When the 9-7 Pittsburgh Steelers face the 13-3 Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, it means absolutely nothing to the Ravens, who have wrapped up the AFC’s one-seed. But for the Steelers, it means everything — they need to beat whoever the Ravens put on the field, and they also need help. Pittsburgh makes the playoffs under the following scenarios:
- PIT win + BUF loss OR
- PIT win + JAX loss or tie OR
- PIT win + HOU-IND tie OR
- PIT tie + JAX loss + HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie OR
- JAX loss + DEN win + HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie
And now, the NFL has presented its own scenario in which the game will be officiated by referee Brad Allen and his crew, who should not be officiating any game, anywhere, at any level of football.
Referee for Steelers at Ravens (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) @ESPNNFL — Brad Allen
https://t.co/rfNfLSzutH #PITvsBAL pic.twitter.com/RouirNWWFr— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) January 2, 2024
In case you’ve been sleeping since last weekend, Allen and his crew were responsible for the tackle-eligible mistake and several other horrible calls that turned things in the Dallas Cowboys’ favor against the Detroit Lions, taking Detroit out of any hope for the NFC’s one-seed, which the San Francisco 49ers now have. Allen and his crew were also responsible for the missed pass interference call on cornerback Carrington Valentine against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. Allen and his crew were also responsible for the one-sided farce in the Week 7 game between the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles.
And now, after all that, the most incompetent officiating crew in the NFL will “administrate” a major prime-time game with serious postseason implications. So much for accountability!
As you might expect, America was not at all happy about it.
This comes after the non-DPI call in Chiefs/Packers
After not calling roughing the passer (which Za'Darius Smith was later fined for) in Bears/Browns which cost Chicago a field goal opportunity
After the 'who's eligible anyways' blunder in Lions/Cowboys
But sure, let's reward… https://t.co/G60la92sqw
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) January 2, 2024
"I was part of the Fail Mary when the NFL got too cheap to pay the refs what they're due..
There's been a lot of talk about the end of the Lions game and there needs to be some accountability..
It seemed like Brad Allen left before what could be said" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UVKxMdg1wR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024
"The tripping call that the refs made before that was also a total miss..
The game shouldn't have even got to that situation" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive https://t.co/TVobEFcsRN pic.twitter.com/1qAccesPcX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024
https://t.co/HxTaPaCPKr pic.twitter.com/qKAHxXctY0
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 2, 2024
If I thought the NFL had any integrity, I'd be shocked at them allowing Brad Allen to ref this weekend.
But alas, it's clear they don't care. And as a result, calls of corruption are no longer a fringe conspiracy thing.
The NFL has shown their ass to everyone.
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) January 2, 2024
NFL is really going to let Brad Allen go unpunished? He’s flat out lying. Dude never talked to Dan Skipper and nods right at Decker. Then announces 70 as eligible. The pure negligence is bad but to double down and lie? Good lord. Suspend and fine his ass pic.twitter.com/XlaS2adb8c
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 31, 2023
Brad Allen is back in a prime slot
after the debacle in Dallas which screwed the Lions on primetime TV, he is back in a standalone game:
Brad Allen will ref Steelers at Ravens 4:30pm ET on Saturday https://t.co/gmRVvPS6fo
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 2, 2024
Autopilot from Brad Allen. I can’t get over this. Look at Decker the whole clip. pic.twitter.com/Sm7Sur0FAA
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 31, 2023
The officiating crew for Steelers/Ravens will be… Brad Allen.
So much for punishing refball. pic.twitter.com/bhRKGCDRr7
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) January 2, 2024
Brad Allen when he has a chance to ruin another game pic.twitter.com/aHjR1pBLm4
— President of the LaPorta Supporta’s (@bradholmes4prez) January 2, 2024
#NFL fans seeing that Brad Allen’s crew is on national television again pic.twitter.com/jMLF3Ruprz
— BetFTW (@Bet_ForTheWin) January 2, 2024
Time to see if the only thing that can stop the ravens is Brad Allen’s officiating crew. https://t.co/Dyp0OReW62
— Eth❄️n 🌹🎶🇺🇦 (@DarthWittebane) January 2, 2024
Chiefs/Packers game. Late hit on Fields in Cleveland game. Lions/Cowboys debacle….but NFL just rolls them back out. #nfl #BradAllen https://t.co/pVXjtdjDmc
— Jeff Adell (@seeking6) January 2, 2024
“Now, you’re going to repeat back what I just said to you…” https://t.co/VaIXUIkX6I pic.twitter.com/xURBElp1Tp
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) January 2, 2024
Sure, he's got talent, but what sets him apart is his NO QUIT attitude.
Gotta keep on grindin'…have a short memory…all that crap. pic.twitter.com/rznpZ5sjrH— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) January 2, 2024
