Overview
- NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth said Likely completed two elements of a catch but failed the required third step, so the replay overturn stood.
- League officials later acknowledged the unnecessary roughness call on Ravens DT Travis Jones that nullified a Steelers field goal was incorrect after discussions with Perry Fewell and Walt Anderson, a concession John Harbaugh said does not change the result.
- Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 27-22, with the admitted penalty error and the overturned end-zone play weighing heavily on the outcome, according to multiple reports.
- Dennis Pitta criticized Likely’s recent technique and ball security, citing a Week 13 goal-line fumble and the Week 14 end-zone play, intensifying scrutiny as Andrews’ new deal clouds Likely’s future.
- ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler reported the Likely play was not included in the NFL’s weekly officiating training tape to clubs, a noted omission highlighted in FanSided’s coverage.