Ravens coach John Harbaugh described a “sense of frustration” among his pass rushers after linebacker Tyus Bowser was penalized for roughing in the team’s 16-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Defenders around the NFL have complained about inconsistent interpretations of the rules designed to protect quarterbacks from late and dangerous hits. In an otherwise brilliant performance, Bowser was called for roughing Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield on a play that did not appear to involve a late hit or a helmet-to-helmet strike. He was visibly perplexed as game officials marked off the 15-yard penalty.
“When you hit the person not late, in the strike zone — not in the head or neck area — you don’t expect that to get called,” Harbaugh said at his Monday news conference. “Or you expect it to get cleaned up by the replay official. So there was frustration with the one last night. I can’t say that there wasn’t. But I think that’s all across the league.”
Harbaugh was also asked about the review of Cleveland tight end David Njoku’s touchdown catch late in the third quarter. Replays appeared to show Mayfield’s pass hitting the ground as it settled between Njoku’s hands in the end zone. “They said it wasn’t definitive,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what they said, that it wasn’t definitive enough to overturn.”
