John Harbaugh Denies Ravens Did 'Anything Illegal' to Cause Vikings' False Starts

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh dismissed the suggestion his team was cheating to cause false starts during Sunday's 27-19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

"We didn't have a game plan for that," Harbaugh told reporters Monday. "If we did, I would've been happy, but we're not going to do anything illegal."

It became a topic of discussion after Vikings running back Aaron Jones said Baltimore's defense was simulating quarterback J.J. McCarthy's cadence with some of its calls, which, in his eyes, contributed to the home teams' eight false start penalties.

"Sometimes, it's hard to hear," Jones told reporters. "They're making 'move calls' up front, so sometimes it sounds like it could be J.J. [saying], 'Set hut,' but they're making move calls and you see them stem, and so they're trying to get them to jump as well."

The NFL prohibits the use of "acts or words by the defensive team that are designed to disconcert an offensive team at the snap."

It should be noted Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said, "I did not get any indication from our guys they were doing that" when he asked members of his teams if there were "some calls on some of the motions."

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ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted Minnesota's eight false starts were the most for a home team in 16 years. The Buffalo Bills committed nine false starts during a game in the 2009 campaign.

The false starts were just part of the problem for the Vikings.

McCarthy also threw two interceptions while star receiver Justin Jefferson was held to 37 yards on four catches. The Vikings were in comeback mode for the majority of the second half but didn't find the end zone until there were fewer than four minutes remaining while facing a two-score deficit.

Minnesota is now 4-5 on the season and in last place in the NFC North following its third loss in the last four games.

Next up is a divisional showdown against the 6-3 Chicago Bears, and it will have to clean up the false start concerns if it is going to make up ground.