[jackman]

That was a great game.  Any team could have won it in the end.   Can you imagine if the refs would have called that obvious pass interference call one fourth down? It was completely obvious the guy was holding Crabtree.   If they called it, Ray Lewis would have gone into a homicidal rage and knifed the ref on live TV!

[rodge827]

If they called it, Ray Lewis would have gone into a homicidal rage and knifed the ref on live TV!

 

He would then have the players union hire him a good lawyer, plead temporary? (ahem) insanity, pay a fine, marry the poor guys' wife, have a couple of kids, divorce her and be hailed as a champion of good will! 

[mcgsxr]

The second half was a great game.

I was sad that the 49'rs could not score when they got down to the 6 yard line.

I felt that the 49'rs could not buy a flag in the last 5 minutes or so.

That said, Baltimore did everything they needed to win, and congrats to a hard won victory!

[Letitroll98]

Yeah, I pretty much agree with everyone so far.  Exciting game, but not well played.  The 49ers got jobbed on that last series by both the refs and their own coaches, it was holding that wasn't called on forth down (and an interference on second down), but the play calling was terrible.  Where was the naked bootleg?  You have a 6'6" QB and don't throw a slant against the blitz?  They gained 8 yrds per play out of the pistol formation throughout the game, wasn't used once in that series.  Jim H. seemed to be out coached for most of the game by John H.  Kaepernick was 1 for 8 in redzone passes during the playoffs, maybe they should have run a few times in the redzone earlier in the game?

Anyway, a fun game to watch, the Raven's play in the redzone on both sides of the ball and Flacco's QB'ing overall won them the game by a nose.  And the 49ers don't get that 6th Superbowl to match my Steelers, so it all worked out.  I wonder why no one has called it the Zero Dark Thirty Bowl?

[launche]

Pass interference, nope.  How about you run the route properly.  He just as well ran to the defender and tried to push him down.  You did see crabtree push the defender down thus the defender then held on once he realized the play.  Crabtree did not even run the route as you are supposed to, he ran to the defender to try to push off first and then run to a fade. If you are going to just push the defender then you get held.  He still pushed the defender down, luckily the defender was good enough to hold on and throw off the timing.

That's no pass interference, not a chance.  If you don't call the push then don't call the hold that resulted from the push.  The push just as bad as the hold.  Ref made the right call.  I just don't see how people can't see Crabtree just go to the defender and push off first.  No football move just run to him and push off.  That's on Crabtree for not doing it right, usually the WR waits until the ball is closer before the push off to create space.  That stuff goes on all game, every game no need to call it there.  You think the Ravens receivers were't being held? 
Looks like the defender was on the ground saying hey where's the flag for offensive interference.

[rollo]

  Good game good food good company priceless.


charles

[jackman]

Launche,

Sorry but that was about as obvious as it gets.  The defender was literally holding on to Crabtree and not even looking at the ball.  The refs didn't make the call because of the situation (fourth down and goal in the final minutes of a Superbowl).  There was a lot of contact all day on both sides but the Ravens got away with a lot.   They should have made the call, IMO. 

I don't particularly like either team and the TD would not have affected my football pool (my numbers were very bad), but it sucked to see a call overlooked by the refs that was obvious to everyone except you and die-hard Ravens fans.   

[medium jim]

The pass has to be catchable before def interference can be called...

Jim

[jackman]

The pass has to be catchable before def interference can be called...

Jim

Nope, you can't hold a receiver (as Crabtree was being held), or bump him after five yards, even if the pass was uncatchable.   Either way, that ball was totally catchable, even with the illegal bump and blatant hold and was only a foot or two away from the receiver.  In typical games, that call is made 99/100 times.  The Ravens got a serious break.  I'm cool with it because Jim Harbaugh is a complete tool and I'm happy we didn't have to watch his smug a$$ hoisting the Lombardi...

[launche]

Well the video is there to see and yes the defender held but it was in response to Crabtree pushing him FIRST.  How anyway can't see that is beyond me, you do see the two hand push and then him pushing the defender down by the helmet right.  Crabtree went to the defender, looked at him, pushed off and then attempted to fade.  Who doesn't see that, the defender did not make first contact.  He saw it coming and good for him to grab him.  It wouldn't bother me as much if Crabtree had made football move, actually run the route. Bad route running equals no catch, he's no Jerry Rice who would have caught that ball BTW and with no hold.  If Crabtree had pushed the defender down (which he did) and then caught the ball, what would people be saying?  Would they be saying Crabtree pushed off but you can't call offensive pass interference in that spot?

Is it what is it and pass interference is not obvious to me at all.  Niners had 4 chances to win, 4, how can they or anyone cry about a 50/50 call.  I guess it's human nature for the losing side to look at all the "what if's" ways they could have won.  If you have 4 chances at the goal line and don't get in, you've got to be a man suck it up and take the loss with some humility. 

I will agree about not wanting the smug Jim Harbaugh to hold the trophy.  It seems the nicer brother definitely won.

[jimdgoulding]

Yeah, I pretty much agree with everyone so far.  Exciting game, but not well played.  The 49ers got robbed on that last series by both the refs and their own coaches, it was holding that wasn't called on forth down (and an interference on second down), but the play calling was terrible.  Where was the naked bootleg?  You have a 6'6" QB and don't throw a slant against the blitz?  They gained 8 yrds per play out of the pistol formation throughout the game, wasn't used once in that series.  Jim H. seemed to be out coached for most of the game by John H.  Kaepernick was 1 for 8 in redzone passes during the playoffs, maybe they should have run a few times in the redzone earlier in the game?

