Things That Make You Go, Hmm?
Carrying on the tradition found in A Zebra's Taint?, Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, there are things that make you go hmm?
Such as what many called a fixed game, from which use of original NFL video was banned by the league under copyright law. Hmm, and definitely something for coffee talk, discuss amongst yourselves...
Hmm, something that made the Nattering One quite verklempt. But that was then, and this is now, speaking of which... in Championship Sunday's Patriots - Jags tilt...
NE RT Waddle was out, as human turn style Fleming started and finished at RT; TE Gronkowski was knocked out late 1st half with a concussion (7:25 on video); Bortles matched Brady in all stats; the Jags had ZERO TO's; and a drive killing TO had the home Pats -1 TOM, since the merger such teams are 33-33...
A perfect storm, and what more could the Shags ask for? Leading 20-10 with 12 mins remaining, how did they manage to lose?
The Patriot defense shut the Jags down for the remainder, and two 4th quarter TD drives by the Pats took the lead for good with 2:48 remaining. But there's more to the story... here is the official NFL highlight video which we have (indexed), with the events below to enhance your viewing and Hmm experience. Please do excuse the commercial breaks.
With a 14-3 lead, 2:23 remain 1st half, on 3rd and 7 from the Pat 44, a 12 yd gain for a Jag 1st down at the NE 32, is negated by a mysteriously delayed, delay of game penalty. Continuation of this drive probably results in either a Jag FG or TD, and no last minute Patriot points. Hmm (6:28 on video).
After a 3rd and long fail, the Jags punted to the Pats who drove 85 yds for a TD, with 32 of those yards gifted on a dubious pass interference call. Replay shows that due to contact, the receiver had stepped out of bounds, however all of that was inconsequential as the ball was clearly uncatchable. Hmm (7:44 on video).
We thought that all of that was sorted out after the 1983 NFC Championship game? In which zebras advanced the flailing Skins to a much deserved SBXVIII thrashing. How? 10 gifted points on 3 controversial pass interference calls in which QB Theesman avoiding the sack, was clearly throwing the ball away in quite uncatchable fashion.
13:53 remain in Q4, driving for a score, the Pats Dion Lewis is stripped of the ball at the Jag 33 by Myles Jack who heads untouched for the Patriot end zone and a seeming game clinching TD. Rather than let play continue, the play is mysteriously whistled dead. Replay shows that Jack clearly recovered the fumble, and was not down by contact. Hmm. (11:52 on video).
Such as what many called a fixed game, from which use of original NFL video was banned by the league under copyright law. Hmm, and definitely something for coffee talk, discuss amongst yourselves...
Hmm, something that made the Nattering One quite verklempt. But that was then, and this is now, speaking of which... in Championship Sunday's Patriots - Jags tilt...
NE RT Waddle was out, as human turn style Fleming started and finished at RT; TE Gronkowski was knocked out late 1st half with a concussion (7:25 on video); Bortles matched Brady in all stats; the Jags had ZERO TO's; and a drive killing TO had the home Pats -1 TOM, since the merger such teams are 33-33...
A perfect storm, and what more could the Shags ask for? Leading 20-10 with 12 mins remaining, how did they manage to lose?
The Patriot defense shut the Jags down for the remainder, and two 4th quarter TD drives by the Pats took the lead for good with 2:48 remaining. But there's more to the story... here is the official NFL highlight video which we have (indexed), with the events below to enhance your viewing and Hmm experience. Please do excuse the commercial breaks.
With a 14-3 lead, 2:23 remain 1st half, on 3rd and 7 from the Pat 44, a 12 yd gain for a Jag 1st down at the NE 32, is negated by a mysteriously delayed, delay of game penalty. Continuation of this drive probably results in either a Jag FG or TD, and no last minute Patriot points. Hmm (6:28 on video).
After a 3rd and long fail, the Jags punted to the Pats who drove 85 yds for a TD, with 32 of those yards gifted on a dubious pass interference call. Replay shows that due to contact, the receiver had stepped out of bounds, however all of that was inconsequential as the ball was clearly uncatchable. Hmm (7:44 on video).
We thought that all of that was sorted out after the 1983 NFC Championship game? In which zebras advanced the flailing Skins to a much deserved SBXVIII thrashing. How? 10 gifted points on 3 controversial pass interference calls in which QB Theesman avoiding the sack, was clearly throwing the ball away in quite uncatchable fashion.
"[The Pass] it could not have been caught by a 10-foot Boston Celtic." - 49er coach Bill WalshAs a result of that fiasco, which many called a fixed game, the following off season the rules committee changed the rule, if the pass is uncatchable, there is NO interference. Which seems to have been forgotten...
PERMISSIBLE ACTS BY BOTH TEAMS WHILE THE BALL IS IN THE AIRActs that are permissible by a player include, but are not limited to: Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved players. - Rule 8, Section 5, Article 3(c)History repeats? That Patriot pass could not have been caught in bounds, not even by a 10 foot Boston Celtic. But I digress, and you will hear from the Celtics again in this piece, at any rate, halftime Jags lead cut to 14-10.
13:53 remain in Q4, driving for a score, the Pats Dion Lewis is stripped of the ball at the Jag 33 by Myles Jack who heads untouched for the Patriot end zone and a seeming game clinching TD. Rather than let play continue, the play is mysteriously whistled dead. Replay shows that Jack clearly recovered the fumble, and was not down by contact. Hmm. (11:52 on video).
Trailing 20-10, 12:03 remain in Q4, the Pats embark on an 85 yd TD drive, including a 3rd and 18 conversion in which the stuff of legends are born. No hmm, as one must give credit where due (13:00 on video).
Trailing 20-17, 6:21 remain in Q4, the Pats start a failed drive from their 19, in which another less dubious pass interference call advances their cause 36 yds to the Jag 45. Less dubious because DB Ramsey in an attempt to intercept, extends an arm across the neck of Cooks thus restricting the WR ability to catch a pass. Still a Hmm (14:44 on video).
The call does not result in an immediate scoring drive, but substantially alters ensuing field position. The resulting Pats punt pins in the Jags at their own 10. Four downs later, the Jags punt from their own end zone, which Amendola fields at the 50 and returns to the Jag 30. Hmm (15:50 on video).
The above circumstances lead to a short field 30 yd TD drive to seal the victory. Hmm (16:38 on video).
The above circumstances lead to a short field 30 yd TD drive to seal the victory. Hmm (16:38 on video).
In both cases, prior to end of half and game, TD drives aided and abetted by dubious and yellowed dirty laundry, which gifted 68 yards and set up 14 Patriot points. All told, Hmm officiating resulted in NE +14, JAX -10, which is a 24 point swing in a game ultimately decided by 4 points. Hmm, are the poor Jaguars just a playoff nervous nellie and this???
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