Ravens' Ronnie Stanley Calls Out Refs for Illegal Formation Penalties vs. Chiefs

Ronnie Stanley is not happy with the officiating from Week 1.

The Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman said that he felt the referee crew was aiming to "make an example" of him as the league heightens its focus on illegal formation penalties during his team's 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

He also believed that the calls may not have been going both ways.

"I thought it was a little different," Stanley said, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "And then the way it was going through the game, I really feel like they were just trying to make an example and they chose me to be the one to do that. As far as I saw, they weren't doing it on both sides of the ball, and I know that I was lined up in good position the majority of those calls they made. But we'll go back and watch the film and we'll make sure of it and we'll send it in [to the league office]."

Stanley was penalized three times for illegal formation during the game. The Ravens overall had seven penalties for 64 yards and the Chiefs had six for 45 yards.

Of the Ravens' seven penalties, five were for illegal formation. Kansas City did not get flagged for illegal formation. Stanley said he felt like the Chiefs were not penalized when they should have been but that he would have to consult the film.

"I'm looking at their tackles, especially the right side, and I know I'm lining up in front of that guy," Stanley said, per Hensley. "And they didn't call him one time. It's a little bit of making me feel like I'm crazy, [that] I don't know where I'm lining up. I feel like we'll watch the film. They just need to be held accountable if that's what it is. If it's that egregious that they are making those calls—and they shouldn't be—they should be held accountable."

Thursday's opener was a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game, which Kansas City also won. The Chiefs would go on to win a second consecutive Super Bowl and are now seeking the elusive three-peat.

Baltimore, meanwhile, is trying to recover from that disappointing end and build on a promising 2023 season. While a Week 1 loss is not ideal, losing to a juggernaut like the Chiefs is not an indicator of a slide back, and Baltimore will look to use it as a learning experience going forward.

The Ravens will look to get back on track in Week 2 when they host the Las Vegas Raiders.