Danno

I know how you feel B4L. It sucks. This was the 1st game all season that I can honestly say we came out ahead on ref's calls. In a perfect world where the calls balanced out fairley we'd probably be sitting at 4-1 or 3-2 instead of 1-4.

I'd love to see the league get less detailed about a lot of these rules. I think its too complicated and each rule seems to have a razor thin line between what is OK and what isn't.

Anyway, I'm pulling for you guys to win the AFCW. Good luck.

Budsdrinker

I'm wondering this year if we might benefit a little from the regular refs because of the way goodell and the league screwed us and them. Maybe they feel for us this year and will give us the close calls.

Tobias-Reiper

... yeah.. only those 2 calls were bull****... and that's why the Chargers lost... yeah... that's the ticket..

Utah_Saint

San Diego had 7 penalties for 56 yards
Saints had 10 penalties for 99 yards

If they were out to help the Saints, they did a great job covering it up.

Mardigras9

Those calls were suspect, but the inability of the left O-line to stop Wilson in the end decided the game.

SaintsBro

Well roughing the passer is one of those things where fans of different teams will NEVER see eye to eye. If it was "your guy" you'd be howling if it wasn't called. I think that was a great call by the officials and Drew deserved to have that turnover nullified.

Now the offensive pass interference on Gates, welllll it's a lot like holding -- it's a judgement call by the official. That's why they actually have names like Back Judge, Side Judge and Field Judge! The conventional wisdom is that holding happens on every NFL play, but normally holding doesn't get called or "shouldn't" get called, unless it affects the outcome of the play. For example a 30 yard run that should have been a 5 yard run without the crucial hold that sprung the guy -- that holding definitely affected the play and will usually result in the play getting called back. So typically, holding on a suspiciously long gain, will get called quite often.

Also on kick returns for example. It's always a really great kick or punt return that gets brought back by offensive holding or block in the back, isn't it? They almost NEVER call a block in the back or hold when the return guy just runs smack into a wall of bodies and falls down at the 20 or whatever. Even though jersey-grabbing and blocking in the back happens on almost every kick and punt return, as those guys run down the field.

And there WAS a bit of contact there on the Gates pass, which did in turn influence the outcome of the play, so I don't know how you can justifiably say it was suspicious or bogus. If the ball had been incomplete, or uncatchable, if it had been wildly overthrown, and the offensive pass interference penalty was still called on San Diego, THAT would have been suspicious.

Tobias-Reiper

According to the rules, it was the right call. The defensive player launched himself to the head of the QB, leading with the crown of the helmet.

The call on Gates, I thought it was a combination of the angle the judge was looking at the play, Gates extending his arm, and Harper going to the ground.

I don't think it helps when your QB whines incessantly to the refs during the entire game..

caddieman

That imaginary Pass interference call against Gates was just as bad as the In-Field fly call against the Braves................ And that call was the worst call ever in Baseball. Just say-in.

saintfan

Well, consider this our lone opportunity to agree, kinda. The call on Gates was not a good one, but it was not the epic fail that the infield fly call was. THAT, was EPIC FAIL.

And the one-game wildcard playoff game is stupid. Makes me wonder if Roger Goodell is involved with baseball too.

Turrible. Just plain turrible.

caddieman

Wow Saintfan we do agree! If you got two Wild card teams they should play 3 games not just one! Stupid as h-e-l-l