Football commentary pet peeve: "Game-changing" holding play

[Ulysses]

OK, I see this all the time and it just annoys me.

3rd and 6. Team's behind and driving, late in the game. Defense has good pressure and coverage, QB is scrambling. QB is out of the pocket, lots of pressure, there's a hold, then finally a 20 yard completion. Flag, holding, penalty.

The commentators always go on about how this holding penalty was such a huge game-changing mistake and this is the sort of thing is the difference between winners and losers, blah blah blah. Now it's 3rd and 16, instead of 1st down in good field position.

The problem w/ this analysis for me is that oftentimes, it's almost the exact opposite. Without the holding penalty, the QB would often be sacked in this situation. At the very least, that completion is definitely not happening without that holding having happened. Blaming the holding penalty on screwing up the "successful" play is just silly.

OK. Not sure why I'm talking about this. Just something that annoys me.