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For the second time in as many weeks, an NFL playoff game has ended in bizarre fashion. Last week, the Giants got a league apology for a penalty call that wasn't made on the final play of their loss to the San Francisco 49ers. This week, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter doesn't want an apology if the league decides the pivotal running-into-the-kicker penalty shouldn't have been called. That's the penalty that gave Tennessee a second chance at converting a game-winning field goal in overtime, and beating the Steelers, 34-31.

"What can an apology do for me right now?" Porter said. "What can it possibly do for me? I'm still going home."

Just like the Giants.

It can be argued, and no doubt will, that the game doesn't come down to the crucial call if Steelers cornerback Dewayne Washington makes a tackle earlier in the winning drive, or if any number of other Steelers had executed better on any number of earlier plays.

But this game did come down to Joe Nedney's acting ability. Don't take our word for it. Listen to Nedney, who was wide right on a 31-yard field-goal try in overtime, but went down like he was shot when bumped by the rushing Washington.

The yellow flag flew. Running into the kicker. Five yards and another chance for Nedney, who also had converted a field goal in this overtime sequence after the Steelers had called a timeout, prompting premature fireworks from the rim of The Coliseum.

Then came the miss and the penalty.

"He got a pretty good hit on me, but I think when I'm done playing ball, I might try acting," Nedney said.

Porter seethed as the kicker laughed.

"It's obvious the guy missed the field goal and he did a faking, acting, job, and the refs gave it to him," Porter said. "It was plain and simple."

Washington hit Nedney. Did he hit him hard enough to warrant the game-deciding flag? That's a judgment call and this crew had exercised some shaky judgment on this day. Worse, there had been an instance when referee Ron Blum had not known the rules. That was evident when Steelers coach Bill Cowher tried to challenge a third-quarter punt return by Derrick Mason, contending that Mason had been down by contact well short of the eventual mark at the Steelers' 30.

At first, Blum would not allow the challenge, then conceded, to the stadium crowd and television and radio audiences, that someone in the booth had assured him the play was reviewable. By the way, the Steelers won the challenge.

"Thank goodness somebody in the stadium knew the rules," Cowher said.

There was no second chance at the end. The penalty was called. The Steelers tried to call timeout to ice the kicker again, but were denied.

"One of my co-officials said that the request came after the ball was snapped," Blum said to a reporter.

Nedney converted his second, or third chance depending on your count, and Tennessee moves on to the conference championship game, leaving Cowher and his team with the most bitter taste in their mouths.

"For a game to be decided on that call is ludicrous," Cowher said. "For me to have to explain to an official what's reviewable and what's not, that's wrong. Fine me if you want. That's the truth."

The flap over the review, the fatal late call, they left Porter questioning how this could happen.

"That lets you know where his head was at early in the game," Porter said of Blum. "He's the head ref. He's got the white hat on. And he doesn't know if that play is reviewable. A simple play like that.

"When the game is on the line, the refs shouldn't be able to make calls like they did today."

Ah, but they do. They did. And they made questionable calls against the Titans, too.

It's just that the Steelers, who had overcome a 14-0 deficit and fought through losing players along the way to injury, got the debatable call at the end, when there was no chance to overcome it.

It was another bad day for NFL officials under the glare of the playoff spotlight. First the Giants, and now the Steelers move into the offseason feeling denied the playoff opportunity they had bled to earn.

"You would think it wouldn't happen like that anymore (after the Giants game)," Porter said. "Then you turn around and they do it again."

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