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Steelers' Mike Tomlin: 'It Was an Embarrassment' for Referees to Review Metcalf Catch

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 18, 2021

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on October 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The end of regulation during Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks was chaotic, and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin was not a fan of how it was officiated even though his team prevailed in overtime.

Seattle was down by three points in the final 10 seconds with no timeouts remaining when wide receiver DK Metcalf fumbled the ball while fighting for extra yards instead of going out of bounds.

While teammate Freddie Swain recovered it, the clock was moving and the Seahawks needed to scramble to spike the ball and set up a potential game-tying field goal. As they were doing that, the officials stopped play and reviewed if it was a completion even though Metcalf clearly caught the ball:

NFL @NFL

Madness on this play.<a href="https://twitter.com/Seahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Seahawks</a> get into field goal range with seconds left.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEAvsPIT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SEAvsPIT</a> on NBC<br>📱: NFL app <a href="https://t.co/xKD5WbIfKH">pic.twitter.com/xKD5WbIfKH</a>

That allowed the Seahawks to spike the ball with far fewer moving pieces and three seconds left after the review, and Jason Myers drilled the ensuing 43-yard field goal to force overtime.

Tomlin called the officiating during that sequence an "embarrassment" when speaking to reporters afterward:

Josh Rowntree @JRown32

Tomlin on final play of regulation. Said it was “an embarrassment” by officials. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/BgR1ngRNgX">pic.twitter.com/BgR1ngRNgX</a>

Fortunately for the Steelers, they still won 23-20 in overtime thanks to T.J. Watt.

Watt ended Seattle's first drive in overtime with a clutch third-down sack and then forced a fumble on the visitors' second possession by working his way through multiple blockers and getting to quarterback Geno Smith.

The Steelers recovered the fumble inside the red zone, and Chris Boswell connected on the game-winning, 37-yard field goal.

The Steelers improved to 3-3 with the win and are heading into their bye in Week 7 before a critical AFC North showdown against the Cleveland Browns.