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Friday, November 27, 1998 By Bob Smizik, Post-Gazette Sports Columnist
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Don't blame it on the referees. Blame it on the Steelers. Yes, the officiating in yesterday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions was several degrees beyond terrible. The Steelers weren't much better.
Yes, referee Phil Luckett gave the Lions possession at the start of overtime in a monumental mistake for which he should be fired no later than this afternoon. But the Steelers should have won the game long before Luckett said the Lions won the coin toss to start overtime when, by all indications, they did not.
The problems of the Steelers, now 7-5, go well beyond officiating.
Of course, the Steelers are not out of the postseason picture. In the parity-stricken National Football League, that's a virtual impossibility after 12 games. But in order to win the Central Division championship, barring a collapse by first-place Jacksonville, they must win their four remaining games. That's a difficult task for a team that has not won more than two in succession this season.
There might not be a call in NFL history as bad as Luckett's, who claimed Jerome Bettis called heads at the overtime coin toss when Bettis clearly called tails. But that was hardly the only mistake by this crew.
It called an obvious interception by the Lions' Robert Bailey in the second quarter an incomplete pass. Granted possession they didn't deserve, the Steelers went in for a field goal.
It called what probably was a legal catch in the end zone by Detroit's Johnnie Morton in the fourth quarter an incompletion.
Cowher was visibly angry when he addressed the media.
"What makes me mad is when you fight and scratch for 60 minutes out there and then it's decided by people who wear striped shirts. There's something wrong with that."
That was a gut-level reaction from a coach whose team's playoff chances had just been dealt a dagger to the heart.
But seconds later, Cowher regained his composure and said, "We lost the game. Give Detroit credit. They won it. I'm not saying we lost the game because of the officials."
Officials, like players and coaches, make mistakes. But in this game, the officials' mistakes hurt the Lions as much as the Steelers. More pertinent is this:
The Steelers' offense is in shambles. Quarterback Kordell Stewart is throwing the ball exceptionally well, but the running game has collapsed. Bettis gained 67 yards on 26 carries. That means in the past six games, he has carried 144 times for 418 yards.
The gallant defense faltered late, something that is happening too often.
Herman Moore, the Lions' All-Pro wide receiver, destroyed the Steelers in the second half, catching seven balls for 140 yards and a touchdown.
"I take some of the blame for this game," said cornerback Carnell Lake. "I gave up a couple of big plays and gave them good field position."
The Lions took advantage of the rare occasions on which they had good field position. The Steelers did no such thing. They were in Detroit territory on their first four possessions and could come away with only three points.
"We did squander some field position," Cowher said. "We didn't take advantage of the opportunities early and kept them in it."
The horrendous call by Luckett will long be remembered. What shouldn't be forgotten is how the Steelers have lost to teams like Cincinnati and Detroit. In recounting this season, that, not the officiating, will be the reason for the failure to make the playoffs.
Bob Smizik can be reached at: bsmizik@post-gazette.com
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If you can't beat the Detroit Lions, who came in with a 4-7 record, when the great Barry Sanders is held to 33 yards on 20 carries, you're not a playoff-caliber team.