The Steelers got one call that strongly in their favor at the end of the Patriots game.  All Pro safety Troy Polamalu slapping the ball into the end zone at the end of the Steelers’ victory over New England was against an NFL rule.

The rule states that a player may not bat or punch a loose ball in the field of play towards the opponent’s goal line.

The Steelers dominated for most of the game, but Tom Brady brought the Patriots back to within a TD of winning, scoring late to bring the score to 23-17.  When the Patriots got the ball back, Brady fumbled in the final moments of the game and Polamalu slid after the fumble and slapped it into the end zone, resulting in a safety, making the final score 25-17.

When asked after the game, Polamalu said, “Whatever is going to get me in trouble, I’m saying the opposite.”

Not only is he an excellent safety, he’s clearly a smart man.