NFL football, like most sports, is fickle.
One second the team is celebrating what they think is a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of a division rivalry game. And the next time these applause and smiles burst out from people in black and white stripes.
That was the Baltimore Ravens' experience Sunday when what they thought was Isaiah Probable's go-ahead touchdown (originally called that on the field) was called back and ruled incomplete on review with less than three minutes remaining. This proved fatal in their 27–22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The feeling of victory and the agony of defeat – all within a few fleeting moments.
At first glance, it appeared that “Michael” held the ball long enough before Pittsburgh safety Joey Porter Jr. knocked him out of the tight end's grasp. That's exactly how Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson saw it.
“If you were on the field with us, I think you would have thought it was a touchdown too,” Jackson said later. “But I can't do the job of a judge. So it is what it is.”
Likely's answer was a little simpler: “I think I need to get on my third leg.”
Sunday's result could prove pivotal in determining which team emerges from the AFC North and earns a home playoff berth in the fast-approaching NFL postseason. The Steelers' win in Week 14 improved their record to 7-6, good for first place in the division, while keeping the Ravens at 6-7 and within striking distance of second place.
It has been an up-and-down season for Baltimore, primarily due to a slew of injuries, most notably Jackson's four-week absence in October. On his return, the Ravens reeled off four wins in a row to give themselves hope against the division-topping Steelers, but they now face a continued uphill battle following back-to-back losses. First at the Cincinnati Bengals last week and then at the Steelers on Sunday.
Regardless, Baltimore head coach Jim Harbaugh believes his team still has plenty of time to achieve this.
“There are four games left. The season is not over yet,” he explained. “(We will) compete for the AFC North in the next four games. This is where we stand.”
As for Harbaugh's thoughts on the touchdown that never happened, the veteran head coach took a more diplomatic approach.
“The explanation was that the third leg did not go down before the ball came out. That's what (the judges) said.
“I don’t know why everything was decided this way. So, all these things, I'm sure they'll explain it to us, but they've had plenty of time to look at it and they're the rules experts, that's how it works.”
The Ravens return to action Dec. 14 when they visit the Bengals (4-9) in another important division matchup.
