Questionable call robs Ravens of crucial touchdown in close loss to division rivals

The Baltimore Ravens thought they had a touchdown lead with 2:47 left in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday when Lamar Jackson found Isaiah Likely in the end zone.

He probably jumped and caught the ball in the end zone. He tried to extend his hands far enough in front of him to prevent Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from hitting the ball. It looked like he probably didn’t do enough as Porter was able to fumble the ball.

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NFL officials called the play a touchdown when it first occurred. At that point, it would have given Baltimore a 28-27 lead. Instead, the call was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass, much to the dismay of Ravens fans at M&T Bank Stadium.

News announcer Tony Romo thought the play was a touchdown.

“To me, that looked like a touchdown,” Romo said as he and Jim Nantz watched the replay. Nantz agreed.

NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth spoke about the decision to reverse the touchdown call.

“The receiver controlled the ball in the air, put his right foot down and then his left foot,” Butterworth said, via a group report. “Control is the first aspect of the catch. The second aspect is two feet or a body part in bounds, which he did have. Then the third step is an act common to the game and before he could put the third foot down, the ball was ripped away from him. Therefore, it was an incomplete pass.”

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Butterworth said he probably needed a third step into the end zone to complete the catch.

News NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore also agreed with the decision. You wrote in X that you probably needed the third step too.

Baltimore fumbled later on the drive. The Ravens were able to force the Steelers to punt and got the ball back with 2:08 left in the game. However, they were unable to muster another potential score.

Pittsburgh won the game, 27-22.

The Steelers also received another questionable call early in the fourth quarter.

Aaron Rodgers threw a pass that was returned to him. He jumped and fought for control of the ball, but initially appeared to lose the battle. Ravens defensive lineman Teddye Buchanan was ruled to intercept the pass. However, officials also overturned that decision.

The Steelers got the ball back but punted to end the drive. An interception would have given the Ravens possession in optimal range to score a touchdown or at least a field goal.

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Pittsburgh moved to 7-5 with the win and is in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Baltimore fell to 6-7.

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