The results haven’t changed. The Baltimore Ravens’ Week 14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers will always be remembered. While it’s still a loss, that doesn’t mean the sting has gone away.
After NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent recently revisited the controversial touchdown incident involving Isaiah Likely, several Baltimore veterans made it clear that the moment still resonates in the locker room.
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For Ravens players, the confirmation doesn’t bring closure. It brings perspective. Lamar Jackson downplayed it. The reaction from some of his teammates was less understanding.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy didn’t sugarcoat his reaction, emphasizing that players are taught to control what they can control, but acknowledging how difficult it is when clutch moments hinge on interpretation rather than execution. There’s a mixture of frustration and acceptance in his tone – he’s a veteran who understands that complaining won’t rewrite the standings.
“Have we ever seen the NFL come out months after a game (weeks after the entire NFL season) and (admit) that they didn’t get 1 huge critical call on the biggest rivalry game in the NFL? But they got 2 critical negative calls in the same game! So a total of 3 horrible calls in one game…that’s crazy! 1. Rodgers inside, 2. Possible touchdown, 3. Travis Jones” 15 yard shot (they said they were wrong after Tuesday’s game) Wow! ! ! ! The responsibility is a little unreal but kind of…we need to take some kind of action now because I know this can’t happen in 1, but 3? ? ? Smh”.
First off, who knew you could get so many characters into one X post? That, friends, is another story for another day. Meanwhile, Vincent’s comments, particularly his acknowledgment of the “third act” explanation and the gray area surrounding the catch process, were seen by many as proof that the play could reasonably be carried out as required on the field.
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Of course, this is a thing of the past now, but this is not the controversy itself, but the lesson. This is not an accusation. It’s about urgency, creating separation on the scoreboard and avoiding a situation where one ruling can decide a game.
The reality is simple: Baltimore didn’t get the call, and the league office isn’t going to change that, but another win in the left column could help the Ravens make the playoffs. In a conference where margins determine who gets to play in January, that advantage may matter more than a ticket.
Oh well…moments like this tend to be motivation. We hope it does that in this case. If anything, their leader’s reaction shows that the memory has not faded. More energy
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Kyle Van Noy responds to NFL office admitting officiating error