Week 11 WTF Moments in the NFL

by Terry Fletcher (TerryinSoCalif) on November 22, 2016

Victory Monday is always a better way to start off this article: than saying we’ve lost again.

So it’s a good week so far.

Here are some of the head-scratching moments of the weekend. Some will say the ends always justifies the means, but I don’t know people. Some of the questionable playcalling this weekend had me thinking the Super Moon had more impact than we thought!

Steelers snap streak

The Steelers entered this week with a 4-game losing skid.

They did had a solid offensive game against the Cowboys, but the defense continued to disappoint; they ranked in the bottom half of the league in most categories.

In saying that, the Steelers traveled to Cleveland in bitter cold, snow and sleet weather, along with high winds to try and “steal” a win from the winless Browns.

Pittsburgh pulled off the victory, but not before my WTF moment near the end of the first half. With 2:40 left in the second quarter, and Steelers with the ball, score 6-0, Tomlin did not call timeout. He let the clock continue to run, and as we were getting impatient, you wouldn’t believe me unless you saw yourself what came next.

Pittsburgh gets to the goal line, and the clock is ticking. Ben Roethlisberger attempts several unsuccessful passes, and four seconds were left on the clock.

One would have thought with 4 seconds left, just kick the darn field goal, and have the Steelers up 2 scores at the half.

Granted 9-0 is not a cushion, but it is the Browns.

But no. Tomlin just got greedy and wanted that touchdown no matter the cost.

Ben finally finds Antonio Brown in the endzone, but AB couldn’t bring in the pass.

We are thinking WTF? No points?

Hold on.

Penalty.

Defensive holding.

Let’s try this again. An untimed down and new life.

Surely he’ll kick the field goal now?

Nope.

Ben attempts to connect with AB again.

Penalty.

Browns CB Joe Hayden interfered with AB as time runs out; the Steelers get a pass interference call, and another shot to score.

Kick the field goal?

Nah.

The Steelers get three shots from the 3 yard line, but it was the 1 yard run from Le’Veon Bell which finally scored on another untimed down.

Two untimed downs?

WTF.

Three attempts and still not kicking for 3?

WTF?

Not sure if that is arrogance on Tomlin’s part, or thinking it is the Browns, so why not?

Why not go for 2?

WTF!

Yep we did, and now it’s 14-0 at half.

Yes, it worked, but what if it didn’t?

(Editor’s note: yeah, I actually thought this series was over, and headed for the bathroom. Thank God for TV’s in the concourse at FirstEnergy, but still! WTF?! – Joe)

Tomlin rips officiating

I think the best WTF moment of the Steelers game, for me, was the after game presser with Coach Tomlin.

He was hot.

Even though several calls were ridiculous, I think we were all surprised he criticized the referees. Coach Tomlin will definitely be opening his wallet for calling out the officials for their poor game.

If he does it after a loss, it’s just whining, but after a win, it’s a coach saying “Look! WTF is going on here?!”

He and Bruce Arians should chat: Arians did it too!

Maybe this is why Tomlin didn’t let Boz kick?

https://twitter.com/steelcityundrgr/status/800737041457758208

Browns kicker Cody Parkey blew an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter. He was one of twelve kickers to miss a PAT on Sunday!

WTF?!

Well, that might explain things, with the high winds and winter storm across the Midwest, but what about the rest of these games/kickers?

Extra points were moved back to the 15 yard line in 2015 in an attempt to make the extra point attempt more “challenging” for kickers, instead of what was felt to be an automatic try. Before the rule change, only eight PATs were missed.

In 2015?

71.

WTF?!

And now more kicks missed in one day than the entire 2014 season.

Maybe going for two isn’t that bad after all?

Holidays

The Steelers play just 4 days later, again on the road in Indianapolis.

On Thanksgiving.

WTF?

They also play on Christmas Day and New Year’s as well.

The Colts have as bad of an offensive line as the Browns do, so let’s hopefully capitalize on that!

¡Viva México!

The Texans and Raiders played in Mexico City on Monday Night Football, and more than one thing was bizarre about this game.

First, the locker rooms had a crazy incline. I couldn’t imagine climbing those ramps to rest at halftime! WTF?

Next, there were green lasers projected at players throughout the game.

Green lasers distract NFL players at festive game in Mexico City: https://t.co/eSqnBAlVz9 pic.twitter.com/fsNhLWfTxg

— Denver Post Sports (@DPostSports) November 22, 2016

Yes, I said green lasers.

WTF?

Texans QB Brock Osweiler was asked about it following the game:

“I never want to say one thing’s a difference maker, but certainly having a laser zoomed in your eyeball definitely affects how you play a game.”

WTF!

Oh, and this crazy replay from ESPN, that didn’t show Houston WR DeAndre Hopkins stepping out-of-bounds: ESPN’s broadcast team kept clinging to a “would be” touchdown even through an additional commercial break. Fans went bonkers on social media, calling the NFL rigged, but VP of officiating Dean Blandino (who’s been plenty busy with actual blown calls) showed two angles that ESPN wouldn’t replay for some reason.

Explanation on out of bounds play from earlier in game tonight #HOUvsOAK #MexicoCity #MiPartidoMiNFL pic.twitter.com/0U3EN2wvzc

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) November 22, 2016

If this were my team, I’d be upset with the way it was shown on TV as well; but it was clearly wrong, and you can see two different angles where Hopkins stepped out. (The angle ESPN showed, was obstructed by someone standing on the sidelines.)

Clearly WTF!