Anyway, a fun game to watch, the Raven's play in the redzone on both sides of the ball and Flacco's QB'ing overall won them the game by a nose.  And the 49ers don't get that 6th Superbowl to match my Steelers, so it all worked out.  I wonder why no one has called it the Zero Dark Thirty Bowl?

Yeah, that's about what I saw and am saying.  The Niner's were poised to put the knife in the Ravens heart, to completely blow up the game, and their coach stumbled. 

[thunderbrick]

Launche,

 The refs didn't make the call because of the situation (fourth down and goal in the final minutes of a Superbowl).

And you know that how?  I think it standard practice throughout the year that if things aren't out of hand refs tend to "let them play" late in games.  That doesn't mean flaunt the rules, but it does mean let the marginal ones go.  And Launche has it right, that call was NOT obvious!

There were loose calls all through the game, which, with the physical way the Ravens have always played may have given them an edge.  But even the announcers were 100% behind the (no) call.  Or are they in on it, too?   

[JerryM]

...The Niner's were poised to put the knife in the Ravens heart, to completely blow up the game, and their coach stumbled.

I agree. The Refs had far less to do with the outcome of the game than did the Coaches. The better team won.

And Ray Lewis goes out a Champ. You know, I've never liked this guy; ever. But, throughout the game, I watched his teammates celebrate a great individual play by mimicking various parts of his *dance*. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This game may be the best team effort I have ever witnessed.

If they all really did rally for Ray Lewis, he must be one hell of a man.

Just my .02,

Jerry

[jackman]

And you know that how?  I think it standard practice throughout the year that if things aren't out of hand refs tend to "let them play" late in games.  That doesn't mean flaunt the rules, but it does mean let the marginal ones go.  And Launche has it right, that call was NOT obvious!

There were loose calls all through the game, which, with the physical way the Ravens have always played may have given them an edge.  But even the announcers were 100% behind the (no) call.  Or are they in on it, too?   

I wouldn't rely on the announcers.  They are frequently told not to criticise the officials.  Also, you can can believe whatever you wish,  the Superbowl officiating is notoroius for being "loose".  The NFL does not want the SB decided on a controvercial call, especially late in the game. 

It's like the last shot in a basketball game.  Unless your name is Lebron or Kobe, you probably are not going to get the benefit of a body contact foul on a last second shot,  if it's the deciding game of a playoff series.  Multiply that by a million and you have last night's scenario.  The only difference is that was an obvious hold by the defender, IMO.  Up to that point, there was some hand checking going on by both guys but the defender did not play the ball, he grabbed the receiver with both hands.  When it is that obvious, it is usually called, unless it's the deciding play of the SB.   I also don't know how they missed Ed Reed three feet offsides on another red zone play earlier in the game.  That was particularly egregious. 

The damage was already done but did anyone watch the punt/safety play?  The Ravens were literally tackling defenders in the end zone (to those of you with a sketchy understanding of the rules, this is not allowed) and it allowed the Ravens to burn at least 8 additional seconds.  I don't believe in "fixes" and I'm happy that jerk-off Jim Harbaugh lost the game but those calls would have gone SF's way if it was a normal game.  Even by SB standards, they were pretty obvious, to me at least.

[rodge827]

 

The damage was already done but did anyone watch the punt/safety play?  The Ravens were literally tackling defenders in the end zone (to those of you with a sketchy understanding of the rules, this is not allowed) and it allowed the Ravens to burn at least 8 additional seconds.

I never knew of that rule. 

Thanks teach 

What would have been the penalty?

[jackman]

Rodge, I'm just trying to provide a service for the fine people in this circle.   

Lastly, even if Crabtree interfered with the defender, he did not initiate contact, and it was beyond 5 yards.  Technically, they should have called offsetting penalties and given the Niners another shot at 4th and goal.  I'm happy Baltimore won the game.  It's just disappointing to see a game like that end on a controvercial non-call.   That may have been the most exciting and most entertaining SB I have ever seen, even though I really don't follow either team. 

Collin Kapernick (sp?) is an excellent young QB.  I believe that was only the 10th or 11th game he has started.  Once he got it together, he looked very good.  It's no wonder JH gave him the starting job.

[JerryM]

...It's no wonder JH gave him the starting job.

That's the rub. Alex Smith would have won the game. 

[jackman]

That's the rub. Alex Smith would have won the game. 

If you say so.  I don't think this team would have made it out of the first round with Alex Smith at the helm.  We'll see how he does with his next team because his starting days as a Niner are history.  Kapernick (sp?) is a much better QB and he's still adjusting to the pro game.  Smith will probably be out of the league in three years or at least riding the bench for another team soon.   

[jackman]

I never knew of that rule. 

Thanks teach 

What would have been the penalty?

When an offensive lineman "tackles" a defender.  I think they call it HOLDING.   Glad I could be of assistance. 

[JerryM]

If you say so.  I don't think this team would have made it out of the first round with Alex Smith at the helm.  We'll see how he does with his next team because his starting days as a Niner are history.  Kapernick (sp?) is a much better QB and he's still adjusting to the pro game.  Smith will probably be out of the league in three years or at least riding the bench for another team soon.

You're right. But...

Not even one Wildcat call? From the 6? For the Ring???

I would have coached it differently.