The Baltimore Ravens took control of their game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday with a defensive touchdown late in the first half, but it appears the play should not have counted.
Miami was trailing 21-13 and faced first-and-10 at around midfield with the clock ticking toward the two-minute warning. Tua Tagovailoa just barely got the snap off before throwing an interception to Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, who returned the pick 68 yards for a touchdown.
If you watch closely below, you will see that the clock hit 2:00 just before the Dolphins got the snap off. The whistle should have been blown for the two-minute warning before Tagovailoa threw the interception.
ROQUAN SMITH PICK
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/VVkn6tf1u6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 31, 2023
It is not uncommon for officials to let the offense get a snap off a split second after the play clock expires. We see that happen less often with the two-minute warning or the end of a quarter. In this case, the Dolphins would have loved if the play was blown dead.
The pick-six gave the Ravens a two-touchdown lead. Had the play not counted, the situation could have been dramatically different heading into halftime.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!