The infamous 1998 Steelers Thanksgiving coin toss debacle

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Steeldad and I reminisced about this on the Blitzburgh Radio Steelers Podcast tonight, remembering a Thanksgiving day NFL game that forever changed how the NFL starts off each and every game.

Link to video (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-thanksgiving/09000d5d8045ed06/Thanksgiving-1998-Steelers-vs-Lions)

Kordell was the QB, and Will Blackwell caught a TD pass after it was tipped by Jerome Bettis, for the go ahead score. Charlie Batch lead a Lions comeback on a TD pass to Herman Moore and the game went into overtime. Phil Luckett said Jerome Bettis called Heads on the coin toss but as we all know Bettis called tails. The Lions got the ball, drove down for a game winning field goal.

After that it prompted the NFL to change their rules on the coin toss, forever forcing the team calling the toss to declare before the coin is flipped.

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[BlitzburghRockCity]

I'm glad the Steelers don't play that often on Thanksgiving. Between everything that I do before, during, and after the game and then try to eat as well..no thanks! LOL

[SnakeEyes43]

I was 12 years old that game and I still remember it vividly. Ugh.

[Sir Blitzelot]

Phil Luckett ruined my Thanksgiving that year. :evilshake:

[steelersbabex25]

"I said tails!" :lol:

[LatrobePA]

I'm glad the Steelers don't play that often on Thanksgiving. Between everything that I do before, during, and after the game and then try to eat as well..no thanks! LOL

Same here, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, watch football, sleep, eat... lol

[SteelDad]

Truly amazing that something as seemingly simple as a coin toss can get screwed up!! And this wasn't even the NFL under Goodell yet!!!

[BlitzburghRockCity]

I kinda liked it better when you called it in the air, made it more exciting..LOL.

Watching that video brought back so many memories of the Steelers from that era. Watching the BUS run, big ole Mark Bruener completely swallowing up any defender he came across.

All the smurfs at wide receiver that Cowher used to love..lol

[Moondog]

We got back from Pittsburgh after burying my beloved Grandfather only to witness that debacle of a coin toss. Bad times indeed. I also remember another Thanksgiving game in the eighties when Detroit absolutely slaughtered the Steelers 45-3 or something like that.

[DBR96A]

Next season the Steelers have to play the Cowboys in Dallas. That could be a Thanksgiving game.

[CowherPower]

I have to say I'll never forget that game and the the downward spiral that our Steelers went on after that loss. I will say I don't miss seeing Kordell Stewart tank in the playoffs any longer as the Quarterback though, haha.

[Stairwayto7]

In ruined my whole day, I was so P+++++!