I’m not one for conspiracy theories but what transpired at the end of the Chargers-Steelers game had to be a total fix by none other than Vegas itself.

With only seconds remaining in the game and Pittsburgh up 11-10, San Diego took over deep in their own territory hoping for one last miracle. Philip Rivers completed a pass to LaDainian Tomlinson, who then pitched it back to a teammate, who then tried to pitch it back to another teammate but the ball was fumbled and eventually scooped up by the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu. He then returned the fumble into the end zone for an apparent Pittsburgh touchdown.

But after a review, officials determined that it was an illegal forward pass and the touchdown was wiped out. Granted, the outcome of the game didn’t change – the Steelers would have won regardless – but the play did affect the point spread. Pittsburgh was a 5-point favorite and had Polamalu’s touchdown held up, the Steelers would have covered. But with the play overturned, the Chargers covered.

I’m only half serious when I suggest Vegas had anything to do with the outcome of the game, but it was interesting how that play affected so much (at least in the gambling world). Analysts said after the game that it was clearly an illegal pass by LT, so I’ll take their word for it, although it looked totally legal to me. Not only that, but how could officials signal that it was a touchdown only to take the points off the board minutes later?

It’s also crazy that this was the first game in the history of the NFL that ended in a 11-10 final, but I doubt people who wagered on the Steelers care about that useless fact.

Here’s the YouTube video of the play:

More topics related to this subject:

– End of Chargers-Steelers game a black eye for NFL

– Troy Polamalu’s amazing interception

– Proof that NFL.com is not an objective news source

– Referee admits he blew the final play in the Steelers-Chargers game

Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety Troy Polamalu is fed up with the NFL fining players for what he deems are hard hits and says the league is making football a “pansy” game.

“It loses so much of its essence, and it really becomes like a pansy game,” the Steelers’ Pro Bowl strong safety said.

“I think regarding the evolution of football, it’s becoming more and more flag football, two-hand touch. We’ve really lost the essence of what real American football is about. I think it’s probably all about money. They’re not really concerned about safety.”

“You have to figure out how to tackle people a new way,” he said. “There’s such a fine line. I guess, hitting quarterbacks late and whether they’re going to slide or come forward — it’s too much.
“If you look at any sport, maybe besides mixed martial arts, it’s a real gladiator sport. We go out there at a high speed, killing each other.”

“You see guys like Dick Butkus and those types of really raw, old-school, pound-it-out football players; they could never survive in a game like this today.

“The Ronnie Lotts, the Jack Tatums — these guys who really went after people. They were that way because the game was physical. They couldn’t survive in this type of game. They wouldn’t have enough money because they’d be paying fines, and then they’d be suspended for a year after they did it two games in a row.”

I agree with Polamalu to a certain extent. He’s right that the game was bred on tough athletes that played the game hard and who were flat out trying to kill each other. But most of those guys can’t even walk now and I think the league is trying to take care of its current players more than it did in the past. I also think that the NFL is money-hungry and wants to line its pockets too, so I guess you could go either way on this issue.

It’s hard to argue with Polamalu’s overall stance, though.