In what was billed as the game of the year, the Patriots and Steelers delivered on Sunday in a game that came down to the final play.
After New England scored a touchdown to take the lead late, the Steelers needed a field goal to send the game to overtime, and they got into field goal range quickly.
JUJU! #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/qKnP38lKGk
โ NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2017
With a lot of time remaining, the Steelers decided to try and take the lead with a touchdown. For a moment, it looked like Jesse James scored to put Pittsburgh back on top, but a controversial call changed that.
The internet lost it after the catch was reserved and it was ruled an incomplete pass.I can't stand the #Steelers and I will never stick up for them, BUT unbelievable that the catch by Jesse James is not considered a catch/Touchdown. #NEvsPIT pic.twitter.com/R6cDzMKTg8
โ (@3lone) December 18, 2017
Jesse James catch overturned is a hard rule to comprehend. Thatโs a catch all day. Then fake spike/slant is insane. Tough way to lose
โ Chris Cooley (@thecooleyzone) December 18, 2017
Absolutely Ridiculous!!๐ก๐ก๐ก #SteelersVsPatriots #CatchRuleMustBeAdressed
โ Greg Jennings (@GregJennings) December 18, 2017
Now that was a football game!! But the Steelers got played! Ball was across the Goal Line!!!
โ David Clowney IV (@DavidClowney) December 18, 2017
How in the hell is that not a touchdown?! #SteelersVsPatriots
โ Kraig Urbik (@kraigurbik) December 18, 2017
Bull$&@& Call. James catches, pulls in, then stretches out
โ Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 18, 2017
He caught the football. He extended it across the goal line. It shouldnโt be this complicated. All the โcompleting the processโ is dumbassery. He caught it when he caught it. https://t.co/7wzzByVBRo
โ Jeff Cavanaugh (@JC1053) December 18, 2017
Bullshit. That was a touchdown.
โ Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) December 18, 2017
There are real problems if the rule book says that Jesse James TD catch for the Steelers was 'technically' incomplete.
โ Gary Segars (@GaryWCE) December 18, 2017
1. Caught the ball
2. Made a football move
3. Knee down
4. Broke the plane
5. Ball was bobbled after his elbow hit the ground
Unreal. I quit the NFL.
Would have never happened if Jesse James had presented three forms of I.D. at the goal line.
โ Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) December 18, 2017
Jesse James touchdown wasnโt a catch but this was? ๐ค @NFL https://t.co/Nor3XUViiC
โ Naythan (@NateCain11) December 18, 2017
The NFL is absolute garbage. HOW was that not a touchdown by Jesse James?
โ GoodGameBroHoHo ๐ (@GoodGameBro) December 18, 2017
I mean if Dez didnโt catch it then they got it right, no way in hell Jesse James caught it.
โ Kevin Turner (@ktfuntweets) December 18, 2017
Jesse James caught the ball, got his knee down, was not touched, and essentially carried the ball into the end zone. It is absolutely not the same as catching the ball IN the end zone. Absolutely horrendous call.
โ James Koh (@JamesDKoh) December 18, 2017
Benโs reaction when they overturned that Jesse James Touchdown. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/igsBLKsn5a
โ Al Smizzle (@AlZeidenfeld) December 18, 2017
Jesse James scored a TD and everyone knows it. He possessed the ball and it was over the goal line so that should be a touchdown. Absolute garbage rules in the @NFL. That was a catch
โ Hawkeye Recruiting (@Iowa_Recruiting) December 18, 2017
Jesse James had a knee down and reached across the goal line. He's no longer a receiver there but a runner. It's the Dez 'catch' all over again. It's the biggest rules issue facing this league. They need to fix this.
โ Cedric Golden (@CedGolden) December 18, 2017
If this isnโt called a touchdown is goes from best to worst game of the year immediately.
โ Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) December 18, 2017
TV off. Knee,elbow, and two feet down. Give me a break.
โ Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) December 18, 2017
Man thatโs some bull shit that was a catch man. I donโt give a damn what anyone say. #NEvsPIT
โ Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) December 18, 2017
Here is the catch rule applicable to the overturned call on Jesse James' potential go-ahead TD reception: pic.twitter.com/y4r6viDroO
โ ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 18, 2017
26 second in... this was a catch and a TD in Super Bowl 12. Had possession when ball broke plane. Seems more logical no? https://t.co/cSNmdMb0Kl
โ trey wingo (@wingoz) December 18, 2017
So this is a catch... but this ISN'T? pic.twitter.com/ktxD2Xveqx
โ 12up (@12upSport) December 18, 2017
An NFL catch is like a Euclidean point; A leap of faith, a hazy explanation and a necessary predicate for the rest of the elements.
