NFL: Score leaves bettors unhappy

Pittsburgh Steelers saftey Troy Polamalu breaks up a lateral attempt against the San Diego Chargers during the final play of the game in the fourth quarter of a NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers beat the Chargers 11-10. Winners turned into losers and losers ended up winning when a game that should have ended up 17-10 or 18-10 instead went into the record books as the first 11-10 final in NFL history. Though the score made no difference in the win and loss column, it did in the wallets of a lot of bettors on the Las Vegas Strip. (AP Photo/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Chaz Palla) ** MAGS OUT. PITTSBURGH OUT **

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — The Pittsburgh Steelers walked off the field Sunday just happy they had won.

A lot of bettors in this gambling city were more concerned by how many points they ended up winning by.

Winners turned into losers and losers ended up winning when a game that should have ended up 17-10 or 18-10 instead went into the record books as the first 11-10 final in NFL history.

"Anyone who had a bet on the Pittsburgh side and thought they had won weren't too happy," said John Avello, director of the race and sports book at the Wynn resort.

The Steelers were favored by four points, meaning the apparent touchdown scored by Troy Polamalu on the last play of the game made the difference between Pittsburgh covering the point spread or not. When the touchdown was disallowed, Pittsburgh bettors who thought they had won on a fluke were left holding worthless tickets.

"After an instant replay review and crew conference, the on-field ruling of touchdown was incorrectly reversed to no touchdown due to an illegal forward pass by San Diego," the league said in a statement. "The incorrect reversal of the on-field ruling of touchdown was acknowledged immediately following the game by referee Scott Green in the pool report interview with a representative of the media."

The NFL said it is discussing with the rule-making competition committee "potential administrative improvements for replay that would help to prevent this type of mistake in the future." That presumably could include allowing officials to take a second look at controversial plays, something not now permitted under the current rules.