Incredible Steelers play (ouch!)

Another

First there was the “Immaculate Reception,” an incredible catch by Franco Harris in the last 22 seconds of a Dec. 23, 1972, AFC divisional playoff game that resulted in a touchdown that catapulted the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 13-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders, after Oakland had scored and taken the lead with just over a minute to go. It has been called the greatest and most controversial NFL play of all time.

Now on Dec. 17, 2017, almost 45 years later, there is the “Unholy Unreception,” in which Steelers tight end Jesse James caught an apparent game-winning 10-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots in the final 28 seconds, capping an exciting come-from-behind victory. But officials overruled it, saying he didn’t have full control of the ball, and thus ruled it an incomplete pass. You might say that Jesse James was robbed. A Patriots interception ended the game for Pittsburgh. It could only happen in Pittsburgh, where both of these games were played. It’s the home of controversial football games. KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN Huntington Beach, Calif.

In view of the recent egregious NFL officiating — in particular the Steelers/Patriots game on Sunday — perhaps it is time for some of those local artificial intelligence researchers and entrepreneurs to devise AI-enhanced computer reviews of controversial plays.

Why not? Couldn’t be much worse. ROBERT CARRELL

Hampton