It was a call that cost the Browns three points, and likely raised the blood pressure of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to unhealthy levels. In the second quarter with the Steelers up 14-7 and at the Browns 14-yard line with :35 ticks left, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger attempted a QB sneak on 4th-and-inches.

The QB leaned forward, and the refs stepped in to measure if he made the first down or not. As the chains stretched, the ball from the look on TV was clearly short. As the Browns celebrated, referee Walt Anderson pointed first down Pittsburgh, and the head scratching was on.

No one could understand how the Steelers were getting a first down on a play that showed they clearly were short on. No one but Anderson that is, who spoke about it after the game to a member of the media.

“It touched the plane of the stake because that’s what I’m looking at,” Anderson said.

The ref explained that from the angle he saw, it looked like to him it was a first down. The Steelers did get three points out of it, and of course went on to win the game 27-14.

“If you shot at an angle maybe from back behind the ball it might look like it’s short,” Anderson said. “If you shot at angle the other side, it might actually look like it’s further in advance of the stake.”

All Browns fans know is that it for sure looked like they were getting robbed, and while they are having major issues elsewhere on the field, they surely didn’t expect to have to fight the refs as well.