Tomlin, Steelers Not Happy with Officiating in Loss to Eagles
PHILADELPHIA — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that the officials’ explanation on why Calvin Austin III and Darnell Washington were penalized but no Eagles players during a first-quarter skirmish “wasn’t sufficient.”
Official Alan Eck said via pool report that no official on the field, nor replay assist in New York saw punches thrown by an Eagles defensive player.
“Because two Steelers were observed, number 80 and number 19, committing unsportsmanlike conduct after the play was over. That’s what it was. Two players after the fact, unsportsmanlike conduct,” Eck said when asked why two Steelers were penalized but no Eagles players. … “Since we had flags down, it gave New York an opportunity to review the play as well. There was no video evidence of punches observed by the Philadelphia Eagles.”
The video recorded by a fan at the game suggests otherwise. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. threw a punch at Washington after he got driven into a wall near the front row.
Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III got into a fight with Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell after he saw Eagles players jumping in on Washington.
“If I see plenty of Eagles come up and surround [Darnell], like, yeah, I’m going to come in and help my dog, but I guess being the biggest guy out there, I’m going to get flagged,” the 5-foot-9 Austin said sarcastically.
Austin said he was surprised that only he and Washington got penalized.
“Most definitely, when punches are thrown it’s usually an automatic (penalty),” he said.
Instead of having the ball on the Eagles’ 4-yard line, the Steelers were pushed back to the 19-yard line and faced second-and-18. Wilson had two straight incompletions, and the Steelers settled for a 37-yard Chris Boswell field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
The penalty destroyed the drive and momentum after a muffed punt by Cooper Dejean, which gave the Steelers possession at the 11-yard line.
On the play, Wilson completed a swing pass to running back Najee Harris, and Washington was the lead blocker in the flat and drove Slay into the back wall near the front row. Slay was basically on skates, as the 6-foot-8 Washington drove him back.
Slay and his Eagles teammates took exception to Washington’s block, and that’s when the pushing and shoving started to occur.
Tomlin was lived with the officials call.
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