OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After a narrow 27-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expressed his frustration with the NFL’s catch rule, especially concerning the controversial overturned touchdown by tight end Isaiah Likely.
Harbaugh described the current understanding of the rule as “about as clear as mud,” highlighting the confusion surrounding the officials’ decision. Initially, referees ruled that Likely had scored on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson, which would have put the Ravens ahead with just under three minutes left in the game. However, the call was changed after a review, with the officials determining that Likely lost possession of the ball before completing a key third step necessary for a catch to be validated.
NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth clarified that players must not only secure the catch but also complete an action deemed “common to the game,” such as taking an additional step or tucking the ball away. The Ravens’ coach sought answers from league officials but found that discussions with Perry Fewell and NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson did little to clarify the situation. “It didn’t make it any easier to understand either one of the two calls,” Harbaugh stated.
The Ravens now sit at 6-7, trailing the first-place Steelers in the competitive AFC North. Harbaugh was cautious about attributing the loss solely to the penalties and missed plays, noting, “You never know what cost you the game.” Nonetheless, he confirmed that the league acknowledged a mistake in applying an unnecessary roughness penalty against Ravens lineman Travis Jones during a critical moment in the second quarter, which allowed the Steelers to score a touchdown rather than a field goal.
As the Ravens look ahead, they will need to focus on potentially rectifying these mistakes and improving their performance in the final weeks of the season.