In the final moments of the Baltimore Ravens‘ Week 14 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a pivotal replay decision overturned what initially appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown by Isaiah Likely. This ruling denied the Ravens a crucial victory that could have secured their spot in the playoffs. After the NFL‘s Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, later suggested the call should have favored Baltimore, quarterback Lamar Jackson took to social media, joking that the Ravens were awarded the “first offseason win ever” following the debate.
League Reviews Select Replay Decisions from 2025 Season
Troy Vincent shared with NFL analyst Mark Maske, as reported by Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, that the league office conducted a review of a few contested replay rulings during the 2025 season. Vincent identified the Likely play as especially notable due to the complex nature of determining what constitutes the “third act” in replay reviews—particularly concerning whether the ball was extended beyond the plane of the end zone.
“There was two plays in particular,”
Vincent explained.
“There was the Likely play . . . Ravens-Steelers in the end zone. And then you had the one—there was a Jets play. But it was the Likely play that you go, that was interesting because of the third step and they were talking about the ball extended out. So it was: What constitutes that third act?”
Impact of the Ruling on Ravens’ Season and Coaching Staff
The overturning of Likely’s touchdown had significant consequences for Baltimore’s season. Had the score stood, the Ravens would likely have earned a win that propelled them to an AFC North title and a playoff berth. Instead, the team finished with an 8-9 record, missing the postseason and ultimately leading to the dismissal of head coach John Harbaugh. This outcome has intensified scrutiny around replay protocols and decision-making fairness.
Early-Window Replay Decisions Draw Increased Scrutiny
Vincent acknowledged that while only a small number of replay rulings from the 2025 season were questionable, most of those came during the early Sunday afternoon game window when numerous matches occur simultaneously. He noted that from 171 replay decisions reviewed, five would have been called differently upon further reflection—four of those in the 1 p.m. Eastern time slot.
“When you watch, there was about five plays,”
Vincent said.
“Of the 171 plays that we called on replay or replay assist that came back to the booth, there were five that we said if we had to do it again, on just the replay assist, in general. Of that 171 that occurred during [the] regular season, there were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed —four of them [were] in the 1 o’clock window. Just volume and you go, ‘Ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it.’”
Potential Changes to Replay Procedures in 2026
By highlighting the concentration of disputed calls during early afternoon games, the NFL appears intent on refining its replay review system to reduce errors in future seasons. Fans, players, and teams like the Ravens are hopeful these adjustments will prevent similarly controversial outcomes. Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely, in particular, remain invested in seeing clearer, fairer adjudications as the league moves forward.
