John Harbaugh pulled out his red challenge flag rather early in the Baltimore Ravens' Thursday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 10.
On the Bengals' first offensive possession, quarterback Joe Burrow steered the offense deep into the red zone and set up a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. He connected with tight end Mike Gesicki for a three-yard reception near the sidelines, but Harbaugh wasn't convinced the veteran completed the catch.
Harbaugh threw a challenge flag on the play—again, it was a three-yard catch on first down—and lost. Officials who ruled it a catch on the field were proven right by the replay review, and the Ravens lost a challenge and a timeout not even five minutes into the game.
It was an odd decision for Harbaugh, who has been correct on just three of his last 14 challenges dating back to the 2022 season.
NFL fans had some fun at Harbaugh's expense:
Harbaugh losing a challenge and timeout over a 2-yard completion pic.twitter.com/dB8Xg2wF9j
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 8, 2024
Really dumb challenge by the #Ravens and Harbaugh. Best case scenario, it's a two yard loss for the #Bengals. Worst case, you've burned one of your two challenges for the entire game.
— Bill Yelenak (@byelenak) November 8, 2024
And I don't think it's indisputable evidence to overturn here.
John Harbaugh wasting a challenge on a 2 yard catch totally won’t burn him on a much more important bad call later
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) November 8, 2024
No possible way that could happen in a primetime game 🙄 #CINvsBAL
Classic Harbaugh challenge pic.twitter.com/sf6yEXwaXV
— Hollywood (@lamar_era) November 8, 2024
What an odd challenge by Harbaugh this early. Relatively meaningless play.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) November 8, 2024
Harbaugh has lost a challenge and used two timeouts six minutes into the game and his team has not even touched the ball yet.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) November 8, 2024
Harbaugh with the challenge flag whenever he knows we’re going to lose it pic.twitter.com/iXU0J9tXKs
— Curtis Ray (@yarsitruc) November 8, 2024
John Harbaugh lost the challenge. It was a risk that wasn't worth the reward on a 3-yard pass.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) November 8, 2024
The Bengals went on to score on that drive, finishing it off on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Chase Brown. The Ravens, who went on to tie the game in the second quarter on Nelson Agholor's six-yard touchdown catch, are certainly hoping Harbaugh's odd decision to challenge a rather harmless three-yard catch in the first quarter doesn't come back to haunt them.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as John Harbaugh Roasted for Wasting Early Challenge on Bengals' Harmless 3-Yard Catch.
