posted by Zebra Man on Jan 16

With less than 6 minutes left in the game, Peyton Manning throws an interception. Troy Polamalu picks him off and then fumbles the ball and recovers his own fumble.

Pete Morelli, the head referee, rules that Polamalu never had possession.

Earlier in the same game, the Colts jumped offside on a 4th-and-1 when the Steelers were preparing to go for it. Morelli stopped the game, but made no call.

This is also the game in which Steeler receiver Antwaan Randel El was mugged by a Colts defender while the ball was in the air and no pass interference call was made.

NFL admits wrong call in Polamalu INT

Dan Wentzl – “The most egregious error”

Stephen Dubner – Cheating in the NFL?

Play-by-Play Colts/Steelers 2005 AFC Divisional Playoffs

posted by Zebra Man on Jan 14

The game took place on January 14th, 2006. Champ Bailey, a cornerback for the Denver Broncos, steps in front of a pass from Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, and returns it 99 yds to the 1. Tragically, he then fumbles the ball through the end zone which should have resulted in the ball being awarded to the Patriots on their own 20 yard line.

Even though video replays showed the ball going through the end zone, referee Jeff Triplette ruled that the ball had gone out of bounds at the 1 yard line and awarded the ball to Denver.

There was also an inexcusable pass interference penalty called on Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel as he provided text book man-to-man coverage; looking back for the pass at just the right moment.

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