โ Jane McManus (@janesports) December 18, 2017
RT if you think this was a catch and a touchdown... pic.twitter.com/AOUz1UAI7q
โ Benstonium (@Benstonium) December 18, 2017
.@MikePereira If the NFL created a rule that means this isn't a catch, the NFL f'ed up a rule that was working just fine for almost 100 years. Y'all broke something that was fixed, instead of the other way around. pic.twitter.com/xwlXakfK2K
โ mike fisher โญ (@fishsports) December 18, 2017
The NFL has a problem. For about 5 minutes everybody in that stadium and at home thought the Steelers just won the game. And that was taken away because the league doesn't know what a catch is anymore. Get rid of replay, get rid of the micro-analysis, and stop ruining football.
โ Bill Buchanan (@BigActionBill) December 18, 2017
For 80 years of pro football that was unquestionably a catch and a touchdown. Now it's not. That isn't "getting it right". It's ridiculous.
โ nick wright (@getnickwright) December 18, 2017
Of course it moved! That's what happens when an impact happens. Giant dude holding a ball hitting the ground. Things move. Such an obvious catch. My good god. I am a huge patriots fan but come on. That's insane. Sorry #Steelers. You deserved this win.
โ Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) December 18, 2017
The Dez Bryant Rule strikes.
โ Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 18, 2017
Breaking the plane should also be enough in the process of the catch like that.
The only thing more controversial than the catch was the final play as Big Ben faked the spike, tried to throw for the TD and was intercepted.
The internet went nuts about that play call, too.
OMG ๐ฎ... damn when will QBs learn kick the god damn field goal not the time to try be the hero! ๐
โ Jerome Messam (@JMessam) December 18, 2017
No team has as many opponents make stupid decisions to help them out as the #Patriots do!!
โ Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) December 18, 2017
You donโt throw a slant there, Ben. You throw a fade. This is Russell Wilson & the SB all over again. @Steelers just lost the AFC (assuming they have to go to Foxboro to get there). Just like that. All because of an absolute BS call. Damn!!!
โ Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 18, 2017
NO WAY. #NEvsPIT
โ Nabil Karim (@NabilKarimTSN) December 18, 2017
Unbelievable game! @Patriots put a ๐ on the sidelines
โ Danny Valencia (@dannyvalencia19) December 18, 2017
โ andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) December 18, 2017
Hey @steelers donโt feel bad he got us all. ๐ญ
โ Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) December 18, 2017
The curse of #BillBelichek. #NEvsPIT #PittChoked #GreatGame
โ Takeo Spikes, M.B.A (@TakeoSpikes51) December 18, 2017
What. A. Game.
โ Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 18, 2017
Ben. Roethlisberger. Will. Never. Skip. An. Opportunity. To. Blame. Someone. Else. https://t.co/HjvvGkj8oW
โ Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) December 18, 2017
Ben Roethlisberger.... There is only one Dan Marino. pic.twitter.com/zwPxsa7zV2
โ Maximiliano Bretos (@mbretosESPN) December 18, 2017
Ben Roethlisberger trying to get out of the Steelers stadium after the game.
โ Cameron Ghost (@coolghost101) December 18, 2017
#NEvsPIT #Patriots #Steelers https://t.co/aApCF02jQP
Roethlisberger said the original call was to spike the ball. But he gave Eli Rogers a head nod and changed it to a fake spike
โ Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 18, 2017
Ben Roethlisberger called for the slant, Romo called for the fade. In Romo I trust. #NEvsPIT pic.twitter.com/Ays5b5qTGB
โ YourSports (@YourSports) December 18, 2017
That was so incredibly stupid. Spike it!! Even I was yelling at my TV. Kick the FG and tie the game. Steelers deserve to lose
โ Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) December 18, 2017
Fake spike? pic.twitter.com/4awnKTDOQe
โ Patrik Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 18, 2017
The NFL hands the Patriots a win. Straight up handed it to them. But the fact that the Steelers didn't spike the ball there is completely idiotic.
โ James Neveau (@JamesNeveau) December 18, 2017
Harmon says the offense tries to pull off a fake spike every week in practice pic.twitter.com/Gd5AeQsaiS
โ Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) December 18, 2017
The Steelers fake the spike ... and the Patriots pick it off! WHAT A FINISH. pic.twitter.com/ZKY70P9ZGb
โ FOX Sports (@FOXSports) December 18, 2017
What a terrible, terrible play by Pittsburgh. Spike it, take three, go to OT. Awful.
โ Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) December 18, 2017
Brady TD drive
โ SEC Country (@SECcountry) December 18, 2017
JuJu unreal catch/run
Big Ben TD pass called not a catch
Fake spike tipped ball INT game winner pic.twitter.com/FYF5yIF3Jv
