Wilson: Ravens infuriated by officiating in loss to Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Some controversial officiating decisionsraised the ire of middle linebacker Ray Lewis and several other players during the Baltimore Ravens' 27-21 loss to the New England Patriots. 

The Ravens were particularly incensed about a pair of roughing the passer penalties as the officials seemed determined to do everything possible to protect New England star quarterback Tom Brady.

Both of the penalties set up touchdowns for the Patriots.

“Without going off the wall here, it’s embarrassing to the game,” Lewis said. “Brady is good enough to make his own plays, let him make the play. When you have two great teams that are going at it, let them go at it. Did that win or lose the game? No, but it got them 14 points. You don’t lose your focus. It just takes away from the game. It’s embarrassing to the league to let a defensive player play his heart out and you call that.

“A personal foul and he isn’t even touched. He’s a man. They can be hit, just like us. It's embarrassing to even keep the momentum going like that when we go three and out and then we stop them and then you look back and see a flag or a personal foul and Tom Brady is laughing. It wasn't no personal foul if he's still smiling."

In the third quarter, Ravens coach Harbaugh was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct for complaining about calls.

In the first quarter with Baltimore leading 7-3 after Flacco hooked up Mason for an acrobatic 20-yard touchdown catch, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was penalized for lightly touching Brady on the side of his helmet.

“He just kind of flopped and made the ref throw the flag,” Ngata said. “I guess we can’t even hit them.”

When outside linebacker Terrell Suggs struck Brady in the legs lightly in the second quarter, it got the Patriots in position for Sammy Morris’ 12-yard touchdown run with the 15-yard penalty.

“Maybe next year it'll be two-hand touch to get a sack," Suggs said.

Brady pointed at his knee before the official threw the flag, reminding them about the point of emphasis instituted by the NFL competition of committee prior to the season.

“Are you kidding me?” Brady said with a smile. “We’re holding the ball, we’re unprotected, just sitting there defenseless, so they’ve got to stay away from me. They deserve to get flagged.”

Harbaugh argued with the officials several times, but chose his words carefully after the game to avoid being fined.

“I saw it, I’m not allowed to comment on it,” Harbaugh said. “I think you guys saw it, too, and you make those judgments for yourself.”

On a fake field goal, New England tight end Chris Baker was flagged for illegal motion before catching a pass near the first-down marker.

The Ravens challenged whether it was a catch, but the original penalty was upheld.

If it had been overruled, the Ravens would have gained possession on downs.

“We were challenging whether he caught it and whether it was in bounds, and if it was a first down or not,” Harbaugh said. “So, they felt it was all three of those things.”

Referee Ron Winter explained his interpretation to a pool reporter following the game.

When asked why the illegal motion penalty didn’t override the challenge, Winter replied: “If it had been an incomplete pass, then they would have declined the penalty and they would have taken the ball at the previous spot. When we found out it was a complete pass, then the illegal motion penalty kicks in, takes it back, so they have to repeat the down. Caught the pass, good for a first down.”

Winter also explained why the play wasn’t spotted and measured prior to the challenge.

“There was no indisputable evidence to indicate that the ball was not a first down,” he said. “We looked at that to see if it was in fact a first down. We couldn’t determine that from the replay, so the ruling on the field would stand in that regard.”

Running back Willis McGahee was stuffed on fourth down with one yard to go on the next possession.
A measurement was called for, and the Ravens were extremely upset about the spot as well as several other spots throughout the game. The spot appeared to be somewhat questionable.

“I’m not surprised by anything, but I saw the spots and I think everyone saw the spots and I’m not allowed to criticize the officials and that’s the way it is in this league,” Harbaugh said.

Added McGahee: “It was a bad spot.”

Continuing the harangue against the officiating, free safety Ed Reed said that it was extremely frustrating to have so many calls go against them.

“You hope you only play against the other team,” Reed said. “It’s very frustrating when you’re playing your hearts out and the slightest push gives someone 15 yards and a first down. I thought this was football.

“All of us wear pads and helmets. The rules protect certain guys in this business. We want to score points and make it exciting for the fans. At the end of the day, football is exciting.”

Reed compared the officiating to the Ravens’ 2007 loss to New England where they lost their tempers at the end of the game and linebacker Bart Scott tossed a flag into the stands.

“Terrible,” said Reed in reference to the officiating. “Not to take away from anybody else’s job, but we have to be better than that. This game has evolved too much to not be precise. This is a game of inches. I swear it felt like 2007 almost.

“They don’t need no help. They’re a great team, just like we don’t need anybody or anybody to take it away from us. You hate to have to come into a game and you got to play against a team and the officials.”

The Ravens (3-1) don’t have long to dwell on this loss.

They have a key AFC North encounter looming next week at home against the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1), and the surprising Bengals have already defeated the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, the Ravens are tied with the Bengals for first place in the division.

“This one game isn’t going to make or break our season,” Mason said. “In this business, you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. We’ll bounce back.”

Follow me on Twitter: RavensInsider