The Steelers' game against the Bills proved one thing if anything else: the referees, as much as the players, need to use the game to sharpen their skills. For the second preseason game in a row, the Steelers have had egregious blown calls against their wide receivers.
In the Steelers' preseason game against the Texans, a crucial sideline catch was ruled incomplete by the referees. Instant replay clearly showed it was a complete catch. The decision not to challenge this call by Mike Tomlin remains a mystery. Had he done so, it could have significantly altered the game's outcome in favor of the Steelers.
Lightning struck again last night against the Bills when George Pickens made a beautiful sideline catch. The referees, however, ruled it incomplete. This time, Mike Tomlin challenged the ruling on the field. The final decision was that it was still an incompetent pass. However, photographic evidence suggests the referees managed to blow the call after reviewing it.
The call in question may have actually been a completed pass
Looking at photographic evidence of the George Pickens catch could lead one to conclude that the referee's decision to rule the play an incomplete pass only adds fuel to the ever-burning fire of referee competency in the NFL. This photo will give you a reason to question their decision.
The photo shows George Pickens cradling the football as his second foot touched inbounds. Then his foot drug out of bounds, and he fell to the ground, but he still held onto the ball through completion. More perplexing is that the referees made no clear decision about why they ruled the pass incomplete.
The decision only leads fans to one of two conclusions. The referees either botched the replay review or had a reason for ruling it incomplete, yet never provided it. There could only be one logical reason for that, and it would have been that Pickens had not established control before going out of bounds. If so, why didn't they say that?
There is only one possible justification for the referees to rule the pass incomplete. It hinges on when George Pickens established control of the football. In the picture, it's hard to determine if Pickens had any control there or if it was established after his foot went out of bounds. If Pickens established control after going out of bounds, the replay images taken from cameras in front of Pickens indicate he may have had control as he went out. In contrast, this image establishes that he clearly brought his foot down inbounds.
If the referees questioned any question of control, their proper response should have been that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the call. They never even did that. All we got was a review, the referee taking time to tie his shoelaces on both shoes and word from the announcers that the replay was unsuccessful.
In football, the NFL may be unable to establish a system to prevent blown calls. If the referees did not blow the call, they needed to at least explain their decision. They did not. It leads to speculation they might not have gotten it right. Situations like these are going to continuously haunt the NFL until they finally make major changes in refereeing. Something they have drugged their feet on for way too long.