Oct 23, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks with officials during the first half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Browns finally played a full 60 minutes of football, but their margin for error continued to be razor-thin. And much of that today had to do with officiating. It is a massive cliche to call out the officials after a loss, but there were a handful of calls in this one that changed the tide of the game.
Early on left tackle Jedrick Wills was called for a hold while perfectly executing a snatch trap on a Baltimore pass rusher. That wiped out a big gain and a first down, and instead pushed the Browns behind the sticks.
The Browns also had not one, but two roughing the passer penalties missed (one where the officials even picked the flag up). The most egregious penalties, however, came down the stretch as the Browns put themselves in a great position to win the game.
On a 3rd-and-2, the Browns were given a man coverage look with a single-high safety. Brissett located Cooper and delivered a dart that would have ended in the endzone. However, the officials called an offensive pass interference call on a look that maybe gets called two or three times a year.
That then set up a 55-yard field goal for rookie kicker Cade York. That was before the Ravens jumped offsides, but instead, the Browns were penalized for a phantom false start. The 60-yard kick was then blocked.
Again, complaining about officiating is a cliche thing to do after a close loss, but every one of these calls and no calls had a direct impact on this game. For a team that fought hard from whistle to whistle for once, this is a hard pill to swallow.
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