When the Saints found themselves sitting home during the Super Bowl because of an egregious pass interference penalty in the NFC Championship, lawsuits were filed. It was talk-show fodder around the country for weeks.
And the NFL responded with a knee-jerk reaction to make pass interference penalties -- or ones that weren't called -- subject to an official review.
Sunday, the Steelers got to see first hand just how much of a rabbit hole the league crawled down with that fateful decision.
The Seahawks benefitted tremendously from a key pass interference call that came via booth review that changed the momentum of the game greatly in a 28-26 victory over the Steelers in their Pittsburgh's opener here at Heinz Field.
How dramatic a difference was it?
Playing without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers (0-2) had climbed back into the game on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mason Rudolph to Vance McDonald that made it 21-19 after Rudolph's two-point conversion attempt was intercepted with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Seahawks (2-0) picked up a first down on their ensuing possession, but the crowd, worked into a frenzy, helped get a false start on Seattle right tackle Mike Ifedi. Then, on first-and-15, guard D.J. Fluker was called for holding, making it first-and-25.
A running play picked up five yards and made it second-and-20 at the Seattle 27 when the Seahawks rolled Russell Wilson to his right. He fired a pass deep downfield to Tyler Lockett with safeties Terrell Edmunds and Kameron Kelly, who replaced an injured Sean Davis, on coverage.
The ball fell incomplete and facing third-and-20, the Seahawks essentially waved the white flag, handing the ball off for a running play. But as the ball was being snapped, Seattle coach Pete Carroll threw the challenge flag.
"The challenge came to fruition for us when we needed it," said Carroll, who had a pass interference challenge denied in the first half. "It was a legitimate opportunity. The other one I forced a little bit down there in the first half. But that was a legitimate one right there."
The New York replay office agreed.
"We take a look at it and there were three or four TV angles that show us there was clear and obvious visual evidence the receiver was significantly hindered by the defender in his attempt to make a catch," NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron told a pool reporter.
"It was clear and obvious he was significantly hindered."
This is not the first time Riveron has made a decision on replay that has cost the Steelers dearly. He also overturned a Jesse James touchdown in 2017 against New England that led to the Steelers losing that game.
We know how that worked out.
But it is the first time a team has won a challenge on a non-called pass interference play in a game. And the Steelers weren't happy about it.
"I disagreed with it," Mike Tomlin said. "I don’t believe any of us have an understanding of what the standards are once those things go to replay. I don’t know."
At least one former head coach and now current NFL analyst felt the same way.
Now in the Seattle game a non call Defensive Pass Interference does get overturned against Pittsburgh. I have no idea what is “clear and obvious” pass interference and what isn’t.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) September 15, 2019
"We thought that was a big stop there," Edmunds added. "We thought they were going to kick it. Then, they end up overturning the call."
The energy was sucked out of Heinz Field following that play. And moments later, Wilson essentially put the game away, throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-4, 229-pound rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf, who caught the ball over Edmunds despite good coverage.
"Regardless of what is going on, that’s my play to make. I’ve got to make it," Edmunds said.
But the Steelers wish it had never come to that point.
"That’s my first time in that situation, so we’ll get a better idea Monday of how we can respond and the things that were done out there in that situation," defensive end Stephon Tuitt said. "Right now, they got the call and we got the short end of the stick on that."
It wasn't the only beneficial call the Seahawks got in the game. They also benefitted from a questionable personal foul penalty on a field goal attempt in the first half on which Daniel McCullers was called for falling onto long snapper Tyler Ott.
That came with the Steelers leading 7-0 in the second quarter. And one play after the penalty, Wilson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly to tie the score.
The Steelers scored a field goal at the end of the first half to regain the lead, but could have taken a 10-3 lead into the half.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
MASON'S DAY
Rudolph very nearly rallied the Steelers after replacing Roethlisberger in the second half.
But it didn't start well. His first pass was an incompletion thrown at James Conner's feet. His second, on third-and-8 bounced off the hands of Donte Moncrief and into the waiting arms of safety Bradley McDougald at the Pittsburgh 40.
That led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Dissly as the Seahawks took a 14-10 lead they would not relinquish.
