I am STILL confused about that @$#!'n end of the Pitt/SD game, anyone get it?

[Capybara]

I've made my peace with my $250 loss instead of $225 win, but every time I think I understand, I read something confusing again!

As I see it, the SECOND of the three passes WAS forward, so the play dies, right? So why now are the refs apologizing and saying they got it wrong??!! I thought I finally UNDERSTOOD!!

[Richkas]

Refs blew the call. Live with it. Thats old news.

[dwaechte]

Because the forward pass didn't hit the ground, the play was not automatically dead. The ref got confused thinking the forward pass hit the ground, but it was a lateral(the 3rd pass) that hit the ground.

[yisman]

^ yes

[Capybara]

Because the forward pass didn't hit the ground, the play was not automatically dead. The ref got confused thinking the forward pass hit the ground, but it was a lateral(the 3rd pass) that hit the ground.

Okay, except I don't know why the play wouldn't die even if a 2nd forward pass DOESN'T hit the ground... it should die either way or not die either way -- seems to me it shouldn't change depending on if it's caught or not.

But thanks!

[Sinister Cat]

It didn't die because that's not the rule. The ball isn't dead when there's an illegal forward pass that's caught. There's still an opportunity for the defensive team to gain an advantage with the play and decline the penalty:

http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-talk/117568-nfl-releases-statement-charger-steeler-debacle.html

[LT Profits]

A FORWARD pass that hits the ground kills the play. A lateral that hits the ground is a live ball. In this case, the first pass was ruled to be forward and was caught, The ball was then lateraled and hit the ground. Thus, it should have been a live play.

However, the refs got confused and ruled the play as if it was the forward pass that hit the ground.

[MoneySportsGuy]

I heard on my sports radio today that bookies made a statement saying on that one play it went $64 million in bets in their favor. What happend in that play?