Thursday night's matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens had all the elements of an instant classic—high stakes, big plays, and drama that stretched until the final seconds. But as has become too familiar in the NFL, the game's narrative took a detour into officiating controversy, and Al Michaels wasn't about to let it slide.
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Baltimore managed to hold on for a nail-biting 35-34 win at M&T Bank Stadium, surviving a furious rally from Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Cincinnati clawed back from a 21-7 deficit, storming 70 yards in a last-gasp drive to set up a potential game-winning two-point conversion.
Then came the play that will be talked about on sports shows and fan forums for days: a missed call that left Bengals fans seething and Michaels fuming.
"Too many games end this way. They just do," Michaels said. "You miss calls, the whole thing. It's so frustrating to the fans, so frustrating."
The Ravens' defense got away with what looked like not one, but two penalties on the two-point attempt. The most glaring? A blow to Burrow's head that, by the book, should have been flagged.
NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay didn't hesitate to highlight the officiating lapse on Amazon's broadcast, and Michaels—never one to shy away from the moment—unleashed his frustration, calling out the league for the all-too-frequent officiating blunders that seem to mar even the best showdowns.
https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1854746876840460566
It's not the first time Michaels has shown his irritation this season. The veteran broadcaster has grown increasingly vocal about what he sees as a troubling trend in officiating, putting the focus on missed or questionable calls that tilt the balance of big games. Sure, the Ravens had their share of gripes earlier in the game, but when the dust settles, Thursday night will be remembered for Cincinnati's final play—and the flags that never flew.
