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Focus on the game, nothing else

by Joseph Landini
Exchange Staff

     Last Sunday, for the first time in NFL history, a game ended with the final score of 11-10, or did it? Due to an errant call by the officials, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers 11-10, instead of 18-10. Although this does not affect the win-loss column, the point swing affected both the gambling and fantasy football worlds.

     The final play of the game featured a few laterals by the Chargers, which ultimately ended in the pick up by Steelers safety Troy Polomalu. Polomalu proceeded to run the ball into the end zone for the score. The referees reversed the call saying that the first pass was an illegal one, even though the rule states that the ball must hit the ground for the play to be dead. The ball never hit the ground until the second lateral, so it was a live play.

     This was extremely controversial because over $10 million was bet on this game. That number does not include the money gambled illegally. Pittsburgh was favored by four points in the game. If the Polomalu touchdown had counted, everyone who bet the Steelers would have won. Due to the switch in calls, everyone who bet San Diego won because Pittsburgh did not cover the spread. In my opinion, whoever bet on this game should neither gain their winnings nor pay their losses. The referee even admitted to making the wrong call. Unfortunately it does not work that way in the gambling world. Once the game goes final the bets are final. San Diego betters are fortunate the wrong call was the official one, because if not they would have to pay their debts. In my opinion the game, gambling-wise, should be a draw.

     In the world of fantasy football the standard point gain for a defensive touchdown and a fumble recovery is eight points. A point loss for a defense giving up a touchdown is usually three points.  All of which makes that one play an 11 point swing, if the right call was made. The right call would have made the Steelers gain eight points because of their defense, and the defense of San Diego would have lost three points. My cousin, John Morrison, had Pittsburgh's defense in fantasy football. He lost his game by one point this week. If the right call was made, he would have won in his fantasy football league. It is tough to say what would be a fair call, but in my opinion the fairest way to solve it is that either both teams get the points or both teams do not. Around the world there were fantasy owners, like my cousin, who got screwed out of wins this week. This controversial call not only affects money, but bragging rights as well. Fantasy Football goes by what the official stats show, though, not what is right.

     What should be the focus of this game is that the Steelers came back and won the game in the final minutes, not the effect it had on Fantasy owners and gamblers around the world. It bothers me that the focus is not on Jeff Reid's heroics in this game. Jeff Reid is the kicker for the Steelers, who won the game with less than a minute left. The game itself should not be overshadowed by gambling and fantasy football, but unfortunately this time it has.
 

San Diego Charger Quarterback Phillip Rivers

(Photo: flickr.com)