Indy Is Not Undefeated

Indianapolis was handed a victory this week. Handed over. Given by the refs. Terribly officiated. Ripped from the Patriots. And, as we've grown accustomed to, I have visual evidence.

This was called pass interference.

Please note: The cornerback is playing the ball. The wide receiver is stopping. This contact is initiated by the stopping wide receiver and therefore, if there is any penalty, it is offensive pass interference. It certainly is not defensive. This was a 40+ yard penalty. The Colts scored.

Then came the most controversial decision of the game. Fourth and two, up by six, on your own 28 yard line. The Patriots go for it. If they succeed, they are brilliant. If they fail, they should have punted. What's the verdict? The Patriots converted the first down but the refs made sure the Colts got the ball.

Here is my proof:


Please note: Kevin Fault, at this point has complete control of the ball. His down field foot is on the thirty yard line (what they needed to cross for the first down) and the ball is in his upfield hand. There is no way that the ball is behind the 30. Here is a close up look so you can see that he has the ball and it is further up the field than his left foot.


Faulk was tackled backward and the ball was placed at the 28 yard line, where he hit the ground. The referee needs to be reacquainted with the concept of forward progress. I know it's a new concept and the Colts can't win if you call the play the way it actually happened. But Patriots first down is the right call!

The call on the field was Colt's ball. They were incorrectly given the ball at the Patriots 28 yard line. They scored and won the game by 1 point.

NFL network does a segment called "Official Review" where they ask Mike Pereira (VP of NFL refs) to account for or explain some of the more difficult or questionable calls from the previous week. Here is the Week 10 episode. Now, usually, the really egregious game changers are not discussed so I was shocked when they opened with the 4th and 2 play. Occasionally, Mike says "we blew the call." Of course, he only says that when it didn't decide the game. He couldn't say that now, because blowing the call means giving the game to the Colts. Here is what he said about the call on the field: "It's almost near impossible to tell where the receiver had possession." Why don't you just say, "Nearly, almost, somewhat, close to being, kinda really hard to know." Way to make an excuse as to why the wrong call was made on the field. But he did say, "The one thing that I appreciate is that it was a quick decisive decision by [the referee]." Give me a break! Oh, that's right, I want a fast call. Forget about making the right call. I don't care if it's right or wrong ~ you better make that call fast! I want the same thing in other things, like pregnancy tests. I don't care how accurate it is but that test better be fast! It was the wrong call. The Colt's lost.

I have now removed the Colt's from the undefeated list on the sidebar. Had either of the above calls been made correctly the Patriots win this game. End of story!