Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wasn’t just frustrated about losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers and surrendering control of the AFC North, he was furious about the officiating. Following Baltimore’s 27–22 loss, Harbaugh publicly pointed to multiple rulings that, in his view, unfairly favored Pittsburgh and directly influenced the outcome of the game.

Speaking to reporters after the emotional defeat, Harbaugh said the league needs to answer for what he called “inconsistent and confusing” decisions.

“I think the Aaron Rodgers play, I mean, I’m just talking about the rules here,” Harbaugh said via the Ravens’ YouTube channel. “It’s not an officiating issue. It comes from New York. When you’re making a catch, you have to survive the ground. He didn’t survive the ground. He’s not down by contact. He was catching the ball on the way down with another person.”

The controversial play Harbaugh referenced occurred late in the game when Baltimore appeared to secure a momentum-changing interception. Ravens defenders knocked down a pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers, and rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan attempted to complete the takeaway as both players fell to the turf. Officials initially ruled it Ravens football, but after review, the call was overturned, determining that Rodgers maintained possession because he was “down by contact.”

Harbaugh strongly disagreed.

“You’ve got to make a catch there and survive the ground. I don’t know why it was ruled the way it was,” he said. “New York saw it, they had plenty of time to look at it… and they’re the ones who are the experts on the rules.”

Another key moment that fueled Harbaugh’s frustration involved a potential go-ahead touchdown by tight end Isaiah Likely. The play was initially ruled a touchdown before Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. knocked the ball loose at the last instant. After review, the ruling was reversed, and the touchdown was taken off the board.

“The explanation was that a third foot didn’t get down before the ball came out,” Harbaugh said, shaking his head.

Former NFL referee Gene Steratore later confirmed the overturned call was correct based on the league’s updated catch rules.

But the controversies didn’t end there.

Harbaugh also criticized a personal-foul penalty that extended a Steelers drive on a Chris Boswell field-goal attempt. The officials ruled unnecessary roughness on Baltimore, giving Pittsburgh a fresh set of downs in the red zone, a sequence that later led to a Steelers rushing touchdown.

Harbaugh contended that no illegal contact occurred to long snapper Christian Kuntz’s head or neck area.

Still, despite Harbaugh’s objections, Baltimore squandered its own opportunities. The Ravens turned the ball over twice, went just 2-for-6 in the red zone, and missed an extra point. Even if the officiating played a role, their inability to execute proved costly.

Now, with the regular season winding down, the Ravens find themselves looking up at the first-place Steelers in the AFC North, and searching for answers after a game filled with frustration, controversy, and accusations that are sure to make headlines throughout the NFL.