The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 14 in what was a very pivotal game in regards to the AFC North. The division will likely only have one playoff team in 2025 as it has been a down year for all four teams, so winning the division is the only chance any team has when it comes to going on a run in the postseason. Pittsburgh and Baltimore will play again in Week 18, but the Steelers got the better of the Ravens in the first matchup, which was surrounded by a good amount of controversy.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. fights through to stop Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely from scoring.
Baltimore had the ball while facing a 27-22 deficit in the fourth quarter on Sunday, and quarterback Lamar Jackson found tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone for what looked like a touchdown at first. However, the play was reviewed, and the call of a touchdown was overturned. Likely took two steps with the ball extended from his body, but he never truly made a football move thereafter, which is widely considered the third element of a catch. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. did a good job fighting to free the football, and Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh is still distraught over the play as he spoke to the media on Monday.
Harbaugh said the catch rule "is about as clear as mud right now."
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 8, 2025
"That's how I feel about it. We had a conversation with the league office and we appreciate that. It didn't clear anything up. It didn't make it any easier to understand."
Harbaugh and other members of his staff spoke to the league in an attempt to get some clarification on the call, but the group is still confused. There should not be too much confusion as the rule is pretty cut and dry. Likely did not finish the play. He dropped the ball before making a football move, therefore the play does not result in a touchdown.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh meet near midfield to shake hands after a professional football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Pittsburgh Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media after the game and he was asked about the play in question, and he stated that he knew from the moment the play happened that it was not a touchdown. He never once thought that Likely possessed the ball long enough to warrant a score, and he wound up being right. Harbaugh is still fighting for answers on the play, although he should probably turn his attention to Baltimore's next game as the Ravens need to collect some wins in order to stay in contention for the AFC North.
There were a handful of critical calls that went in Pittsburgh's favor on Sunday, including the Likely play, as well as a weird reception by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Either play could have gone the other way, which probably would have resulted in a win for the Ravens.
Steelers Have Been Through A Similar Situation
Pittsburgh is the beneficiary of this play this time around, but the franchise has been on the short end of the stick before. This came back during the 2017 season when Jesse James caught a touchdown while playing against the New England Patriots.
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Steelers fans still say, "Jesse James caught that ball."
It was determined that the ball was not caught, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception two plays later for the Patriots to win the game.
Touchdown or not a touchdown for Ravens' Isaiah Likely... Seems like the football gods finally righted the wrong from the Jesse James debacle in 2017. Steelers now in control of their own destiny to win the AFC North as a result. pic.twitter.com/FIRx8AKYep
— Parker Abate (@SNParker_) December 8, 2025
The Steelers were helped out on this call from the referees, but the fan base knows what it is like to be burned. This time around, it could be a determining factor in Pittsburgh clinching a spot in the postseason.
What do you think of Harbaugh's comments on the call? Let us know in the comments below!
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