Originally posted by SofaKing:
Referees have been reluctant to throw flags in the final minutes since the beginning of mankind. It is a well known fact. It's our own fault for calling such stupid plays to put our fates in the hands of a PI call.
It wasn't just the last few minutes. Scout the comments on the board and look at the tape. There were many times when after the whistle blew a Raven player hit a Niner right in front of a referee with no call. That is almost always called. Remember the first down call on the catch by the tight end. It was clear on TV that he was almost a yard short. The ref was standing to the sideline right on the first down marker. It wasn't close. If anything it should have been measured before awarding the first down. Harbaugh challenged and won. I saw one hold on the long kick return. Others saw two. Smith clearly had a handful of Crabs jersey and had both arms around him while the ball is in the air. Don't care about last two minutes. That is PI, the rules are clear. Ed Reed was way across the line on his blitz and probably lined up in the neutral zone. Phil Sims called it. There were many more.
I have never once in 30 years had to ask my self whether this was a set up, collusion on the refs part. Was watching this with my wife, who is now a very astute football fan and she felt very strongly that there were far to many of these no calls or bad calls that were so blatant that went almost entirely in favor of the Ravens not to ask the question of whether there was collusion to throw the game the Ravens way.
With all the hype of Ravens team of destiny, Ray Lewis, the line in Vegas in our favor, and a review of the game tape, one can easily pass the paranoia test when they bring up the possibility that something might have been going on.