were already in field goal position with 1:06 left, before they let that last minute bleed off the clock. So I guess they didn’t need those 52 seconds. Of course, if Cowher could manage a clock it wouldn’t have mattered…
Josh
Also, if Faneca and Smith, et. al., could have kept the Pats’ D-line off Roethlisberger, and maybe opened up a hole or two for Parker, it wouldn’t have mattered.