Steelers-Dolphins and The 10 Most Controversial Games and Calls in NFL History

Ben Roethlisberger coughed up the football prior to breaking the plane of the goal line. The football ever so slowly rolled into the end zone where three Miami Dolphins players immediately pounced onto it. Dolphins defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis emerged from the Miami-dominated pile with the football.

Sounds like a perfectly routine fumble and recovery, no?

The referees at Sunday's Steelers-Dolphins game did not think so. One of the on-field refs inexplicably whistled the play dead, allowing the Steelers to retain possession after instant replay showed Roethlisberger did in fact fumble contrary to the on field call that he did not.

And naturally, this got us thinking, what are the most controversial calls in NFL history? Here's the list.

10. The Snowplow Game

Deadlocked in a 0-0 tie late in the fourth quarter of a snow-drenched December game in Foxborough, Patriots head coach Ron Meyer called a timeout and directed his field goal unit on the field. But before New England field goal kicker John Smith lined up for the go-ahead attempt, Meyer called upon another unit. The field maintenance crew.

As part of a work-release program from a New England prison, snowplow operator Mark Henderson drove his John Deere Model 314 tractor onto the field, and cleared a perfect, dry patch of grass for Smith to kick from. Sure enough, Smith split the uprights, and the Patriots proceeded to clinch a victory.

Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula protested to then-commissioner Pete Rozelle, but because there was no specific rule prohibiting such an act, he could impose no penalty. In the aftermath of the Snowplow Game, however, a rule was installed which banned snowplows from being used in a game.

9. 1979-1980 AFC Championship Game: The Mike Renfro Catch

Trailing the powerhouse Pittsburgh Steelers by a touchdown late in the third quarter of the 1979-80 AFC Championship Game, the Dan Pastorini-led Houston Oilers marched down the field of Three Rivers Stadium looking to tie the game.

Pastorini tossed what appeared to be a perfectly complete touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Renfro; however, the on-field referees ruled the pass incomplete. Although both video and photographic evidence concluded that Renfro had possession of the ball and two feet in-bounds, instant replay did not exist at the time—giving the refs final say.

The Oilers would proceed to lose the game and the best shot they ever had at a Super Bowl.

8. The 1998 Thanksgiving Coin Toss Game

Heading into overtime, referee Phil Luckett trotted out to midfield to conduct the coin toss between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. The Steelers, as the visiting team, were asked to "call it in the air." Now, according to Luckett, Jerome Bettis yelled out "heads-tails." Luckett decided to go with "heads" because it was the first thing he heard Bettis say.

The coin landed tails-up, giving the Lions the ball and eventually a victory (Yes, the Lions actually won). Bettis insisted that he called tails (and the video evidence shows that Bettis did, in fact, call tails), and the Steelers protested vehemently; however, Luckett stood his ground.

Video of the infamous toss here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d80cc8200/Bettis-calls-tails

7. 2002 NFC Wild Card Game: The Giants' Botched Field Goal

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SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 5: Head coach Jim Fassel of the New York Giants argues with the referees during the NFC Wild Card Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 5, 2003 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 39-38. (Ph

After jumping out to a 38-14 lead midway through the third quarter of a 2002 NFC Wild Card Game, the New York Giants had all but cemented a spot in the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. But as Frank Reich once taught the Houston Oilers, no playoff game is over until the clock strikes zero.

The 49ers capped off the second biggest comeback in NFL Playoff history with a Tai Streets touchdown late in the fourth quarter. San Francisco failed to convert the two-point conversion, giving the Giants 60 seconds to march down the field and erase the 39-38 deficit.

New York in fact cruised down the field, and lined up for a Matt Bryant-field goal in the waining seconds of the game. Giants long snapper Trey Junkin botched his second snap of the game, but holder Matt Allen was able to scoop up the ball and roll out of the pocket in an attempt to heave a miracle pass down field. Allen threw up a prayer to a lineman who was blatantly tackled, and the Giants pleaded for a pass interference call that would have given them a chip-shot field goal try.

Inexplicably, no pass interference flag was thrown, and the 49ers won the game. This controversy has been overshadowed by San Fran's epic comeback and the Giants' epic collapse, but it still stands as arguably the biggest no call in NFL history.

