In the wake of Monday night’s football game between the Ravens and Patriots there has been a lot of talk about the Officials in the game handing the game to the Patriots. Whenever a high emotion game is close you hear the conspiracy theorists come out spewing their “facts”, trying to prove that the NFL is as fixed as the WWE. While it would be hard to argue that not a single NFL official is on the take after all, we have seen this happen with Basketball and Baseball, it is equally unlikely that the whole officiating staff of the NFL is crooked.

So with all the complaints about the officiating during the Pats-Ravens game, I have yet to hear a convincing argument that any of the calls were really all that bad. First things first, let’s look at the 2007. The Ravens are the 4th most penalized team so far this year. Arizona leads with 108/875, then Green Bay – 95/852, Cleveland - 95/716 with the Ravens following close behind with 92/698. New England by comparison is 62/562. So the Ravens draw a lot of penalties, no arguing that. They incurred 13 in that game, which is high for them in a single game, but not out of question given the intensity and emotion of that game.

Looking at the penalties:
1. Rolle gets called for a facemask. No subjectivity there. Good Call.
2. Next play, 12 men on field. New England was in a no huddle, caught them with 12, count them up. No argument, Good Call.
3. Next play, Suggs, offsides. You can always argue offsides/false start. Looking at the play a few times, I could not find any movement on the Pats line. If they had the network would have been all over it. Good Call.
4. Sypniewski – False Start. This ends up being a partial drive killer. It was on a first down though so you are 1-15. He moved, no question though. Good Call.
5. Martin - Unnecessary Roughness. Another call that is more subjective, however it seemed warranted. That drive led to a Ravens TD so it ends up having zero effect. Good Call.
6. Ivy – Defensive Holding. Of all the penalty calls I think this is the most questionable. I am not an official but it seems consistant with how it has been called all year. This keeps the drive alive. Patriots still get 3 if the call never gets made.
7. McAlister – Pass Interference. I think this one was clear, Moss should have had it. Good call.
8. Wilcox – False Start. He moved. It was 3 and 9 on that play making it 3 and 14. Legit penalty that likely has no effect on the game. Good Call.
9. Rolle – Illegal Contact. Judgement call. I agree with the call but it is a moot point, Brady ran for the 1st down regardless so has no effect on outcome.
10. Winborne – Pass Interference. Winborne was wrapped around Watson that play, the right arm hooked around the waist. No question That is Pass Interference, without it Watson catches that ball for a TD. Good Call.
11. Scott – Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Good Call.
12. Scott – Unsportsmanlike Conduct. The subsequent pentalty for throwing the flag. Good Call.
13. Reed – Offsides. In some sort of statement, he walked across the line. Good Call.

There are 2 things not covered that Ravens fans and Pats Haters alike will argue. The Time Out that was called when the Patriots got stuffed on 4 and 1. Now, there is zero question that the Defensive coordinator called for a time out well before the start of the play. So the question is that can the defensive coordinator call a timeout. According to the rules no. However the official that granted the time out had no idea who was calling for the time out as he was focused on the players were set.

I know Ravens fans will not like this, but while the time out should not have been granted, nor should Rex Ryan have asked for it. As a Defensive Coordinator in week 13 of the 2007 season he should know better. He’s got a pipeline to the coach, so no excuse. That was poor judgment on BOTH sides. So no conspiracy there.

The other arguable call is the Gaffney touchdown. Did he have control or not. From the viewpoint of an official in another sport: The official was in the right place, looking where he should have been with an excellent view of the catch. Unfortunately his view of the ball was obscured by Gaffney. As an official you just can not predict exactly how a play will go down and there is no way to get into 100% the correct position. He has no other official to get help from, he’s got the best angle available and he has to make the call. Given those conditions and his set of eyes, I think 99.9% of anyone makes the same call. There was nothing he did wrong and from his vantage point it was the correct call. The play was even reviewed and upheld.

If it were me looking at the replay, assuming that I have the same angles and quality we have at home… I overturn the call. That being said, I am not sure that it changes anything. An incomplete pass would just mean 2nd and goal from the 4 assuming that the Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty on Scott does not happen. 3 more attempts for the Patriots and more often than not it is going to result in a TD. Add to that the Patriots burning some more time off the clock. Gotskowski was kicking with the wind and he can boot the ball so I would not expect a huge runback. So the Ravens get the ball with only 20-25 seconds, possibly less and the Hail Mary to the 2 never happens.

So now, I ask the question. What are you complaining about?

One questionable penalty that isn’t even blatantly bad? An arguable TD reception that probably gets made in the next play or two? A time out that the Ravens Defensive Coordinator should have known better than to call in the first place? The Ravens played a great game, but they let emotion get the better of them and they paid the price. Don’t blame the officials for the Ravens’ own undoing.

So please, someone educate me.