Debacle in Denver. . .

[Bochamps]

I'm sure this was in the "Sunday Games" thread, but figured there'd be a lot of discussion about it this week.

They're billing it as a great game.

Thought it was absolute bullshit. Fumble. Plain and simple. San Diego can expect an apology from the league (we know all about those).

Not, that I mind seeing San Diego lose, but hate seeing any team lose that way. Horrible call. I think Shanahan felt so guilty about the call, that he decided to go for 2.

[StuartSteelerFan]

The Denver/SD game is proof that NFL officiating is a joke. During halftime of the Steeler game they were talking about this call and said the ref immediately went over to Norv Turner and told him he blew the call but there was nothing they could do about it. I agree with Norv's post-game comment that this is "unacceptable." When is the league going to do something about the perennially shitty officiating? If nothing else, they should have a line to the league office where calls on the field can be overturned in cases like this. I know for a fact that there is a central office where Mike Pereira (VP of Officiating) oversees the replays of every game in real time - he should be able to make a call that overturns a bad call by the refs, and if necessary make a speculative ruling that's fair. For instance, in this case he could have said that it was San Diego ball at X yard line, where the Chargers player recovered the ball and went out of bounds, even though the ref blew the play dead.

The problem is that the league has bought so heavily into the philosophy that the refs' decisions can never be questioned that they are doing teams and more importantly the fans a huge disservice when those fans have to just deal with the fact that the officials fucked up so spectacularly that it literally changed the outcome of the game. As Turner said, it's unacceptable.

[Chicoman]

Ed Hoculi admitted after the game he blew the call.

That was total bullshit....I'm glad it didn't happen against us. I'd be flipping out.

[Vader]

Any way SD can lose I'm all for it. I can't stand Rivers and his arrogant attitude.

[Guttpuppy]

Wasn't us, fuck 'em.

[mdk94]

yea terrible call, i really dont like rivers or cutler and his always looking depressed look

[tapeANaspirin2it]

"The Chargers got debacled"....Emmitt Smith

[Steelerz99]

While the call was crap SD needed to still keep Denver out of the endzone twice! Bad calls happen and every team gets one or two that they need to overcome. I am sure not seeing a very focused SD team as this is the 2nd straight week they could not man up and stop a team from ripping out their heart.

[Bochamps]

"The Chargers got debacled"....Emmitt Smith

"The Dolphins got blowed out" . . . Emmitt Smith

[NC_Steel]

I dislike Rivers as well, and yet, hate poor calls, but, one individual call doesn't make or break a game IMHO. The Broncos STILL had to score on that possession, and as Bochamps said, I believe ShanaRAT went for the 2 point conversion to let the game come down to the football players as opposed to the officiating

Even the infamous Thanksgiving OT botched coin toss game I was irritated and cursing at the screen as it happened, the D still let Detroit drive far enough to get into position to kick the game winning FG.

My point is, ref calls rarely, if ever actually PUT points on the board, that is left to the players making the play.

[SteelrzGirl]

I think Ed Hochuli is great. I know it was fucked up and he admitted it. Im not ready to hang Hochuli by his nuts. But that probably has a little to do with the fact that I just dont give a shit about SD when Ben got plowed tonight.

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I think Ed Hochuli is great. I know it was fucked up and he admitted it. Im not ready to hang Hochuli by his nuts. But that probably has a little to do with the fact that I just dont give a shit about SD when Ben got plowed tonight.

Hochuli probably wears the same size shirt as your daughter

[SteelrzGirl]

lmao yes he does, thank God he's fit

[markymarc]

It was a horrible call by Ed. Also, how about the time where there should have been a review, but Ed couldn't do it because the equipment wasn't working properly. Very bad night for the officials in that game.

[THE flafan]

I don't know about you, but I was somewhat pleased to see a last second, goal line pass against the Chargers succeed...not that I carry a grudge or anything. ;-)

...and yes, the Chargers still could have won the game by stopping Denver.

[steelermania]

The problem is that he blew the play dead. Once you blow the play dead, some guys will stop trying to recover the ball. If a ref blows a play like that dead, would it be fair if everyone stops, but one Charger pics up the ball and runs it into the end zone? Should that be a touchdown? Refs are too damn quick with the whistle. That's the problem.

[Hines57]

You know what. Hoculi is a man and admitted his mistake. Denver had a 3rd and goal from the 10 and a 4th and goal from the 5 or whatever. They also went for a 2 point conversion. San Diego had THREE plays where they could have stopped Denver and won this football game. The play was definitely a fumble but it was on the Chargers defense for not getting a stop when they needed to.

[leftcoaststeelerfan]

You know what. Hoculi is a man and admitted his mistake. Denver had a 3rd and goal from the 10 and a 4th and goal from the 5 or whatever. They also went for a 2 point conversion. San Diego had THREE plays where they could have stopped Denver and won this football game. The play was definitely a fumble but it was on the Chargers defense for not getting a stop when they needed to.

Yeah but the game should have been over after the fumble....

[Blitzburghv5]

Refs screw up.

Remember the Divisional round of the playoffs vs Indy ? Troy had the INT overturned............refs called it incomplete. Cowher called the defense over immediately after that play and he told em "we cant control the officiating, we have to play thru this guys. Play thru it and focus. Focus. Focus. Focus."