But on the Steelers' next possession, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner dialed up a flea flicker for his young quarterback.
He wound up after taking the pitch from Conner and fired 45 yards downfield to JuJu Smith-Schuster.
"I hadn't run it once, but we have a few times in practice," Rudolph said. "So I had a good feel for the play and taking care of the ball there. JuJu did a great job. I underthrew the ball. We probably could have scored there if I was more accurate."
The Steelers wound up getting a field goal off that possession to cut the Seattle lead to 14-13, but Rudolph, seeing his first NFL action after being selected in the third round of last year's draft, did throw a pair of touchdown passes to McDonald in the fourth quarter.
"He handled himself really well. He came in ready to go," guard David DeCastro said. "He knew the playbook. He had a good command. That was impressive. I wish we would have gotten a win for him."
With Roethlisberger's status unknown at this time, Rudolph just might get that chance next week when the Steelers travel to San Francisco.
"We'll talk as an offensive staff and figure out what's Ben's situation," said Rudolph, who completed 12-of-19 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. "Obviously, the reps in practice might change, but my approach won't change. The diligence and routine every week, I always believed in preparing like I was the starter, if I was or not, through college and the last two years. That's how I'll approach it."
DEFENSIVE LETDOWNS
The Steelers limited the Seahawks to just seven points in the first half, sacking Wilson four times.
In the second half, however, Seattle did a better job of getting the ball out of Wilson's hands more quickly, not allowing the pass rush to get to him. Then, when the pass rush did close, the Seahawks offensive linemen allowed the rushers to work past Wilson and open up things for a couple of key scrambles on Seattle's final possession.
That helped the Seahawks run out the clock.
"That's on the rush, simple as that," Cam Heyward admitted.
Wilson finished with 300 passing yards, with 29 completions on 35 passes. He had just two incompletions in the second half.
"He was doing a good job of getting it to his receivers," said Tuitt, who had 2.5 sacks. "Russell Wilson is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. They adjusted on their side and he made a couple of really good throws. They capitalized. They saw something in our defense and they capitalized on it."
The Seahawks felt they had to get the ball out of Wilson's hands quickly to slow the pass rush. And they also attacked the Steelers in the middle of the field, taking advantage of rookie linebacker Devin Bush, who again struggled in coverage.
They also started feeding Lockett in the slot. After getting just two targets last week against the Bengals, Lockett had 10 catches -- on 12 targets -- for 79 yards. Dissly had five catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He had eight receptions and two touchdowns all of last season as a rookie.
Covering tight ends and slot receivers have been an issue for the Steelers.
The Steelers gave up the second-most completions and fifth-most yardage to slot receivers last year and 15 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns on slot routes last week in a loss at New England.
THE INJURIES
• Ben Roethlisberger (elbow, did not return)
• James Conner (knee, did not return)
• Sean Davis (shoulder, did not return)
• Anthony Chickillo (ankle, did not return)
• Roosevelt Nix (knee, Out)
THE NOTES
After his drop, Moncrief, who had an issue catching the ball against the Patriots, did not play another snap. ... Conner finished with just 33 yards on 11 carries before leaving with a knee injury. ... Rookie Benny Snell gained 23 yards on a short-yardage carry, his first in his NFL career. ... The Steelers recovered a pair of fumbles that led to scores. The first was by inside linebacker Mark Barron. The second was by Bush. ... The Steelers were just 3 of 12 on third downs last week against the Patriots and just 3 of 11 in this game. ... Seattle held a 35:46-24:14 advantage in time of possession. ... Edmunds led the Steelers with 11 tackles. ... In addition to his 2.5 sacks, Tuitt also had two tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits. ... Since 2000, teams that start 0-2 have a 12.6 percent chance of making the postseason, but two teams did it last season -- Seattle and Houston. ... The Steelers last started 0-2 in 2013.
THE SCHEDULE
The Steelers will return to the field next Sunday in San Francisco. In the meantime, they'll have a team meeting and locker room availability from 1:15 to 2 p.m Monday.
THE COVERAGE
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MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers vs. Seahawks, Heinz Field, Sept. 15, 2019 -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS