Ravens missed penalties, explained: Baltimore gets away with multiple no-calls on Bengals’ two-point attempt

“Thursday Night Football” in Week 10 delivered an all-time thriller between two divisional rivals, as the Ravens bested the Bengals 35-34 in Baltimore. 

However, the game ended not only with drama, but plenty of controversy, as well. 

Down a touchdown in the final minute, the Bengals were able to pull within one when QB Joe Burrow connected with star WR Ja’Marr Chase on his third touchdown of the game. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor elected to go for the lead, calling for the offense to connect on a two-point conversion. 

MORE BENGALS:
Ja’Marr Chase’s historic performance | Playoff picture | Zac Taylor explains aggressiveness

Burrow’s attempt to tight end Tanner Hudson fell incomplete, essentially ending the game in favor of the Ravens, who improved to 7-3. However, the Bengals were left in shock over a lack of penalty flags on the play. 

Based on replay, it appears as though Baltimore benefitted from the referees putting the whistles away on the final play of the game for the Cincinnati offense. There were two penalties, including one on Burrow, that went uncalled, contributing to the loss. 

Here are more details on those missed penalties. 

MORE RAVENS:
Kyle Hamilton injury update | Derrick Henry wardrobe malfunction | Diontae Johnson again plays sparingly

Ravens missed penalties on Bengals two-point conversion attempt

There were a number of infractions that went uncalled for the Bengals, giving the Ravens the home victory. Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAuley called out two on the broadcast. 

Defensive holding on Mike Gesicki

When the ball fell to the ground after going through the hands of Hudson, the cameras panned to get a number of reactions from Bengals players. The one that stood out the most was TE Mike Gesicki. He was astonished that there was no flag on the play for defensive holding. 

On the replay, it is clear that Gesicki was held as he tried to cut in toward the middle of the field. Despite the contact, no flag was thrown. 

Here is how the defensive holding penalty is written in the NFL rulebook under Rule 8, Article 6. 

A defensive player tackles or holds any opponent other than a runner, except as permitted in Article 5. For this purpose, a player is considered a runner while in the pocket if a teammate pretends to give him the ball and/or he pretends to possess the ball.

NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule

Roughing the passer on Joe Burrow

In addition, Burrow is seen getting a hand right in his facemask after he released the ball. Baltimore nose tackle Travis Jones extended his hands into the face of the Bengals quarterback, causing Burrow to fall to the ground. 

There was no flag on the play for roughing the passer or a facemask violation.

Here is how the roughing the passer penalty is written in the NFL rulebook under Rule 12, Article 11.  

Roughing will be called if, in the Referee’s judgment, a pass rusher clearly should have known that the ball had already left the passer’s hand before contact was made; pass rushers are responsible for being aware of the position of the ball in passing situations; the Referee will use the release of the ball from the passer’s hand as his guideline that the passer is now fully protected; once a pass has been released by a passer, a rushing defender may make direct contact with the passer only up through the rusher’s first step after such release (prior to second step hitting the ground); thereafter the rusher must be making an attempt to avoid contact and must not continue to “drive through” or otherwise forcibly contact the passer; incidental or inadvertent contact by a player who is easing up or being blocked into the passer will not be considered significant.