I think the one major factor that a lot of people have been overlooking (or at least has not been mentioned very often) is the fact that we also had to fight the refs on quite a few enormous potentially game changing plays during this game. Momentum cannot be overlooked and can really change the outcome of games at the end of the day. In this case, we were fortunate enough that it didn't, but there were a couple instances during the game that really didn't go our way when they should have had the refs done what they were supposed to.
For instance, the fumble that we caused when we were up 7-0 would've given us the ball on the 40 yard line. Instead, our offense took the ball on the 10 yard line after the refs refused to go upstairs to take a closer look at it. This resulted in a 3 and out and gave them great field position, which enabled them to score and tie up the game. At the time, we had momentum on our side and instead of going up by potentially two scores, suddenly you have a tie ballgame. In addition, the fumble we caused at our 1 yard line, could've been reviewed for a potential touchback as the ball hit the pylon when it came loose (I reviewed the replay over and over and it definitely could've been overturned). Instead, the refs refused to review the play and gave them the ball on the 1 yard line, where they were easily able to punch it in for a score on the very next play. That score put them up by 1 score and from that point on, we were chasing them all game until we eventually took the lead at the end of the game.
We were very fortunate to overcome all this adversity, but the refs need to do a better job in the future to not influence the game so much.
For instance, the fumble that we caused when we were up 7-0 would've given us the ball on the 40 yard line. Instead, our offense took the ball on the 10 yard line after the refs refused to go upstairs to take a closer look at it. This resulted in a 3 and out and gave them great field position, which enabled them to score and tie up the game. At the time, we had momentum on our side and instead of going up by potentially two scores, suddenly you have a tie ballgame. In addition, the fumble we caused at our 1 yard line, could've been reviewed for a potential touchback as the ball hit the pylon when it came loose (I reviewed the replay over and over and it definitely could've been overturned). Instead, the refs refused to review the play and gave them the ball on the 1 yard line, where they were easily able to punch it in for a score on the very next play. That score put them up by 1 score and from that point on, we were chasing them all game until we eventually took the lead at the end of the game.
We were very fortunate to overcome all this adversity, but the refs need to do a better job in the future to not influence the game so much.
