/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42805788/20141026_gma_aw3_305.jpg.0.jpg)
For a brief moment, it looked like the Baltimore Ravens were going to come out of Cincinnati victors.
Receiver Steve Smith had done it again — hauling in what would have been an 80-yard touchdown from quarterback Joe Flacco. For a moment, the Bengals fans were stunned, witnessing an improbable play that had no business occurring.
But the play didn't matter and essentially never happened. An official threw a flag and called Smith for offensive pass interference on the play. It backed the Ravens up 10 yards and forced a third-and-20. Two plays later, the Bengals walked away with a 27-24 win, sweeping the Ravens in the regular season series.
On the play, Smith does grab the jersey of Bengals safety George Iloka and offers a slight shove. Now, on any given play, a receiver and defensive back are going to make contact with each other. At this point, it's a judgment call from the official.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>steve smith 'i don't like the idea of a play like that determining the game'</p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/526473226562461696">October 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>John harbaugh on steve smith pi 'I'm not allowed to answer that question'</p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/526467500926832640">October 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>George Iloka: 'Put your hands on my chest and knock me off and the ref made a good call and we got the win.'</p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/526488068904460289">October 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What it comes down to is simply being in that situation. Was flagging Smith the correct call? Or did Iloka seem to flop some on the play? Or was there not enough contact to determine interference one way or the other?
These questions will certainly be talked about for at least the first half of this week, before Steelers Week part two begins to heat up.