The Cincinnati Bengals don’t have a missed call to complain about after their latest 2-point conversion attempt against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. They have two.
The Bengals scored a touchdown against the Ravens with 38 seconds left and made the decision to go for the 2-point conversion and the lead. Joe Burrow dropped back to pass to Tanner Hudson, and the ball was incomplete. The Ravens won 35-34.
But elsewhere in the play, Mike Gesicki was clearly held. He argued, but the officials never saw it.
Amazon Prime Video also showed what appeared to be a penalty for passing Burrow. That wasn’t called either. Replays showed Burrow was hit in the helmet, across the face mask, by defensive tackle Travis Jones in what should have been a penalty.
On-duty analyst and former NFL official Terry McAulay of Prime Video said both fouls were missed.
“It was clearly defensive holding before the pass was in flight that should have been called,” McAulay said during the broadcast. “And that looks like forceful contact to the quarterback’s head. That’s a personal matter [foul]. That is harassing the passer-by and should have been called out.”
Earlier this season, a Thursday night game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams had a blatant facemask penalty that should have been called on the Rams and continued a drive for the Vikings, but the officials missed it.
“Too many games end this way,” Al Michaels said on air after the missed calls that would have given the Bengals another chance at a two-point conversion. “It’s so frustrating for the fans. So frustrating.”