The Baltimore Ravens beat themselves on Sunday. Their Week 14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was filled with clueless errors, and while they put themselves in position for a comeback win late, they fell short.
Despite the abysmal showing, there were a few plays that, if called differently, could have undoubtedly shifted the outcome of the game. One of those included the touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely that was overturned and ruled an incompletion.
For about a minute, the Ravens were on cloud nine. With just under three minutes to go, it appeared that Likely came down with a 13-yard touchdown reception that would put the Ravens in front for the first time since the first quarter. However, upon review, the referees ruled that Likely did not finish the process of the catch.
The ruling caused an uproar from not just Ravens fans, but NFL fans, as it seems there are still major questions about what is considered a catch.
Ravens hurt by catch rulings
CBS’s Rules Analyst and former NFL referee Gene Steratore noted on the broadcast that Likely needed complete control, to have two feet in bounds, and had to take a third step or needed to perform a football move before Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. knocked the ball out. It was believed he did not cross off the third element.
To have a completed pass, the receiver must:
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) December 7, 2025
1.) Secure control of the ball ✅
2.) Have both feet or a body part (other than hands) in-bounds ✅
3.) Perform a football move (take a third step, tuck the ball away, turn upfield, avoid/ward off an opponent) or to maintain control… pic.twitter.com/H6qxuVybd6
However, it is fair to question if Likely actually did complete a football move. After hauling in the pass, Likely brings the ball down and clearly did his best to extend the ball away from Porter’s grasp and avoid any attempt to knock the ball out. By rule, extending the football is considered a football move.
If extending the ball is explicitly a football move, then what? It doesn't say football move AND maintain control long enough to do so. It says OR. So when he extended the ball with two feet and possession already established, that's a catch, right?https://t.co/WiBEhnEsNq
— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) December 7, 2025
That was not the only play that had fans wondering what possession is. Prior to that drive, Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage fall into the hands of Baltimore linebacker Teddye Buchanan, which was initially ruled an interception. However, after a lengthy replay review, it was ruled that Rodgers had possession with a knee down before Buchanan had full control of the ball.
Head Coach John Harbaugh questioned that ruling in his postgame press conference.
“From the rules, when you’re making a catch, you have to survive the ground,” Harbaugh said. “[Rodgers] didn’t survive the ground, he’s not down by contact, he was catching the ball on the way down with another person.”
Regardless, the Ravens had plenty of chances to win this game, and did not make the necessary plays to do so. While it hurts to see what could have been six points taken off the board, they had three more plays on the drive to put the ball in the end zone and did not.