Controversial officiating has been a common theme throughout the Baltimore Ravens’ first two games of the season. In both the season-opening loss at the Kansas City Chiefs and today’s home-opening defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens were on the wrong end of some questionable calls.
Ravens backup safety Eddie Jackson called BS, literally, on one specific play that was critical to determining the game’s outcome.
Here is the video replay of the call in question:
Here’s the Brandon Stephens DPI that was called late and from an official across the end zone not on top of the play itself. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/TSVPMIep3p
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) September 15, 2024
With Vegas down 23-16 and 4:36 to play, they faced third-and-goal from the Baltimore 17. Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew then threw an incomplete pass on an end-zone route to Devante Adams.
However, Brandon Stephens was flagged for defensive pass interference, setting Vegas up at the goal line. Adams threw a 1-yard TD pass to Adams on the next play, and the ensuing extra point tied the game.
It is worth noting that the DPI call was not made by the official who was immediately near the play but by a referee who was on the other side of the field.
The Ravens went on to lose 26-23, and Jackson did not hold back at all when asked about the penalty.
Eddie Jackson on the DPI on Brandon Stephens: “I’m not a ref, an official, but I feel like a couple of those were kind of BS calls.” pic.twitter.com/SmWB1ew3vF
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) September 15, 2024
Last week, the Ravens received a higher-than-normal number of illegal formation penalties, prompting left tackle Ronnie Stanley to criticize the officiating.
Were some of these calls “ticky-tack”? Probably. Have the Ravens been shafted on some decisive and essential calls so far in the young season? Sure.
But you know what they always say when games are ultimately decided by officiating—try to play at a level that is so dominant that you decide the result, not the refs.
