Refs steal spotlight in 2024 NFL opener with 3 illegal formation flags on Ravens’ first drive
The referees in the opening game of the 2024 season called three straight illegal formation calls on Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari, but the Ravens still scored a touchdown.
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Lamar Jackson in the Chiefs game (Image via IMAGO)
The early minutes of the 2024 opening NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs turned into a referee show. They showed three back-to-back flags to the Ravens for the same reason—illegal formation at the line of scrimmage.
All of them happened during the first drive, which led to the Ravens losing a total of 30 yards. It was ironic because one of the plays should have been chalked off as a 30-yard defensive pass interference. Instead, the refs stuck with their original verdict of illegal formation.
The penalties did little because the Ravens went on to score a touchdown. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has a point to prove this season, handed the ball off to Derrick Henry. The all-pro running back scored a 5-yard and his first-ever touchdown as a Raven.
should have been ~30 yards on the DPI. instead, Ronnie Stanley is lined up a yard-plus off the line of scrimmage and gets called for illegal formation, penalties offset pic.twitter.com/F6i8EGozIe
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 6, 2024
Why did the referee call three penalties against the Baltimore Ravens on the first drive?
Perhaps the referees would have awarded the defensive pass interference for the Ravens if they had sufficient players at the line of scrimmage. They did not.
Baltimore’s left tackle Ronnie Stanley lined up almost a yard behind the line of scrimmage—not once but twice. Stanley was so far behind that he was closer to Jackson than to center Tyler Linderbaum. The camera did not show head coach John Harbaugh’s face, but an amateurish mistake from an all-pro caliber defensive end must have ticked him off if they did not score the TD.
Besides Stanley, right tackle Patrick Mekari drew the other penalty flag.
If the offseason is anything to go by, then the fans will see a lot more flags this year. It’s down to the fact that they received much flak on social media because of not spotting similar situations last season.
Clarity: Illegal formation penalties were reviewed extensively with all 32 NFL teams before, during, and after training camps by the officiating department, per @footballzebras. The bowing of the linemen provides an advantage in pass rush situations, and the Competition Committee…
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 6, 2024
The Chiefs went through similar situations last season. Tackle Jawaan Taylor faced massive criticism for repeated false starts, offensive holding, and illegal formation (20) but only received 3 flags because he wanted a little head start against his opponents. Even the most expensive guard in the NFL, Creed Humphrey, was shown yellow occasionally for false starts.
The refs will one day call Jawaan Taylor for a false start
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 6, 2024
It’s admirable that the refs are finally counting fouls at the scrimmage line more seriously. However, they also need to make sure it doesn’t affect the play after the quarterback has thrown the ball. Last season was a dumpster fire in terms of holding and blocking calls along with DPIs. Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons on record complained about it.
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Ishan Misra
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