Steelers Called Out Over Controversial Officiating In Win Against Raiders

The Pittsburgh Steelers bounced back into the win column with a commanding 32-13 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Coming off back-to-back losses by just three points each, the Steelers are now 4-2 and seem to be back on track. They took control in the second half, giving Steeler Nation a rare stress-free experience during the game's critical moments.

However, in the postgame show, former Steeler Chris Hoke was cautious about giving too much credit for the win. Hoke noted that while the Steelers' 19-point victory was impressive, it didn’t tell the whole story. He pointed out that officiating played a significant role in helping Pittsburgh build its lead, citing several key calls that favored the Steelers.

"No way, not so fast," Hoke said. "There were 21 points out there that were hidden that could have gone either way. You had an interception thrown by Justin Fields after the punchout by TJ Watt that was overturned by a roughing the passer. Totally questionable call; I don't think it was a great call... Then there was another roughing the passer that led to another score."

One call even Steelers fans might admit was a huge break came when Justin Fields threw an interception during a Pittsburgh drive. Fields was hit as he released the ball, but the referees bailed out the Steelers with a roughing the passer penalty. 

While the call is debatable, it clearly benefited Pittsburgh, and Hoke felt it was questionable. He continued to express his concerns about the officiating throughout the game.

"Then you had another score that the Raiders had that was called back and I didn't think it was an illegal man downfield."

Another controversial call came when Alexander Mattison scored a touchdown, only for it to be called back due to an ineligible player downfield. Many Raiders fans saw this as another poor decision by the officials. Hoke emphasized that these questionable calls, which benefited Pittsburgh, shouldn’t be overlooked or forgotten.

"It could have been a totally different ballgame if it weren't for the bad calls," Hoke said. "The referees had their fingerprints all over this football game."

In the NFL and all competitive sports, referees undeniably influence games with their decisions. Whether good or bad, calls can benefit or hurt a team—there’s no debating that, only the calls themselves can be debated. From Hoke’s perspective, he believes the Steelers benefited from some key calls that helped them control the game.

Other pundits argue that these calls didn’t directly impact the Steelers' dominant performance in their win over the Raiders. Referees aren’t perfect—they’re human, and missed or controversial calls are part of the game, something all fans have to accept. 

The Steelers have faced adversity from officiating in the past, and while they may have caught a few breaks in this game, it doesn’t take away from their dominant performance.

Steelers' Defense Looked Dominant Once Again As Offense Benefitted

TJ Watt made two incredible plays, forcing fumbles with perfectly timed punch-outs, while Fields made smart decisions on when to use his mobility, adding two rushing touchdowns. Although the Steelers may have benefited from some favorable calls, the referees aren’t the reason they won by multiple scores.

Steelers fans are relieved to see their team secure a road victory and get back into the win column. However, Hoke urges fans to exercise caution, noting that controversial calls did play a role in Pittsburgh's win. Regardless, the Steelers now sit at 4-2 and will look to build on this momentum as they push forward in the 2024 season.

#SteelerNation