6. 2000 NFC Championship Game: The Bert Emanuel Catch

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1 Nov 1998: Wide receiver Bert Emanuel #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Vikings 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /A

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had already done the unthinkable: Stop the St. Louis Rams' Greatest Show on Turf. Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Derrick Brooks & Co. held Kurt Warner's offense to just 11 points, providing Tampa Bay's offense with an opportunity to put the Bucs into the Super Bowl.

Quarterback Shaun King led the Bucs deep into St. Louis territory, and completed a clutch pass to Bert Emanuel at the Rams' 22 yard line. The reception kept Tampa Bay's drive alive, and more importantly placed them within striking range of the end zone.

Despite no protest from anybody on the field, the referees decided to review Emanuel's catch, eventually overturning the call on the field, and ruling it incomplete. The replay shows that although part of the football touched the ground, Emanuel had total control and possession of the ball as he went to the ground.

After the incident, the NFL established "The Bert Emanuel Rule" (Is that supposed to make him feel better?), which further clarified what constitutes as a complete pass.

5. 1977-1978 AFC Championship Game: The Rob Lytle Fumble

Leading the Oakland Raiders 7-3 in the third quarter of the 1977-78 AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos lined up at the Raiders' one yard line with a chance to go up 14-3.

Broncos running back Rob Lytle took the hand off but almost immediately fumbled the ball, allowed Raiders safety Jack Tatum to scoop it up, presumably ending Denver's drive and providing Oakland with an opportunity to retake the lead.

Although television cameras saw indisputable evidence of the fumble, referee Ed Marion did not. Much to the shocking dismay of Raider Nation, Marion ruled that there was no fumble on the play, and the Broncos retained possession of the ball. Denver scored on the next play, and defeated a dejected Raiders team.

4. Super Bowl XL: Seahawks Vs. Zebras

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DETROIT - FEBRUARY 05: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks argues a call with referee Bill Leavy after throwing a pass out of bounds to receiver Darrell Jackson #82 in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL

It was a fairy tale ending for the Pittsburgh Steelers... and the NFL.

League sweetheart Jerome Bettis, after contemplating retirement prior to the season, returned for one last Super Bowl push. Surely enough, the Steelers reached the promised land, and the game just so happened to take place in Bettis' hometown of Detroit.

Extenuating conspiracies aside, the in-game officiating was absolutely horrendous. The Seattle Seahawks were robbed multiple times throughout the course of the game, including a no-touchdown by Ben Roethlisberger, a shady offensive pass interference call on Darrell Jackson and a blatant offensive pass interference no-call on Hines Ward.

The list goes on, and head referee Bill Leavy, admitted that he completely blew multiple calls during that game earlier this year. This game sticks out as arguably the most persuasive case of an NFL conspiracy.

3. 1999-2000 AFC Wild Card Game: The Music City Miracle

Was it truly a backwards lateral?

Say these words to any NFL-educated fan and the Music City Miracle is the event that will immediately come to mind.

Frank Wycheck's improbably lateral to Kevin Dyson looks legal to Titans fan and illegal to Bills fans.

Ultimately, the referees ruled it a legal, backwards lateral, but ten years and mountains of evidence that it was a legal lateral later, the argument sill exists.

2. 2001-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff Game: The Tuck Rule Game

Dynasties start in the oddest of ways.

The Steelers Dynasty of the 1970s was kick-started (arguably) by the Immaculate Reception, and the Patriots Dynasty of the 2000s was kick-started by the Tuck Rule.

Technically, the Tuck Rule Game is not controversial due to the fact that it falls within the rules of the NFL. But not even a Patriots fan can watch this play without thinking that looks like a pretty blatant fumble.

1.1972-1973 AFC Divisional Playoff Game: The Immaculate Reception

Franco Harris made arguably the greatest and most memorable play in NFL history when he caught an unfathomable deflection off of Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum and sprinted into the end zone at Three Rivers Stadium. The play became known as the "Immaculate Reception," but just how immaculate was it?

Based on the inconclusive video evidence available, it is almost impossible to tell whether or not the ball deflected off of Jack Tatum or Steelers wide receiver Frency Fuqua. Then-NFL rules stated that if the ball touched an offensive player, he is the only one eligible of legally catching it (The rule was later terminated).

Referees ruled that the ball deflected off of Tatum, but to this day, he insists that it hit Fuqua.

The controversy of this play is so widespread it has become something of myth and legend. Some reports claim that one television camera caught an angle that showed indisputable evidence of the ball hitting Tatum; however, the tape was lost. General consensus maintains that the ball deflected off of Tatum, but this is a mystery that will go forever unsolved.