(1) Time 40:23 – The call was offensive pass interference. This is a Seahawk receiver catching the ball in the endzone. He barely touched the defender, caught the ball, and then the ref starts scrambling for his flag. Even Madden noted it wasn’t much of a touch.
(2) Time 1:00:11 – Seahawk receiver catches the ball is brought down. This is the one I thought was a running back. He comes straight down, not stretching the ball out, not tossing the ball forward when he gets up. the ref moves the ball back about a foot and Seattle misses the 1st down by about 2”.
(3) Time 1:12:04 – Steeler QB dives for TD and gets hit at the endzone, ball is knocked loose. He comes down with it and then, from the ground, moves the ball to the goal line. Line judge initially was going to spot the ball and then, seeing the ball on the goal line calls it a TD.
(4) 2:14:11 – Steeler DE jumps offsides, this is not called. But the refs do throw a flag for holding against Seattle. Even the announcers don’t see a hold.
(5) 2:15:00 – Steeler DE jumps offsides again…again no call.
(6) 2:15:55 – Steeler does a horse collar tackle on the Seahawk. Not called.
(7) 2:16:37 – Hasselbeck throws an interception. As the defender is running the ball back, Hasselbeck is running over to tackle. He gets hit from behind by a Steeler and goes down, into the legs of the guy with the ball. The refs throw a flag saying it was a low block on a Steeler that was on the other side and behind the ball runner.
(8) 2:28:02 – Steelers blitz, Hasselbeck is tackled by a helmet to chin hit. Not called.
All of these either negated touchdowns, big plays or necessary yardage to keep a drive alive. Even Bill Leavy, the head referee admits (several years later) he blew some big calls in the 4th quarter of this game. A little too little, a little too late.