The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated in a powerful 26-18 win over the struggling New York Giants on “Monday Evening Soccer,” however the rating might’ve been much more disparate if not for one barely controversial play.
Steelers large receiver George Pickens appeared to make a powerful landing catch within the again proper nook of the top zone within the second quarter, but it surely was dominated incomplete as a result of he didn’t get each ft down inbounds.
Nevertheless, NFL punditry lit up on-line with debate over whether or not the catch ought to’ve stood as a result of Pickens received his proper foot down twice.
The league stipulates {that a} participant will need to have each ft or a single elbow, knee, thigh, shin or buttocks down inbounds for a play to be thought-about a landing catch.
It appears ridiculous that getting the identical foot down twice — a tricky factor to do whereas being compelled out of bounds — is just not thought-about two-foot inbounds.
Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson appeared to agree post-game.
“We get the identical foot down twice, and it is clear one after which one other one, quantity two, it is nearly such as you get a knee down, and it counts as a landing. And getting two rights [feet], perhaps it ought to rely. However I do not know,” Wilson mentioned.
A rule change will unlikely be thought-about as a result of this kind of play is so uncommon, and it did not occur in a playoff or playoff-affecting recreation.
However whereas we’re at it, why not reevaluate the force-out rule? Below the previous guidelines (modified after the 2008 season), a catch would’ve been known as full if a defender pushed him out of bounds earlier than he might get each ft down.
The previous force-out rule would’ve benefitted Pickens in Monday’s contest and eradicated the two-feet controversy, particularly because the officers initially dominated it a landing.
Granted, reviving the force-out rule might increase extra questions than solutions. However in hindsight, it appeared rather a lot easier than the 2010 “Calvin Johnson rule,“ which led to the “finishing the method of the catch” phrase followers hear rather a lot these days.
Pickens has had two touchdowns known as again Monday for failing to finish the method. Maybe the method must be reevaluated but once more.
