Packers / Seahawks. My best attempt at a level headed review. - ubernoob's Blog

ubernoob's Blog

Packers / Seahawks. My best attempt at a level headed review.

Posted on September 25, 2012 at 03:00 AM.

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Coming from a Packers fan, this may seem biased for me to be writing this. I'm trying to keep any facts of bias out of this. This game was embarassing and a black-eye for the NFL. Yes, if the Packers won I would be a bit happier yet it would still be shameful. Bad calls went both ways, and 90% of the scoring was influenced by it.

The Seahawks touchdown drive was largely aided by a non-call. Clay Matthews got tackled while chasing after Russell Wilson.

The Packers touchdown drive was facilitated by a phantom pass interference call. Did he get there possibly a split second too early? Slowed down on my DVR I say yes. That doesn't mean I disagree with that call. His timing was near-perfect, and that never should have been called. Hawks fans have every right to moan about that call.

That brings us to the interception called back by a complete embarassment of a Roughing the Passer call. Continuation of momentum and all. Walden was diving (or starting his tackling process) as Wilson was letting go of the ball. Packers fans have a right to be sore over this one.

1st and Forever. Sydney Rice was running downfield and as he started to leap over Shields, his right hand turns his head around by his facemask. Shields is going off balance and grabs hold of Rice's jersey. Rice also switches hands and has Shields' facemask with his left hand after that. This call was also horrendous.

The last play of the game. This will be (for obvious reasons) the one that is focused on the most. Jennings has the ball with both hands and to his chest. Tate (on the descent) has his right hand on Jennings forearm. He removes it, and it never touched the ball until they were both on the ground. Another embarassment.

Seattle was penalized more, but a lot of those were mental mistakes (Okung, I'm looking at you.) Delay of game as well.

Why is the last call more important than any of these calls? In many games we complain about the referees. They blow calls too. You fight through blown calls. Both touchdown drives by both teams were greatly aided by the replacements. These things happen, and should be addressed by the league during the week after the games.

You can't fight a blown call at the end of the game. No way to come back from that. Also, this game was a defensive battle. Both defenses played lights out (the Packers more so than the Seahawks through the course of the game. Their halftime adjustments slowed down Seattle a bit in the 2nd half, though the Seahawks in the first half were dominant.) All of this will be overlooked, because the NFL thinks replacement refs don't damage the integrity of the game.

Leave your comments below.

Comments

# 1 jroneal @ Sep 25

All of this is right.
This season is going to have an asterisk next to it if these refs get past week 6.

# 2 ubernoob @ Sep 25

These refs shouldn't have made it past the pre-season. I am fed up, even watching games I have no vested interest in (Season ticket holder here, so I watch a LOT) I'm disgusted by what this season has turned in to.

# 3 Bmore Irish 69 @ Sep 25

its impossible to be biased when the calls are so bad and everybody knows it. i would just remind everyone that this is entirely the NFL commissioner's office fault, with some blame going to the owners as well. they need to take their own advice and respect the game.

but man, that was crazy how seattle was gettin such a crucial rush on you guys with only 4 men. unfortunately, what's even crazier is the amount of terrible calls that kept that last seahawk drive alive.

i felt so bad for russell wilson in the postgame interview with stuart, trent, and steve lol. they were tryin not to totally tear him down, but he handled it so well.