The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 10-4 on the season after a disappointing 27-13 loss on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. Early in the game, Steelers tight end Darnell Washington found himself in a heated blocking exchange with Eagles defensive back Darius Slay. The encounter escalated as the two pushed each other into the back of the end zone, culminating in Slay throwing a clear punch. Surprisingly, no flag was thrown for Slay’s actions, but Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III was penalized with unnecessary roughness and a costly 15-yard penalty after stepping in to defend his teammate.
Austin, seeing multiple Eagles players around Washington, didn’t hesitate to intervene, refusing to let his teammate be outnumbered. While his actions drew a flag, they also showcased his willingness to stand up for a fellow Steeler; he's as team first as they come. The penalty, however, became a hot topic of discussion during the game, with many questioning why Slay’s punch went unnoticed by officials while Austin’s reaction drew punishment.
After the game, Austin addressed the incident during an interview with Brooke Pryor, injecting a bit of humor into the situation. He jokingly pointed out the irony of being penalized since he is one of the smallest guys on the field standing at 5' 9". Austin’s lighthearted take didn’t mask his frustration, but highlighted his team-first mentality, even in a game that ended in disappointment for Pittsburgh.
"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," Austin said.
Austin had a solid performance, finishing with five catches for 65 yards, but the rest of the offense struggled for much of the game. The penalty on Austin, however, remains a point of contention and will continue to draw attention.
Referee Alan Eck explained why Slay wasn't called for his punch, stating that the officials did not see the punch being thrown. This explanation has only fueled further debate about the handling of the incident.
"No punches were observed on the field," Eck said. "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."
While Eck claims that New York didn’t see any punches, videos circulating on social media clearly show Slay landing a punch to Washington’s helmet. Despite this, two flags were thrown—one on Washington and another on Austin, both Steelers players—while no penalty was called on the Eagles. This lack of a call on Philadelphia left many scratching their heads.
Steelers Lost Eagles Game Themselves Despite A Poor Call By The Officials
In the grand scheme, this call didn’t directly impact the game’s outcome, as the Steelers had plenty of opportunities to win. However, it did kill a drive and likely cost Pittsburgh valuable points.
Steelers fans and players have every right to be frustrated with the officiating, but ultimately, it wasn't the reason the Steelers lost to the Eagles. Pittsburgh will now move onwards to an even tougher schedule as they look to bounce back from their loss to the Eagles. This call certainly made no sense.
