The game went down to the last second feild-goal--had there not been an extra 52 seconds, the game would of been over WAY before they could even get into feild goal range. WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP THAT IS.ARTICLEPats benefited by 52 extra seconds vs. SteelersNFL acknowledges clock ?improperly reset? during start of 4th quarterThe Associated PressUpdated: 6:46 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2005PITTSBURGH - A clock error added 52 seconds to the fourth quarter of the Patriots-Steelers game Sunday. The extra time aided the Patriots during a winning drive that ended with Adam Vinatieri?s 43-yard field goal with 1 second remaining.The Patriots won 23-20, their fourth victory against the Steelers in five games since 2001, including AFC championship game victories during the 2001 and 2004 seasons.The NFL acknowledged the mistake Monday, with director of officiating Mike Pereira issuing a statement: ?The on-field officiating crew, which oversees the official game clock operated in the press box, failed to recognize that the clock was improperly reset.?The mistake occurred after the second play of the fourth quarter, a reverse by Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson for no gain on second-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 30 with the Steelers ahead 13-10.There were 14 minutes, 51 seconds remaining when the play started and, by the time, a false start penalty was called on Steelers guard Kendall Simmons, the Heinz Field clock had run down to 13:59.But before the next play started, the clock reverted back to 14:51 ? the time left before the Wilson run. Ben Roethlisberger?s incompletion on third-and-15 lasted 14 seconds and Chris Gardocki?s 51-yard punt took up 10 seconds, meaning the Patriots got the ball back with 14:19 remaining in the game rather than 13:27 if the error hadn?t occurred.According to former NFL official Chuck Heberling, who observes the officials in a league-appointed capacity, an NFL employee in New York spotted the error and immediately called officials supervisor Johnny Grier. Grier was sitting with Heberling in the press box.?We checked it out with the statisticians and, according to his records, everything seemed to be all right,? Heberling said. As a result, no move was made to try to correct the error.The mistake showed up when the officiating crew, headed by referee Bill Carollo, reviewed the CBS game tape with Grier and Heberling during their usual post-game meeting in a Pittsburgh hotel.?When we ran the tape, it was obvious it (the clock) was jumping,? Heberling said.The clock operators ? there are two, one for the game clock and the other for the play clock ? are locally based but hired by the league. The Steelers did not identify them, and they are not listed with the other officials on the league?s statistical report.?It?s a very unusual thing,? Heberling said.The mistake caused the final quarter to last 15 minutes, 52 seconds, extra time that proved invaluable to New England after the Steelers tied it at 20 on Roethlisberger?s 4-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward with 1:21 remaining.After New England got the ball at its 38, Tom Brady needed only 31 seconds to complete passes of 17, 14 and 6 yards to set up Vinatieri?s third field goal of the game. Forty-five seconds ran off between the time Brady found David Givens for 6 yards to the Steelers 25 and Vinatieri kicked the decisive field goal.Steelers president Dan Rooney was unaware of the mistake until being alerted Monday by reporters.?There?s nothing to say. The game?s over,? Rooney said. ?It?s not going to change the score.?
First of all, its impossible to tell at the time of the error who it would have ended up favoring. Adding 52 seconds of the game could have helped the steelers if the Pats were ahead at that point. Second of all, the Pats had the ball in field goal range(48 yarder) with 58 seconds left(all that happened was a 6 yard pass to Givens and then 45 seconds running off), so it would have been a longer Field Goal, but he would have made it anyways, cause cmon, Its Vinatieri.
I mean you never know what woulda happened had clock error never happened--it's a whole different ballpark. but oh well, thats just football.There goes a win, there goes Ben's streak--he's got a whole BYE week now to think about what he wants for his franchise.They gotta play in San Diego on Monday Night week 5--CANT WAIT
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JHair @ Sep 28 2005, 12:06 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>The clock operators ? there are two, one for the game clock and the other for the play clock ? are locally based but hired by the league. The Steelers did not identify them, and they are not listed with the other officials on the league?s statistical report.</div> It wasn't the refs this time man, they are always a good scapegoat though
That couple of seconds can change the WHOLE game... everything wouldn't play out like it did. Coaches and Coordinators look at the clock when deciding the play. So the whole 4th quarter would be different. You don't know what would have happened, and never will
Blame it on Randle El and his stupid decision to pitch it to an on-the-move Hines Ward, not the refs, that never gets you anywhere.All of Pitts losses have been over stupid mistakes/errors, they should be undefeated.
