Lead
Three officiating decisions, including two replay reversals late in the fourth quarter, shaped the Baltimore Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. The most contested call was the reversal of Isaiah Likely’s would-be touchdown with just under three minutes remaining. League replay officials ruled Likely did not complete the required final act of the catch after taking two steps and having the ball dislodged by Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The outcome swung momentum and left the Ravens short in a game that featured other pivotal review decisions and a critical special-teams penalty.
Key Takeaways
- The final score was Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 22 at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
- Isaiah Likely’s apparent touchdown was overturned on replay with about three minutes left, removing what would have been a go-ahead score.
- NFL VP of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth said Likely did not complete the third step, an act the league describes as common to the game.
- An earlier fourth-quarter reversal credited Aaron Rodgers with a completed pass to himself after replay determined his knees were down prior to losing the ball.
- A second-quarter unnecessary-roughness flag on Ravens DL Travis Jones during a 32-yard field-goal attempt produced an automatic first down and preceded a 6-yard Kenneth Gainwell touchdown, a four-point swing.
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh and players publicly questioned parts of the officiating while acknowledging execution issues that contributed to the loss.
Background
The Ravens entered the late-season stretch with playoff aspirations and four regular-season games remaining after the loss. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have a long-standing AFC North rivalry in which close games and controversial calls often carry outsized attention. The NFL’s catch rule and replay standards have been hotly debated in recent seasons, with teams, fans and media scrutinizing what counts as finishing a catch when contact and ball movement occur.
Under current NFL standards, a receiver who makes a play must perform an act common to the game while maintaining control; examples include taking an additional step, tucking the ball or turning upfield. The league’s Instant Replay office, led in this instance by Mark Butterworth, applies those definitions when reviewing plays where control and completion are in dispute. Coaches and players frequently press for explanations after pivotal rulings, both to understand the interpretation and to prepare challenge strategies in future games.
Main Event
Late in the fourth quarter, Isaiah Likely appeared to secure a catch in the end zone, take two steps, and then have the ball knocked free by Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Officials on the field ruled a touchdown initially, but the call was overturned on review and declared an incomplete pass. The reversal removed a potential game-leading score with under three minutes left, altering the Ravens’ clock and play-calling options on the ensuing possession.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, a play involving Aaron Rodgers saw a tipped ball rebound; Ravens defenders appeared to gain control near the Pittsburgh 32-yard line. After review, replay officials credited Rodgers with a completed pass to himself, concluding his knees hit the ground in possession before the ball came loose. That ruling negated an apparent Ravens turnover in scoring range and preserved possession for Pittsburgh.
In the second quarter, Ravens nose tackle Travis Jones was flagged for unnecessary roughness during a Steelers 32-yard field-goal attempt after contact with long snapper Christian Kuntz. Referee Alex Moore explained the ruling as forcible contact against a defenseless player, handing Pittsburgh an automatic first down. On the next play Kenneth Gainwell ran for a 6-yard touchdown, turning the sequence into a four-point swing in a game decided by five points.
Analysis & Implications
The Likely reversal underscores how narrowly interpreted the catch rule remains; taking two steps was not sufficient in the league’s view without a final act to clearly finish the catch. For Baltimore this meant a lost scoring opportunity and altered late-game strategy, shifting from a potential lead to a second-and-10 scenario that did not produce points. The immediate tactical cost was clear, but the broader issue is how replay interpretations affect coaching decisions and roster priorities for contested targets near the goal line.
Statistically, the sequence changed field position and time-management options in a tight game. If the touchdown had stood, Baltimore would have had the lead with roughly three minutes to play, forcing Pittsburgh to respond under pressure. Instead, the Ravens faced a reset and later failed to convert on fourth down, a sequence that magnified the weight of the replay outcome in postgame assessments.
Special-teams penalties and timing of reviews compound officiating impact. The Jones penalty not only gave Pittsburgh a new set of downs but directly led to a touchdown two plays later. Coaches must balance aggression on blocked kicks and pressure on snaps with the rules protecting long snappers; the ruling here reflects the league’s emphasis on reducing forcible contact against defenseless specialists.
Comparison & Data
| Situation | Ruling on Field | Replay Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah Likely end-zone catch | Touchdown | Overturned, incomplete pass |
| Aaron Rodgers tipped reception | Ravens recovered | Overturned, credited to Rodgers |
| Travis Jones contact on field goal | Penalty called | Penalty stood, automatic first down |
The table above summarizes the three decisive situations. Each replay decision changed possession, down-and-distance, or scoring potential; collectively they influenced the five-point margin. Teams that repeatedly face tight replay outcomes may adjust play selection near the goal line and emphasize securing possession through ball protection and finishing mechanics.
Reactions & Quotes
I guess I have to just get my third foot down.
Isaiah Likely
Likely accepted the ruling but framed it as a mechanical step to correct, reflecting player-level focus on execution.
I believe so. I thought it was. In the end zone, taking steps. Their guy just kept punching at the ball.
Lamar Jackson
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and teammates publicly disagreed with the reversal, signaling frustration but stopping short of accusing officials of bias.
When you’re making a catch, you have to survive the ground. He didn’t survive the ground.
John Harbaugh
Coach Harbaugh questioned the application of the ground-survival element and noted the replay office will provide the official rationale, emphasizing the league’s interpretative role.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Likely extended the ball forward or fully tucked it before the ball was knocked free remains a matter of interpretation beyond what public replay clips definitively show.
- Exact force and area of contact on long snapper Christian Kuntz that met the unnecessary-roughness standard are debated; Harbaugh said he did not see clear head or neck contact.
- Internal communication between officiating crews and the replay office about the Rodgers play has not been publicly released beyond the pool report statements.
Bottom Line
The Ravens lost a one-possession game influenced by multiple replay decisions and a consequential special-teams penalty. While the overturned Likely touchdown will dominate headlines, Baltimore’s coaches and players also cited execution errors that contributed to the defeat. The ruling highlights continuing tensions between in-game mechanics, league definitions of a catch, and the replay office’s enforcement.
With four regular-season games left, the Ravens must both address execution — finishing plays and avoiding penalties — and adapt to the interpretive environment of NFL replay. Fans and analysts should expect follow-up explanations from the league and continued scrutiny of how catch and contact rules are applied in decisive moments.
Sources
- Baltimore Ravens official game report (team site / game recap)
- NFL Rulebook: Catch and Replay rules (official / league rules)