NFL rules expert Gene Steratore discusses two contentious plays from the Steelers’ victory over the Packers.
NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore (Uniontown/Washington, Pa.) discussed two contentious calls from Sunday’s Steelers-Packers game during his weekly appearance on WDVE.
Perhaps the play that went in favor of the Steelers should have been reversed. He thinks the other was a wise decision that greatly aided the Packers’ cause.
Kenny Pickett, the quarterback for the Steelers, snapped a pass from his own 16-yard line during the second quarter of their eventual 23-19 victory. Running back Jaylen Warren was hit by what appeared to be an incomplete forward pass as it was thrown down the line of scrimmage on a swing pattern.
Green Bay, on the other hand, contested the decision, arguing that it should have been called a fumble because it was a lateral or backward pass. After recovering it, the Packers took off for the end zone. The play was completely lost. However, since it was a clear recovery, Green Bay probably still could have won the ball after a review.
Charles Davis, a CBS color analyst at the time, disagreed with the call and believed it to have been a blunder. At first, Steratore didn’t believe there was sufficient proof to reverse the incomplete call made on the field.
Steratore asserted during his radio appearance on Tuesday that the NFL’s Hawkeye review system might have revealed something different at the time. However, he added that after seeing the play several times, he could understand Davis’s insistence that Green Bay should have received the ball.
“We’ll follow the decision made on the field because you assume they are looking at something that might be indicating to them that this is just too close to call,” Steratore said. It does seem to be a foot or two behind, after looking. Opening up to his right is Kenny. Are his feet at the nine (yard line) in 30 seconds, is that really what you’re trying to analyze? Is his arm, however, behind his feet, making it eight and three-quarters? The ball is tossed, touched, etc. My protractor was not out. I hadn’t taken out my ruler.
The game might have changed entirely if Green Bay had gained possession of the ball inside the Steelers’ 10-yard line at that precise moment.
Regarding a contentious call that occurred late in the fourth quarter, Stertaore stated that Calvin Austin was correctly called for offensive pass interference, negating a significant completion from Pickett to George Pickens.
Steratore remarked, “It’s a great call and not an easy call.” “It is the offensive receiver’s responsibility to stay out of the defense’s way once he moves one yard or farther down the field. We’re playing into illegal contact or defensive holding unless the defense steps up to engage them. However, when a receiver is running a route in these situations, it is their duty to stay clear of the defense after they have traveled one yard or more down the field.
The Steelers were forced to punt after the penalty erased a 28-yard gain. That gave the Packers one more chance to score a touchdown that would have won the game, but Damontae Kazee intercepted the pass to save the game.
