After Further Review: Jets-Ravens Officiating

By popular demand, we're again going to have a post after each game that breaks down some of the controversial decisions from the officiating crew in the game.

Penalty Count

Ravens 5-29 (leading to three Jets first downs)
Jets 6-81 (leading to one Ravens first down)

Note: This does not include penalties that are declined or off-set.

Plays where the call was obvious, uncontroversial or not visible on broadcast footage

Jets Penalties

  • Joe Flacco intentional grounding. The ball landed right in front of him as he was basically already in the grasp. Even if he was attempting to get it away to someone downfield, you'll always get a flag in a situation like this. He actually got away with a similar one later on, though.
  • Jacob Martin holding penalty on a kickoff return. This forced the Jets to start from inside their own 10-yard line. Martin made the block as Braxton Berrios went outside but looked to have hooked the outside shoulder. He tried to let go of his man but was too late in doing so.
  • George Fant offensive holding. This might be the clearest holding penalty you'll ever see. The defensive end shot inside and Fant, on one knee, literally grabbed him around the waist to stop him blowing up the run for a loss. It went for no gain anyway.
  • Elijah Moore offensive pass interference to negate a touchdown catch. Clear push-off.

Ravens Penalties

  • Brandon Stephens illegal contact to negate a third down sack. This happened off-screen and they showed a replay of the wrong defender.
  • Isaiah Likely holding penalty on the outside to negate a 2nd-and-short conversion. Likely protested this call but he literally dragged Williams out of the play so this was a clear hold.
  • James Proche holding penalty to negate a 12-yard run. This was very clear, as you can see Proche's outside hand around Deuce Carter's waist, enabling the Ravens to get to the edge.

Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation

Jets Penalties

  • Lawrence Cager holding penalty. This was damaging because the Jets were forced into a 1st-and-19 situation and threw an interception on the next snap. The holding call seemed ridiculous because Cager kept his hands inside as he drove his man to the ground. Even though he had a handful of jersey, this is usually considered fair. There was a suggestion that it could have been a different penalty because he was blocking the man back towards his own end zone but Cager initiated contact legitimately face-on before driving his man upfield, so that rule should not apply.
  • Lamarcus Joyner pass interference penalty. This was a 32-yard gain to set up the Ravens' first touchdown and Joyner was very vocal in the media about the fact that he felt this was a bad call. It's difficult to side with him on this though, he seemed to impede the receiver's progress with an obvious collision while the ball was in the air.

Ravens Penalties

  • Marlon Humphrey illegal contact. "Collisioned" Moore way past five yards and before the ball was thrown to impede his route. The pass was tipped so if contact had been after the throw it would have been legitimate.
  • Kyle Fuller defensive holding to negate another third down sack. This one looked a bit harsh, as Corey Davis seemed to initiate contact and any hold took place as Flacco was in the process of being sacked anyway.

Notable no-calls etc

Here were some of the notable missed calls, controversial moments or review situations.

  • There were several examples of plays where the Ravens could have been flagged for holding, block in the back or illegal use of the hands, mostly in pass protection.
  • As James Lofton noted on the broadcast, the Jets could have been flagged for an illegal formation on one play but got away with it.
  • It's possible they could have taken another look at a Ravens third down incompletion where Jordan Whitehead knocked the ball loose, although it seems unlikely that the receiver met the criteria for making a football move with control that would be needed for this to be changed to a fumble.
  • Jackson got a ridiculously generous spot on a first down scramble on which Bryce Hall was prevented from knocking him out of bounds by a Ravens player who grabbed him by the wrist.

Let us know what we missed - or misinterpreted - in the comments...