There have undoubtedly been better years for a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. These are two of the NFL’s most storied franchises, and the 2023 Steelers are (kind of?) good, while the three-win Packers are enjoying one of their worst seasons in decades.
Nevertheless, that did not make this close battle in Pittsburgh immune to controversy.
Late in the second quarter, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a dump-off pass to running back Jaylen Warren. It seemed pretty clear that Pickett’s pass went backward, making it a fumble when Warren dropped it, allowing the Packers to run it back the other way for a touchdown. Except that’s not how the officials saw it, calling the play incomplete. Never mind that they blew the play dead while Warren literally rolled around with the ball.
When the Packers unsuccessfully challenged the sequence, CBS announcer Charles Davis said he “vehemently” disagreed, insinuating he believed Green Bay got screwed:
Charles Davis doesn't have as spirited an argument with Gene Steratore that Cris Collinsowrth had with Terry McAulay, but the CBS analyst let the former head official that he disagrees, "vehemently."
Steratore really taking a stand here: "To me, it was just not enough to… pic.twitter.com/HjfadUy9Ga
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 12, 2023
I understand that many NFL rules seem Byzantine by design, but that looks like a pretty clear lateral to me. Rules analyst Gene Steratore offering up a weak defense of the officials’ call (“I just felt like it was a tough one” … really?) should be all the confirmation we need.
Of course, while football isn’t played in a vacuum, this call did end up costing the Packers dearly. They would lose 23-19 in heartbreaking fashion.
This was how Twitter reacted to the Steelers' non-lateral
This is 100% a lateral what a joke#Packers pic.twitter.com/uNhulSpnxc
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) November 12, 2023
Charles Davis all over that one. That's a lateral.
Should have been a Packers TD too.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) November 12, 2023
Great call by CBS' Charles Davis, who immediately called PIckett's pass a lateral.
It should be the Packers' ball, but the zebras flat-out blew it.— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) November 12, 2023
THATS A LATERAL! THATS A TOUCHDOWN
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) November 12, 2023
This was a lateral and a Packer recovery for a TD. Called an incomplete pass. Do better @NFL https://t.co/DeYLBy1s4Z
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) November 12, 2023
@ nfl officiating pic.twitter.com/tGcidFeIVb
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) November 12, 2023
Steratore defending at all costs. He's totally wrong here. https://t.co/6MDkxY7aLB
— Ethan Carter (@EthanCarterSW) November 12, 2023
Props to Charles calling out Gene, these replay guys will never go against what the refs decide on and they need to be called out on that https://t.co/a8y1nYzxTV
— Elliott B (@SconnieFanBoy93) November 12, 2023
The. Play. Was. Whistled. Dead. While. Warren. Was. Rolling. With. The. Football. https://t.co/1Axn7E8W83
— DixonDisciple (@DixonDisciple) November 12, 2023
