Saturday wildcard playoff games

[dogberry]

The Shazier hit lit the crowds fuze.

If Brown's head couldn't be hit, why wasn't Bernard's protected?

 

[HappyOnions]

The Shazier hit lit the crowds fuze.

If Brown's head couldn't be hit, why wasn't Bernard's protected?

Both hits were illegal. Shazier hit should have been called, but the penalty on Brown was justified.

That being said, Bengals have no one to blame but themselves for losing this game tonight.

 

[joseephuss]

Yessir.

And it makes it even worse that there was no flag on the Shazier hit prior to all of what happened at the end. The man launched the crown of his helmet to hit a receiver who has been classified as defenseless all year long except for this one specific play. For whatever reason under the sun.....it was a legal hit.

Don't get me wrong. I don't see anything wrong with the hit Shazier laid out. This is football. Hits like that were commonplace just 10 to 15 years ago and nobody thought a thing about it. But I reckon by today's standards, that hit has been flagged every time this year. Except this one...

Bernard was not a defenseless player in my opinion. He made a football move after the catch and had become a runner. There should be no flag thrown for hitting a defenseless player in that situation; however, Shazier did spear Bernard. Spearing has been a penalty for a long time. Much longer than just 10 to 15 years ago.

 

[dogberry]

Would a penalty on Shazier override the turnover?

 

[LocimusPrime]

You know what I mean. Don't play dumb. Having dreads has nothing to do with anything. Just stop.

Wtever lol dreads dreads dreads

 

[Miller]

 

[Cowboys22]

Both hits were illegal. Shazier hit should have been called, but the penalty on Brown was justified.

That being said, Bengals have no one to blame but themselves for losing this game tonight.

They just need to take the ambiguity out of it and just make any shoulder to head or head to head contact on any player at anytime a penalty. Even make it reviewable. Then guys will have to learn to go for the tackle instead of the knockout shot. Either that or go back to anything goes like it used to be. This inconsistency makes it unbearable to watch and makes the game come down to the opinion of the refs, not the play on the field.

 

[CrownCowboy]

Bernard was not a defenseless player in my opinion. He made a football move after the catch and had become a runner. There should be no flag thrown for hitting a defenseless player in that situation; however, Shazier did spear Bernard. Spearing has been a penalty for a long time. Much longer than just 10 to 15 years ago.

Nah I disagree.

Hill hardly had time to establish himself as a runner. He just turned his head around and them BAM, a helmet to helmet shot. It was close, but everytime it's been close and helmet to helmet, a flag has been thrown.

And Spearing being a penalty or not is not the point. It wasn't called back then anywhere close to what it's being called like now.

 

[Cowboys22]

Nah I disagree.

Hill hardly had time to establish himself as a runner. He just turned his head around and them BAM, a helmet to helmet shot. It was close, but everytime it's been close and helmet to helmet, a flag has been thrown.

And Spearing being a penalty or not is not the point. It wasn't called back then anywhere close to what it's being called like now.

I agree totally. Hitting a defenseless player could have gone either way but spearing was unquestionable. He lead with the crown, launched himself, and hit him square in the helmet. If that's a legal hit, the NFL isn't serious about player safety and everything should be a legal hit because nothing is more dangerous than that.

 

[dreghorn2]

It really started when they went high on Eifert, Bengals were upset with no call there, and then the Munchack grab and later dread pull.

I couldn't agree more with those stating that rule ambiguity and officiating inconsistency has led to player confusion and frustration leading to what we witnessed tonight.

Couple that with New Yorks new involvement with officials on a real time basis in the playoffs and you have the potential for serious controversy going forward.

The league was already caught this year interfering with an official real time (despite the mandate being only procedural and clock issues AND only to start in the playoffs) when they had Ed Hochuli call a blow to the helmet hit long after the play had been completed with no flag originally being thrown.

The implications for controversy and suspicion of manipulation of games via officiating from outside sources is not one that should ever enter the league profile yet this change has indeed come about and has flown somewhat under the radar.

 

[MRV52]

I hope Brown doesn't play next week. ..he obviously stuck his head out there looking for the penalty. ...of course the steelers defense wasn't called for their head to head penalty. ..like other have said....hard to watch the nfl...it has turned into wwf...fixed entertainment.

 

[MRV52]

Are you serious?

For sure he was serious. Has to be one of the dumbest posts ever on this board. players always stick out their heads to take a penalty for the team.

 

[AzCowboysFan]

I love how every game ends in a whinefest about the refs

 

[MRV52]

Say what you want about Ben but the guy is a winner. Down and out comes back and leads his team to victory with 1 1/2 arms.

 

[StylisticS]

No they don't FG wins it.

I was all caught up on them being screwed that I didn't even look at the score at the time. My mistake on that.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Say what you want about Ben but the guy is a winner. Down and out comes back and leads his team to victory with 1 1/2 arms.

Well, that and a ton of yards in penalities.

 

[Everson24]

The Steelers aren't winning anything. I haven't seen anything the last 3 weeks that convince me they're a championship team. Luckiest team maybe.

They get the breaks. They will be in the Super Bowl after beating KC in the AFC Championship game. Mark my words.The NFL loves them some Steelers.

 

[Floatyworm]

They get the breaks. They will be in the Super Bowl after beating KC in the AFC Championship game. Mark my words.The NFL loves them some Steelers.

Please....this is Manning vs Brady for the last time. NFL has been setting this up for years......I'm mortgaging my house and betting it all in Vegas...this happens

 

[Everson24]

Who cares it's not like they are going to win the Superbowl this year.

I would not bet against it. They are the ploar opposite of us. They get all the breaks and most of the necessary calls from the refs if all else fails.

 

[Kevinicus]

For sure he was serious. Has to be one of the dumbest posts ever on this board. players always stick out their heads to take a penalty for the team.

There is no doubt that Brown saw Burfict and then lowered his head. It's clear in the replay. You can say it was a defensive move, but it didn't look like it to me, but either way at that point it is out of the hands of the defender (who went low, not high).