It wouldn't be a Steelers vs. Ravens game without a little controversy. And in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 27-22 win Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens appeared to take the lead with less than three minutes to go in the game, only to have it taken away minutes later.
On first-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 13-yard line, Lamar Jackson dropped back to pass, found tight end Isaiah Likely over the middle with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage and completed what appeared to be a touchdown pass to give them a 28-27 lead, pending any point-after attempt.
Likely definitely got two feet down with possession of the ball, almost three feet down in the end zone. However, Porter played through and knocked the ball out just before Likely's third foot hit the ground:
As all scoring plays are subject to replay, it was determined Likely did not meet all of the qualifications to be given credit for a catch. Thus, it was ruled an incomplete pass.
"We quickly looked at the play. The receiver controlled the ball in the air, had his right foot down, then his left foot down," explained Mark Butterworth, NFL vice president of instant replay. "The 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 get the third foot down, the ball was ripped out. Therefore, it was an incomplete pass."
Virtually everyone on the Ravens' side did not see it that way.
"The players, they know. They've been in the NFL, they know how this stuff works," John Harbaugh said. "I tell them, basically, that we don't make any excuses. We don't point any fingers.That's not what we do here. We never have. We walk out of here with our chest out and our chin up, and we look to the next game."
"I think all of us thought he scored," Rashod Bateman said. "The fans counted out three steps of him having possession, so I'm not sure who was looking at that in New York. I just felt like we were robbed there."
"I thought so, but it's not up to me to make the decision," Derrick Henry said. "I thought it was a touchdown. What'd you think?"
"I believe so. I thought it was," Jackson said. "[Isaiah Likely was] in the end zone taking steps. [Their guy] just kept punching at the ball. That's all I can see."
Funny enough, one Ravens player who didn't speak out much against the call was Likely himself, despite being bombarded with questions about the play. The furthest he went in disagreement with the call was: "I guess I have to just get my third foot down."
But what Jackson said is what resonated on the Steelers' side, especially with Mike Tomlin. The call doesn't possibly get overturned without Porter continuing to fight and knock the ball out of Likely's hands, even if it appeared he had already scored.
"I'm just appreciative of the effort," Tomlin said. "That's just kind of indicative of how the game needs to be played and, you know, be a good example of that."
For those who will continue to disagree with the call, there is precedent, and the Steelers were on the wrong side of it. During the 2023 season, Diontae Johnson had a touchdown taken away for the same reasoning: Achieved initial possession, two feet and/or a body part in bounds, but did not complete the aforementioned third aspect before losing possession of the ball:
That call was initially ruled incomplete, which Tomlin did not challenge. And for the record, Tomlin did not think Likely should have been awarded with a touchdown.
"I know sometimes in an effort to get it right, they'll signal it a touchdown and give it the benefit of a review," Tomlin said. "But no, I didn't think it was a touchdown."
THE ASYLUM
The Big Play: Porter's 'effort' saves score
It wouldn't be a Steelers vs. Ravens game without a little controversy. And in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 27-22 win Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens appeared to take the lead with less than three minutes to go in the game, only to have it taken away minutes later.
On first-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 13-yard line, Lamar Jackson dropped back to pass, found tight end Isaiah Likely over the middle with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage and completed what appeared to be a touchdown pass to give them a 28-27 lead, pending any point-after attempt.
Likely definitely got two feet down with possession of the ball, almost three feet down in the end zone. However, Porter played through and knocked the ball out just before Likely's third foot hit the ground:
As all scoring plays are subject to replay, it was determined Likely did not meet all of the qualifications to be given credit for a catch. Thus, it was ruled an incomplete pass.
"We quickly looked at the play. The receiver controlled the ball in the air, had his right foot down, then his left foot down," explained Mark Butterworth, NFL vice president of instant replay. "The 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 get the third foot down, the ball was ripped out. Therefore, it was an incomplete pass."
Virtually everyone on the Ravens' side did not see it that way.
"The players, they know. They've been in the NFL, they know how this stuff works," John Harbaugh said. "I tell them, basically, that we don't make any excuses. We don't point any fingers.That's not what we do here. We never have. We walk out of here with our chest out and our chin up, and we look to the next game."
"I think all of us thought he scored," Rashod Bateman said. "The fans counted out three steps of him having possession, so I'm not sure who was looking at that in New York. I just felt like we were robbed there."
"I thought so, but it's not up to me to make the decision," Derrick Henry said. "I thought it was a touchdown. What'd you think?"
"I believe so. I thought it was," Jackson said. "[Isaiah Likely was] in the end zone taking steps. [Their guy] just kept punching at the ball. That's all I can see."
Funny enough, one Ravens player who didn't speak out much against the call was Likely himself, despite being bombarded with questions about the play. The furthest he went in disagreement with the call was: "I guess I have to just get my third foot down."
But what Jackson said is what resonated on the Steelers' side, especially with Mike Tomlin. The call doesn't possibly get overturned without Porter continuing to fight and knock the ball out of Likely's hands, even if it appeared he had already scored.
"I'm just appreciative of the effort," Tomlin said. "That's just kind of indicative of how the game needs to be played and, you know, be a good example of that."
For those who will continue to disagree with the call, there is precedent, and the Steelers were on the wrong side of it. During the 2023 season, Diontae Johnson had a touchdown taken away for the same reasoning: Achieved initial possession, two feet and/or a body part in bounds, but did not complete the aforementioned third aspect before losing possession of the ball:
That call was initially ruled incomplete, which Tomlin did not challenge. And for the record, Tomlin did not think Likely should have been awarded with a touchdown.
"I know sometimes in an effort to get it right, they'll signal it a touchdown and give it the benefit of a review," Tomlin said. "But no, I didn't think it was a touchdown."
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