The Refs Cost The Browns The Game And Likely Their Season On A Phantom False Start That Will Go Down As The Worst Call In NFL History
HOLY SHIT. YOU CANNOT GET THAT WRONG. NOT ONLY DID THE REFEREES JUST COST THE BROWNS THIS GAME, AT 2-5, THEY JUST COST THE BROWNS THEIR SEASON.
On 4th and 5 in three point game, Cade York trotted out for a game-tying field goal with 2:09 left in the game. Literally no one moved an inch, and the Ravens jumped off-sides. I don't know how the refs fell for the Ravens defense and John Harbaugh saying the center moved the ball, but he clearly did not, and the video shows it. Offsides would've given the Browns a first down, giving them a legitimate chance to win the game and at worst head to overtime, but instead it made us try a 61 yarder that missed. And this isn't just me bitching. The entire world knows it. The announcers were beside themselves. This was flat out WRONG.
And not only was the call wrong, the home clock operator was in on the fix, too.
The clock just keeps running after the play ends, right past the 2 minute warning that would've been nice to have to stop the clock. But instead the refs let that one slide, and we only had 16 seconds left on the clock when we got the ball back. Should've been a minute. Disgusting. Lots of apologies coming.
I have never felt more helpless in my entire life. What can we do here? The apology incoming from the NFL is not enough. They need to replay this game from 2:09 remaining. That's the only fair way to move forward, and honestly, if the Ravens have any ounce of integrity in their body then they would agree. Harbaugh needs to take one look at that video and bring the team back on the field.
And it wasn't even just the field goal that cost us the game. The refs literally dictated three straight plays to end this game that all screwed the Browns. First they missed a roughing the passer on Brissett:
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Then they wiped away a game-winning touchdown for Amari Cooper by calling…offensive pass interference???
WHAT?????? But at least that's a judgement call (although wrong). The false start simply didn't happen!!!!!!
The Browns have now lost 5 games, and 4 of them are by a grand total of 11 points. This team is not as bad as their 2-5 record shows and I refuse to let us go out this way. A win in Baltimore today would've changed everything and a loss has effectively ended it all. They should be right in the thick of things in the AFC North, but now it is over on account of THE REFS.