A Very Well Officiated Game

[XLIX]

Gotta give the zebras some credit. Takes guts to throw flags at big moments in big games. Calling all those holds against the Atlanta defense is something a lot of refs would let slide in a big game, or maybe put away the flags after the 2nd one.

They made the right call on the Edelman catch, the White TD and, perhaps a game changing play, calling the hold on the Atlanta o-lineman on Long.

Plus the Falcons were lobbying for offensive pass interference on the last 2-point conversion but the refs were wise to the fact that it was not.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Have to agree for the most part. That pass interference call on Bennet in the endzone in OT was the right call and a big one as well.

 

[archstanton543]

For the most part but there were some very ticky-tack holding calls that went the Pats way. I'd grade it as a B+.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Gotta give the zebras some credit. Takes guts to throw flags at big moments in big games. Calling all those holds against the Atlanta defense is something a lot of refs would let slide in a big game, or maybe put away the flags after the 2nd one.

They made the right call on the Edelman catch, the White TD and, perhaps a game changing play, calling the hold on the Atlanta o-lineman on Long.

Plus the Falcons were lobbying for offensive pass interference on the last 2-point conversion but the refs were wise to the fact that it was not.

Yeah, on the holding call, I remember being shocked that they would actually call a hold that late in the Super Bowl. Then I saw the replay of what happened to Long; if they didn't call holding there, it would have been a huge disgrace. Glad they did their jobs correctly in that instance.

 

[yukon cornelius]

they also let more than one holding call go in the defensive backfield.....for the most part they let them play, and that tends to be a good thing

 

[yukon cornelius]

Yeah, on the holding call, I remember being shocked that they would actually call a hold that late in the Super Bowl. Then I saw the replay of what happened; if they didn't call holding there, it would have been a huge disgrace. Glad they did their jobs correctly in that instance.

agreed - this hold was twice as bad as the one on the chiefs late in the game....had to call it

 

[Patriot Missile]

Agreed, Atlanta held quite a bit and the refs tried to put a stop to it by calling 3 holds in the first quarter against them on defense. Think after that try realized they were going to slow the game down way too much and it wasnt going to stop so they let them both play.

 

[UFGatorPat]

Have to agree for the most part. That pass interference call on Bennet in the endzone in OT was the right call and a big one as well.

Easily could have been missed to but 100% the right call. I guess it does payoff to have an All Star Crew made up of the best of the best.

OP, was gonna post the same thing. Refs didn't call some of the holds later in the game because they had already sent the Falcons the message and didn't want to call it every play.

Falcons love to hold and play downhill, which is why I was hoping we would be able to attack the seams and take a few shots to loosen it up but we let them play to their advantage for a lot of the game. That said, easier said than done. A lot of good young pieces.

They will Still be weaker against a good run blocking OL, but we are not that.

 

[Dagg]

What about the Shea Mccellan FG block that call was garbage. for the most part they got it right.

 

[everlong]

Minus the flag that negated the blocked kick they did a good job.

 

[farn]

After a few iffy years, the NFL refs deserve credit here. They let them play, yet made the calls you need to make. Kudos.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

What about the Shea Mccellan FG block that call was garbage. for the most part they got it right.

Minus the flag that negated the blocked kick they did a good job.

Maybe I saw it incorrectly.... but I thought I saw on the replay that his foot actually hit the O-lineman during the leap? That is to say, it's not what the refs actually called, but if I viewed it correctly it should have been penalized anyway because of his foot hitting the lineman?

 

[yukon cornelius]

Maybe I saw it incorrectly.... but I thought I saw on the replay that his foot actually hit the O-lineman during the leap? That is to say, it's not what the refs actually called, but if I viewed it correctly it should have been penalized anyway because of his foot hitting the lineman?

you can't hit the center....the guard is fair play

 

[Hammer of Thor]

you can't hit the center....the guard is fair play

Thanks - I thought you couldn't hit anyone, didn't realize it was restricted to the center.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

calling the hold on the Atlanta o-lineman on Long.

If the refs didn't call it the Police might have come on the field to charge the Olineman with assault.

 

[yukon cornelius]

Thanks - I thought you couldn't hit anyone, didn't realize it was restricted to the center.

i'm 99% sure it is just to protect the snapper

 

[yukon cornelius]

i believe if i lip read correctly BB yelled something like 'he lined up over the fu@$ing guard' after the call

 

[nabwong]

I like the non-calls on sanu and ryan facemasking. That was just a competitive play.

 

[yukon cornelius]

i may have been wrong, sort of:

Running forward and leaping in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or Try Kick and landing on players, unless the leaping player was originally lined up on the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.

"landing on a player" has not been interpreted to mean "any contact" - incidental contact is fine, unless they have changed it since last fall:

NFL says Bobby Wagner’s leap was legal

you cannot line up over the long snapper - which he did not, he was outside the snappers shoulder pads - so unless they have changed the rule, i'd like to see the reasoning for the flag

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Yeah, on the holding call, I remember being shocked that they would actually call a hold that late in the Super Bowl. Then I saw the replay of what happened to Long; if they didn't call holding there, it would have been a huge disgrace. Glad they did their jobs correctly in that instance.

The refs certainly let them play. Down the stretch, they only called headlocks - one for holding by the LT and one for interference against Bennett. They had a line to draw and weren't shy about both moving it back to make the game enjoyable and holding firm to it to make the game fair.