During the end of the first half, the Baltimore Ravens were threatening to score inside the 10-yard line, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning 13-7.
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There were nine seconds left on the clock and the Chiefs defense appeared to not be ready, as the team frantically was trying to get into position.
NBC announcer Mike Tirico noted, "They might take a timeout here, KC needs a timeout here... and they got one. Steve Spagnuolo right now on the sideline to get the timeout call there, as the Chiefs had a little bit of defensive confusion."
To note, there is one problem with this, Spagnuolo is the team's defensive coordinator, and according to league rules, only the head coach or players are allowed to call timeouts.
“The HC is the only one who can call a timeout……unless you’re the Chiefs.” #BALvsKC
pic.twitter.com/JRJI6LucJE— Kellen “KellDawg” Sherman (@KShermanSports) September 6, 2024
This is when the broadcasters brought in the network's rules analyst Terry McAulay to shed light on the situation, as he confirmed that if Spagnuolo's timeout was granted, it shouldn't have been allowed.
"He can't do that," McAualay said. "It has to be the head coach who comes down. Nobody else can call a timeout on the sideline except the head coach."
🚨WILD: #Chiefs assistant coach Steve Spagnuolo called a timeout which is
AGAINST LEAGUE RULES, but NFL refs allowed it.👀👀👀
One of the few times I’ve ever seen thispic.twitter.com/GC81mbBhxM
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 6, 2024
In view of this, Spagnuolo seemingly knew he was wrong, as he appeared to apologize, with the refs rebuking his actions.
Ultimately, many wondered why the Chiefs were not given a penalty for this. As it would have allowed the Ravens to move up half the distance to the goal, instead they ended up having to kick a field goal to be trailing 13-10 as they headed into halftime.
Nah this is getting outrageous with the refs giving Steve Spagnuolo that timeout.. pic.twitter.com/Ds3oMZX67N
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) September 6, 2024
While some said it's because the Chiefs always seem to get away with everything, claiming they have the refs on their side, there may have been a reasonable explanation in view of it all.
Apparently, the TV cameras didn't show it, but head coach Andy Reid also called timeout first, so Spagnuolo was only doing that to get the refs attention.
This video doesn't provide the full context. Andy Reid called timeout first. The judge at the back pylon noticed Reid, and gave it to him.
Spags didn't spot that, and because the near ref had not seen Reid's TO, Spags raced in, as seen here. But timeout had already been granted https://t.co/NwfohwBFGA
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) September 6, 2024
All in all, the Chiefs ended up winning 27-20, as the game ended in dramatic fashion after the refs overturned a touchdown call with no time left, because Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely had an inch of his toe on the line during the last play.
Isaiah Likely came back in the game & caught the touchdown…but his foot was on the line
What a finishpic.twitter.com/XiZUvNlCLD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 6, 2024
Related: A Toe Just Decided The NFL's Opening Ravens-Chiefs Game