[Hines57]

Yeah but the game should have been over after the fumble....
Didn't matter. Hoculi clearly blew the whistle and signaled incomplete. At that point the play was dead. Hoculi made the mistake. I know the league has asked the ref's to let plays finish in case of instances like this, Hoculi was just too quick for his own good. Doesn't hurt my feelings that the band wagon Chargers are 0-2

[leftcoaststeelerfan]

Didn't matter. Hoculi clearly blew the whistle and signaled incomplete. At that point the play was dead. Hoculi made the mistake. I know the league has asked the ref's to let plays finish in case of instances like this, Hoculi was just too quick for his own good. Doesn't hurt my feelings that the band wagon Chargers are 0-2


And this makes it right how? I could care less if SD lost. I would be livid had that happenned to the Steelers...

[Hines57]

And this makes it right how? I could care less if SD lost. I would be livid had that happenned to the Steelers...
He couldnt make it right. He blew the play dead. San Diego failed to stop the Broncos afterwards. Thats on the Chargers defense

[Todd]

If the refs got the call right, SD would have won the game, but I still can't really say SD deserved to win the game. They didn't even force the fumble in question...and after the blown call, they still had a 7 point lead.

Either way, Im not that upset. Was funny watching Norv Turner after the game, I seriously thought he was going to cry. His voice was all shaky and stuff.

...but can you imagine what it must be like to be a fan of that team right now? After losing to Carolina on a last second touchdown pass, and now this to start the season 0-2? If the same thing had happened to the Steelers the first two weeks, I really wouldn't know what to do with myself. I'd be going all Vince Young on myself.

[Doc]

and yet, despite this..

the next time I see Ed doing a steeler game, i'll feel good that we got one of the best in the game.

[Avoid Lloyd1975]

Fuck San Diego, fuck them so hard and their whiny ass loud mouth QB Rivers, pussy faced cry baby RB Tomlinson and their over rated defense. Their fans are a bunch of faggots and their coach is one too. I bet you didn't see Rivers being a fuckstain to the Denver bench after they beat Denver last year. Everybody feel sorry for the super chargers now. Fuck that. I watched that play and laughed my ass off. The Chargers got a few breaks last seaason against them so pay back is a bitch. Denver hadn't beaten them since what 2005? LOL....FUCK THE CHARGERS! They are all a bunch of whiny little pussies.

The only person I respect on that team is Antonio Gates. He brings it every week and never says shit, complains or puts a skirt on when he is hurt.

Maybe if the Chargs actually came to play in the first half they wouldn't have been in that predicament. Fuck them cry babies. We have gotten shafted in the past and nobody ever felt sorry for us.

[Todd]

Denver looks like they could a tough team this year though. Cutler is starting to figure it out this year....he looks pretty damn good.

[Hines57]

Fuck San Diego, fuck them so hard and their whiny ass loud mouth QB Rivers, pussy faced cry baby RB Tomlinson and their over rated defense. Their fans are a bunch of faggots and their coach is one too. I bet you didn't see Rivers being a fuckstain to the Denver bench after they beat Denver last year. Everybody feel sorry for the super chargers now. Fuck that. I watched that play and laughed my ass off. The Chargers got a few breaks last seaason against them so pay back is a bitch. Denver hadn't beaten them since what 2005? LOL....FUCK THE CHARGERS! They are all a bunch of whiny little pussies.

The only person I respect on that team is Antonio Gates. He brings it every week and never says shit, complains or puts a skirt on when he is hurt.

Maybe if the Chargs actually came to play in the first half they wouldn't have been in that predicament. Fuck them cry babies. We have gotten shafted in the past and nobody ever felt sorry for us.
I second this post

[CoSteelrgrl]

Hochuli very rarely misses a call. It goes against his nature. You can bet that he will be slack to blow the whistle in a similar situation unless he's 100% sure of his call. He'll be more than happy to go over to the camera to review the play and reverse his call if need be.

[SteelrzGirl]

and yet, despite this..

the next time I see Ed doing a steeler game, i'll feel good that we got one of the best in the game.

Same here. I have the utmost faith in Hochuli. The man is damn good at what he does and given some of the other slouches in the referee ranks, they cant hold Hochuli's whistle.

[Steelerlyn1017]

Same here. I have the utmost faith in Hochuli. The man is damn good at what he does and given some of the other slouches in the referee ranks, they cant hold Hochuli's whistle.

Exactly. He manned up and admitted he fucked up. What else can you do? The dude is human. While the call was bad- the Chargers had the opportunity to stop the Broncos. They didn't. That falls squarely on the shoulders of Turner and the Chargers defense. Period.

[GRBman]

Eddie Guns is one of the best in the business...So is Mike Carey...both are GREAT officials...

Some of you have said "yeah, I'd be pissed if it were the Steelers"...well hell yeah, you would be but blown calls are blown calls. Is is unacceptable? yes, but what are you going to do? The only thing the league can do is make the officials full-time employees, but even then you look at MLB umpires and they aren't much better than NFL officiating and you have to deal with the Umpire's Union every time you want to make a change...no thanks

SD had a chance to win with the 3 ensuing plays...plus even if SD gets the ball it is no guarantee that the game is over...we thought that in the Divisional Playoff against Indianapolis... remember?

[Southern Steeler]

I will never forget when we played @ Minnesota in '05...Ed was standing near one of the sidelines getting ready to address the crowd. Apparently someone on the sideline wouldnt shut up. Ed just looked at him and pointed his finger without saying a word....kinda like your Dad might do. Dude definitely STFU, too. It was fkn hilarious.

[Southern Steeler]

And I agree that Hochuli and Mike Carey are the best in the business. They are both excellent at explaining things to the crowd.

[Steelerlyn1017]

And I agree that Hochuli and Mike Carey are the best in the business. They are both excellent at explaining things to the crowd.

That they are. I always feel better when I see one of them calling one of our games.