Referee's Bad Call Effects Vikes-Saints Game

[LMITOUT]

You're right, it wasn't borderline...it was a first down.

[james_walleye]

....and the bit never ends does it....

[Cooter]

Looked like a first down to me, great call. Same with the catch, obviously had his hand under the ball.

[james_walleye]

Of course it was LOL...

[Steve Foss]

I think we should keep the argument going until james walleye concedes the last word to someone else.

[zamboni]

too many people around here have cheese both on and IN their heads

[james_walleye]

Just not sure how anyone can look at that call, being even non-viking fans have questioned if Leber even touched the guy, and being it was clearly uncatchable, and say it was a good call. I know why LMIT says it, its just part of his bit....but other people?

[Scott K]

The interference call was a bad call. The ball was clearly not catchable. I thought the refs were trying to not call questionable calls, espeacialy game deciding ones?

I am not going to blame the refs for the vikings loss, the Vikings were trying to give it away the entire second half, and the Saints finally took advantage of it and won.

[LMITOUT]

So let me ask you this: Do you believe that absolutely no penalties were in the Vikings favor in that game?

[james_walleye]

I questioned the 15 yard late hit call on Favre at the time because i wasnt sure how that current rule was worded but i've read in multiple outlets that this was a textbook "lift and drive into the ground" 15 yard penalty and was correct. There were i think 5 "borderline" calls/flags alone in the overtime that went away from the vikings. Im not saying anything is rigged, or the officials were the reason the vikings lost the game, just pointing out the obvious.

[Rick]

So let me ask you this: Do you believe that absolutely no penalties were in the Vikings favor in that game?

Not really. They were all legit and the Vikes played an exceptionally clean game.

3 Saints were fined for dirty play and none of the Vikes.

It was definitely a bunch of WWE Refs LMIT. Even YOU know that.

[kitchy]

Just not sure how anyone can look at that call, being even non-viking fans have questioned if Leber even touched the guy, and being it was clearly uncatchable, and say it was a good call. I know why LMIT says it, its just part of his bit....but other people?

I agree that this could've been a no call. Especially in the playoffs when you're supposed to "let them play". The only thing I can think of is Leber's foot does contact the receivers foot before the ball gets there. Not sure how the rule reads whether this is considered incidental. Is it only incidental when the defender is looking for the ball? I don't know.

After a closer look. It's my opinion that the ball was uncatchable. Leber's foot made contact but the receiver was already laying out to attempt a diving catch that wasn't even close. If the receiver was sprinting to the ball and not laying out for it, maybe (big maybe) it could have been catchable. In this case Leber do not impede the receiver. Again, just my opinion but I watched it over and over again.

[james_walleye]

This is what i saw as well. Like i said, i dont blame the officials for the loss. It should have never come to OT. But it did, and it seemed that whole drive was aided but questionable call after questionable call. Some calls i thought to be just plain bad and obvious.

[zamboni]

Clearly OT in the NFL has been under question for years now. Only fair thing is to have a 10 minute OT and whomever has most points after those 10 minutes is the winner.

[Steve Foss]

Clearly OT in the NFL has been under question for years now. Only fair thing is to have a 10 minute OT and whomever has most points after those 10 minutes is the winner.

+1

[Cooter]

Agreed on the OT. I think what got the flag tossed on Leber was that he wasn't 'playing the ball'. If you're not and feet get tangled the flag usually comes out. Catchable or not is a judgement call, that one didn't look catchable - but I still liked the call!

[kitchy]

Clearly OT in the NFL has been under question for years now. Only fair thing is to have a 10 minute OT and whomever has most points after those 10 minutes is the winner.

I'm going to have to agree with that also.

[james_walleye]

Agreed on the OT. I think what got the flag tossed on Leber was that he wasn't 'playing the ball'. If you're not and feet get tangled the flag usually comes out. Catchable or not is a judgement call, that one didn't look catchable - but I still liked the call!

Well i figured it was a call that you liked haha, i wasnt questioning that. At least you recognize that it might not have been the right call.

[FISHINGURU]

I think in OT the other team should atleast get a possession, if you snivel your way down there and take 3 points and the other team gets the ball and scores a TD its over.

If they get 3 points instead you do it all over again. That would be way better then first team to score wins and 1 team gets to start with the ball.

[LMITOUT]

Maybe they shouldn't have let them return the kickoff 40 yards?

Last time I checked defense was part of the game too, including overtime.

[james_walleye]

So the rules can't be changed where defense and special teams still matter?

[zamboni]

A trip to the Super Bowl, or even the Super Bowl should NOT be decided by a coin flip. Coin flips are schoolyard and something done in bars to decide who buys the next round, it shouldn't decide the entire outcome of a game.

Remember the Bettis debacle? DUMB

[LMITOUT]

How about home team gets the ball first?

[james_walleye]

A trip to the Super Bowl, or even the Super Bowl should NOT be decided by a coin flip. Coin flips are schoolyard and something done in bars to decide who buys the next round, it shouldn't decide the entire outcome of a game.

Remember the Bettis debacle? DUMB

I agree, and i hear the arguement about "well your defense had a chance to stop them". Well in the case of the vikings/saints, the saints defense didnt even have to step on the field to secure the victory. So yeah defense and special teams should be part of overtime, and that includes both teams defenses.

[LMITOUT]

As you can see in the chart below, if the Vikings would have kicked a touchback the Saints winning percentage is approximately 50%. Allowing them to start at the 39 yard line after a 40 yard return because of shoddy tackling bumps up the winning percentage to almost 70%.

The idea I read, based on this data, was to move the kickoff to the 35 yard line which would almost ensure a touchback, therefore giving the receiving team in OT a 50/50 shot at winning.