Steelers’ Fans Furious at Poor Call
A seemingly poor call in the face-off between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers saw the Browns run out 13-6 winners, and saw furious fans take to social media to call out the bad decision.
The controversial moment came during the final play for the Steelers when Aaron Rodgers looked to find Marquez Valdes-Scantling with 21 seconds of the match left. His throw looked good until Denzel Ward, the Browns’ cornerback, broke up the play.
This play sealed the victory for the Browns, but Steelers fans felt a penalty flag should have been thrown with Ward appearing to make contact with the Steelers’ wide receiver, without looking at the ball. The Steelers go into week 18 needing a victory to clinch the division title and secure a place in the playoffs.
This decision was not only frustrating from a fan’s point of view but also had financial implications in the sports betting industry. The growing number of mobile wagering options has provided a platform for live sports betting, and massive decisions like this can leave fans counting the monetary cost.
The Steelers are currently 100/1 outsiders to life the Super Bowl this season, but qualifying for the playoffs would see these odds reduced. The Ravens are the odds-on favourite to take the AFC North title, but the Steelers’ odds of 13/8 show that they are strong contenders.
The Steelers will host the Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 4th for the final regular-season game, with fans from both sides eager for their team to clinch the title a the coveted play-off place. Both teams have had opportunities to pull ahead this season, but the week-18 showdown should provide plenty of excitement for everyone involved.
The Ravens got off to a poor start to the season despite being the favourite, winning just one game from their opening six fixtures. The Steelers looked to cause an upset after getting off to a perfect start, winning four from four before a loss of form saw them lose five of their following seven games.
The Steelers appeared to regain their form at just the right time, with three straight wins leading them into the Week 17 clash against the Browns that could have clinched them the title had they been victorious. Their defeat, controversial or not, seemed to sum up the AFC North season and set up this exciting finale.
42-year-old Aaron Rodgers has looked his age at times this season, with his 3,028 yards placing him 18th among NFL quarterbacks this season. With indications pointing towards this being his final season in the NFL, he will be keen to bow out with a play-off performance, so expect to see him leave everything on the field.
Conclusion
While the Ravens are the favourite to beat the Steelers in the final game of the regular season, that poor decision against the Browns could spur the Steelers on and give them the impetus to continue this fascinating season of ups and downs.