Morelli officiated the AFC divisional playoff game in January 2006 between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. In the fourth quarter, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu intercepted a Peyton Manning pass and in the process he fumbled the ball, then recovered. Colts head coach Tony Dungy challenged the call, and upon review on instant replay, Morelli overturned the ruling. Following the game, Morelli said, "He was losing it while his other leg was still on the ground. Therefore, he did not complete the catch. And then he lost the ball." A day after the game, the NFL released a statement confirming that Polamalu "made" the interception, refuting the overturn call of Morelli. Mike Pereira, then-the league's vice president of officiating, said, " maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble."