The NFL defended its decision Sunday night not to issue a penalty on the key play of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 28-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, citing what it viewed as the correct judgment of referee Clete Blakeman's crew.
The Steelers won the game on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown with 10 seconds remaining. Brown had an open lane down the middle of the field in part because Steelers receiver Justin Hunter blocked Bengals defensive back Tony McRae beyond one yard past the line of scrimmage.