During their 26-23 overtime win in Pittsburgh, the Ravens had to overcome several controversial calls that went against them, even after replay review.
Had the Ravens lost this game, they would've had plenty to complain about. Instead, Head Coach John Harbaugh was proud of how the team overcame adversity.
"We just stepped up in so many different situations," Harbaugh said. "A lot of things were going against us. Our guys kept their poise. Our guys didn't get overwhelmed by the moment. They found a way, ultimately to win the game."
It wasn't easy, nor was it was easy to figure out why some rulings went the way they did.
With 8:28 left in the third quarter, it appeared Steelers linebacker Devin Bush did not control the football on a play that was ruled an interception on the field. As Bush and Nick Boyle jumped for Lamar Jackson's pass, Boyle couldn't control the football in midair and Bush held it for an instant as he tried to control it. But as Bush landed his hand slid down the side of the ball, and the ball made contact with the ground.
The proper ruling appeared to be an incomplete pass, but after review, the play was upheld as an interception.
Gene Steratore, former NFL referee and current rules analyst for CBS, tweeted that he believed the interception should have been overturned and ruled an incomplete pass.
That call helped change the game's momentum, with the Ravens still leading, 17-13. The Steelers responded with a 10-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that put them ahead, 20-17. A questionable pass interference call against Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr helped keep that drive alive.
Later in that drive, another disputed call went against Baltimore. Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges threw a third-down pass to Diontae Johnson that he lost after being hit by Ravens cornerback Maurice Canady. The ball rolled out of bounds, but it was ruled a completed pass and fumble on the field, giving Pittsburgh a first down at the Ravens' 19-yard line where it rolled out of bounds.
The Ravens challenged the ruling but it was upheld, costing the Ravens a timeout and leaving them without a challenge. Two plays later, the Steelers scored on James Conner's one-yard run to take their three-point lead.
In the first half, Lamar Jackson threw his first interception when his pass deflected off tight Mark Andrews and was caught by Steelers safety Kameron Kelly. Andrews, Jackson, and Harbaugh all thought the Steelers should have been called for pass interference, but no flag was thrown.
"I think it went to New York, and my understanding is that they did look at it," Harbaugh said. "I didn't see it. I was told by the people that watched it that they thought it was clear pass inference."
There was inconsistency on calls that went against both teams. Steratore also tweeted about a roughing the passer call that went against the Steelers that he disagreed with. That call helped set up Tucker's field goal that sent the game into overtime.
But after winning, the calls that didn't go the Ravens' way were a lot easier for them to take.
"Just another chapter in this incredible rivalry," Harbaugh said. "When you've got that kind of character and play as hard as we did? We can do anything, with that."
