The Baltimore Ravens' 2023 NFL season concluded in the most agonising fashion imaginable, with their playoff dreams shattered by a single, fateful kick. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop's missed 44-yard field goal as time expired against the arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers sealed their elimination, a moment that will haunt the franchise throughout the offseason.
The Crucial Miss and the Immediate Controversy
While the missed kick itself was devastating, the aftermath quickly shifted to a contentious officiating decision. Quarterback Lamar Jackson expressed clear frustration, suggesting a critical foul was overlooked that denied his team a fair chance to extend the game. This sentiment was echoed by former Super Bowl champion and analyst Jason McCourty. The controversy centres on the Steelers' attempt to block the final kick.
Video replay showed Steelers player Ben Skowronek placing a hand on teammate Cam Heyward's back to gain leverage before making contact with Ravens long snapper Nick Moore upon landing. According to NFL rules, using another player for leverage is a 15-yard personal foul. McCourty stated unequivocally that a penalty flag should have been thrown. Jackson's reaction was succinct and telling, posting "smfh" (shaking my ******* head) on social media.
What a Penalty Call Would Have Meant
Had the officials penalised Skowronek for leverage, the outcome could have been dramatically different. The Ravens would have been granted an untimed down and the ball would have been moved 15 yards closer, setting up a much shorter and easier game-tying field goal attempt. Instead, the game—and Baltimore's season—ended abruptly on the missed kick, a conclusion that felt deeply unsatisfactory to the team and its fans.
Ravens' Missed Opportunities Beyond the Final Play
Despite the justified focus on the final sequence, the Ravens had several chances to secure victory long before that snap. Lamar Jackson delivered a strong performance, throwing three touchdown passes. He single-handedly kept the offense alive in the fourth quarter with two explosive throws of 50 and 64 yards to receiver Zay Flowers, plays that briefly swung momentum and reignited hope for Baltimore.
Ultimately, this was a winner-take-all contest, and Mike Tomlin's Steelers found a way to survive and advance. John Harbaugh's Ravens were left to grapple with despair and disappointment, their campaign over in the cruellest possible way. The debate over the no-call will rage, but it cannot obscure the broader picture of a season that fell just short at the final hurdle.
