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Steelers Baffled By Controversial Call in Loss

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't understand a crucial call early in the game.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers frequently fell on the wrong side of some important calls in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but one flag just before halftime had them particularly confused.

The Steelers were flagged for an offensive offsides penalty as they lined up for a 55-yard field goal attempt, trailing 6-3. The extra five yards of distance proved costly as Chris Boswell pulled the kick too far right. Head coach Mike Tomlin was surprised by the call. 

"I didn't get a lot of dialogue [with the officials]," Tomlin said. "I hadn't seen that called in 17 years of standing on the sidelines. Offsides, aligned offsides, on a guard on a field goal protection. It didn't matter what they said. I hadn't seen that."

Offensive lineman Issac Seumalo, the one who drew the flag, didn't understand it either. He claimed he didn't get an explanation from the officials either and felt that he didn't align any differently than he has on every field goal attempt of his career. 

“Obviously the referees saw something different," Seumalo said. "I’m sure in a couple of days we will get a nice little apology. That will warm my heart.”

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was less diplomatic with his comments postgame, saying he thought the referees wanted Jacksonville to win and that the offsides call was a crucial turning point in the game. 

"That field goal coming into the half, we needed that," Johnson said. "They got the ball back, we might have gotten the ball back at the end of the game. Who knows? That field goal hurt us.”

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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