Did Refs Miss Crucial Fumble Call on Ravens Punt Return?

The Baltimore Ravens lost 26-18 to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, and one call in particular started sending this game in the absolute wrong direction for the visiting Ravens.

While leading 10-7 in the second quarter, the Ravens forced a key three-and-out of the Cardinals. Ravens return man Jeremy Ross fielded a 55-yard punt and attempted to bring the ball back up the field but fumbled at his own 24-yard line.

The call was eventually reviewed and upheld, but it was met with its fair share of backlash—and for good reason.

That play was close—like, really close. In the pictures above tweeted by Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke, it looks as though Ross still had control of the ball when his knee made contact with the ground.

However, without conclusive evidence in opposition of the original call on the field, the call of a fumble was upheld, and the Cardinals were handed outstanding field position to start their next drive—thanks also in part to an unnecessary-roughness call that bumped the ball up to the Baltimore 12-yard line.

From there, Carson Palmer would lead the offense on a five-play, 12-yard drive which culminated in a Cardinals touchdown.

Much happened following this controversial call, but at the time, it swung momentum and eventually the lead in the Cardinals' favor, as they were able to close out the half with a 14-10 lead as opposed to—at the very least—a 10-7 deficit.

Was it a fumble or not? You be the judge.

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