It was the play of the game (and not in a good way) so I figured we should have this video out there — the Eric Fisher holding call.
The Chiefs were going for their two-point conversion and I was joking with other reporters in the press box that since this is a big play the Chiefs will go to Demetrius Harris, as they did in Denver earlier this year.
And they did! They got it! Except ...
Bad call by ref! Eric Fisher had inside leverage Drove Harrison up the field and his lost his footing. U gotta let that one go! #KCvsPitt pic.twitter.com/Abdkv93RXa
— Pro E.D.G.E. (@the_proedge) January 16, 2017
The refs called holding. There are a couple of ways to look at this. By the letter of the law, was that holding? Yeah, I think it was. Some context, however, is needed. It’s the playoff play in a playoff game with minutes left. That’s the lens through which Chiefs fans are looking at this game. You’re gonna make that call at that moment?
Like this non-call is much worse.
@ArrowheadPride is he wrong? You can't tell me with all the dancing around Bell does that Pitt wasn't guilty of at least one holding penalty pic.twitter.com/IZEkQCfIfY
— Jake at State Farm (@JForbes13) January 16, 2017
But that didn’t come on a two-point conversion with two minutes left in the fourth.
Chris Conley summed up my feelings pretty well:
“Normally in the playoffs, they let you play and let the plays be decided on other factors,” Conley said. “I think there was a lot of holding and this and that going on during the game and they choose to call it in a situation like that. It is what it is.”
This was also good explanation from former Chief Geoff Schwartz:
@BMcCarthy32 Smith threw the ball as Harrison went to the ground. If Harrison stayed up, it doesn’t get called.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 16, 2017
@BMcCarthy32 No he was held, and then either slipped or sold it by going down. Going down sold the hold to the ref.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 16, 2017
@BMcCarthy32 I just think in that big situation, it didn’t warrant a flag. It wasn’t bad enough
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 16, 2017