Former NFL Officiating VP Takes Steelers' Side In Controversial No-Call During Ravens Ending

The Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North title for the first time since the 2020 season on Sunday night by taking down the Baltimore Ravens, 26-24. The game was anxiety inducing for the entire fan bases on both sides, delivering nonstop tension from start to finish. For neutral fans, it was arguably the game of the year and a fitting, dramatic conclusion to the 2025 NFL regular season, with the division title hanging in the balance until the final seconds.

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered what looked to be the decisive blow late in the game, throwing a clutch touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III to put Pittsburgh ahead. However, the drama only intensified when kicker Chris Boswell missed the extra point in rare fashion, leaving the door open for Baltimore. Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson wasted no time, quickly moving his offense into field goal range and giving Baltimore a chance to steal the game at the buzzer. In a moment that stunned the stadium, rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal attempt, sealing a hard-fought Steelers victory and sparking celebration across Pittsburgh.

The frantic ending was not without controversy. Former NFL player Jason McCourty took to social media shortly after the game, pointing out what he believed was a missed leverage penalty on Steelers special teams ace Ben Skowronek during the Ravens’ final field goal attempt. 

The play quickly became a lightning rod for debate and was later broken down by former NFL Vice President of Officiating and current Fox Sports NFL rules analyst Dean Blandino. Speaking on the 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe podcast, Blandino shared his unfiltered thoughts on the no-call, adding expert context to one of the most talked-about moments of the season’s final weekend.

"I wouldn't want that called," Blandino said while speaking on the podcast. "That happens a lot on field goal block. What you're really looking for is pushing off to create that height to block the kick. I thought that would have been an incredibly technical call, and that would have been more controversial than anything else."

There is always debate over when officials should swallow the whistle and when they need to get technical with the rulebook. It is not an easy balance, but that line is often walked in high-pressure moments. 

In this case, based on the expert opinion of Blandino, he was comfortable with the no-call.

"So, I was good with that," Blandino said. "I know people a lot of times on social media, and obviously, it was a shorter kick, so you're looking for other reasons why it might have been missed, but I was good with that."

The win over Baltimore now sends the Steelers into the postseason riding momentum and confidence, while also setting up a marquee Monday night showdown against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. 

Steelers Face Red Hot Texans Team

Pittsburgh enters the matchup having won four of its last five games, a stretch that has solidified belief in a team that continues to find ways to win tight, high-stakes games. However, the challenge ahead is significant. The Texans arrive in Pittsburgh as one of the hottest teams in the league, carrying a nine-game winning streak and plenty of confidence of their own. 

With contrasting styles, star power on both sides, and the intensity of prime time under the lights, the stage is set for another emotionally charged battle. After surviving a dramatic finish against their biggest rival, the Steelers now turn their attention forward, knowing the margin for error only gets thinner from here.

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