Ray Lewis blames Ravens loss on officials
Ray Lewis is clearly blaming the Baltimore Ravens 15-10 loss on Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals on the men in stripes.
Late in the third quarter it appeared that Lewis had sacked Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer for an 8-yard loss, but it was ruled a trip. The penalty cost the Ravens ten yards and
moved the ball up to the Baltimore 32 yard line. The Bengals went on to kick a field goal during this series and take a 9-7 lead.
Lewis was livid with the penalty. The helmetless linebacker could be seen on the field pleading his case to the officials.
After the game he had this to say about he call that went against him, “I get blocked into the player and you tell me that I tripped this man, but this man fell over my feet.”
The second penalty that drew the ire of Lewis was a roughing the passer call on fellow linebacker Terrell Suggs. Suggs wrapped his arms around Palmer who was in the process of passing
the ball and drove him backward to the ground. The hit drew a 15-yard penalty and moved the Bengals to the Baltimore 26-yard line. After the call, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was irate on the sideline, screaming into the ear of the referee.
The Bengals ran three plays after the penalty and moved the ball up six yards. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent then delivered a 38-yard field goal and put the Bengals ahead 12-10.
Lewis had this to offer on the call against Suggs, “we laugh about is so much, quarterbacks getting all this protection. I get tired of whining about quarterbacks. Terrell can’t stop in
midair and pull up on Carson after he still has the ball.”
Coach Harbaugh seemed to echo Lewis’ sentiments, “I think it’s hard for us to determine right now what roughing the passer is. If that’s roughing the passer, I don’t know how you’re supposed
to get Carson Palmer, a 250 pound quarterback down, other than tackle him.”
Lewis then unequivocally blamed the loss on the officials, “It’s six points. You don’t have to assume if they cost it. You don’t have to make it seem like I said this. It was six points.
How many we lost by?”
The final score was 15-10, the Ravens losing by less than the six points Lewis implies the officials gave the Bengals.
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