Even after a win, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was not in the mood to mince his words. Typically measured when it comes to talking about officiating, Tomlin was livid about how the final sequence of regulation during Sunday night’s game played out.
“I hated it,” Tomlin said of an official’s replay review of DK Metcalf’s catch and fumble during a frenetic closing seconds of the fourth quarter.
“I just hated it.”
The decision by the officials to look at Metcalf’s fumble to ensure it was one drew Tomlin’s ire in part because the play appeared to be an obvious fumble. Metcalf, the Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 wide receiver, came down with the catch and made a juke before James Pierre jarred the ball loose.
Why in the world is this a replay review? #Seahawks
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) October 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/cNRWUNWLWR
But what likely incensed Tomlin about the replay review was that it stopped the game, ultimately, with 3 seconds on the clock when Seattle was down by three points and at the Steelers’ 25.
“I cannot believe that game was stopped to confirm catch/no catch in that moment,” Tomlin said. “That’s all I’m gonna say.”
A member of the NFL’s competition committee, Tomlin was then asked if he was given an explanation from the officiating crew for as to why the play was reviewed.
“That’s all I’m gonna say,” Tomlin said.
Then, a moment later, he relented.
“It was an embarrassment.”
The Seahawks’ Jason Myers made a 43-yard field goal as time expired in regulation after Seattle was allowed to snap the ball with 3 seconds to play and did so with a clock-killing spike.
The Steelers, though, won the game in overtime 23-20.
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