Conditional Tense

Perhaps I'm engaging in nitpicking here. (So what else is new?)

But the AP story on Michigan's last-second victory yesterday contains the following bit:

After the Wolverines failed to complete a pass on third-and-10 with 6 seconds left, Washington was penalized 15 yards for having 12 men on the field. Without the flag, Michigan would have attempted a 59-yard field goal.

Yeah, and without the 12th guy on the field, maybe Michigan would have been able to complete that pass for a touchdown. That's why Washington was penalized. It just bugs me to hear the flag presented as if it were a lucky break for Michigan. It wasn't. If Washington had gotten away with the violation, it would have been a lucky break for them.

Now making the field goal, that was lucky...whew.