In trying to expand its footprint worldwide, the NFL increased its international slate to five games for the 2023 season. Week 6’s matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennesee Titans marked the third game of the International Series, as those stateside were able to wake up in the early hours of the morning and have football on their TVs.
And you’d imagine that the NFL would want to put its best foot forward with a bigger audience, especially overseas. As far as the quality of football was concerned, well, it was about what you’d expect for two teams making the transition to being across the pond. The Ravens and Titans aren’t exactly exemplary examples of some of the better teams in the NFL, as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—the home of the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in north London—played host to the AFC foes on Sunday.
While Baltimore dominated all three sides of the football, Tennessee still had a chance to turn Sunday’s game into a one-score affair. And that’s when the ref show took over, as the final couple minutes of Sunday’s contest became a microcosm of what’s wrong with the NFL.
On the second play of the aforementioned drive, Baltimore’s Marlon Humphrey was called for an illegal contact penalty. As quarterback Malik Willis drove the football down the field, the Ravens were able to hold the Titans afloat in the red zone, but multiple defensive penalties by Arthur Maulet (defensive holding; pass interference) kept an anemic offense on the field.
A disastrous drive, which was compacted by an illegal block below the waist penalty by running back Tyjae Spears, ended with a frustrated Mike Vrabel opting to kick a field goal. While Vrabel’s frustrations were with his team’s inability to punch in the football from 10 yards and in, the rest of the NFL world was frustrated with the display of officiating.
Ravens should be 5-2. Beat the Titans and the Refs
— me fool (@scrapdug) October 15, 2023
NFL refs are just plain horrible. So many questionable calls in the Ravens-Titans game. Of course Bill Vinovich & his crew are the guilty party.
Stay out of the game as much as possible. The Ref party kills the product of the NFL and the flow of the game.— ライアン (@LoprettoR) October 15, 2023
Refs tried to give Titans the back door, but backup QB Willis kept taking sacks …another example of how hard it is to win + cover in NFL
With that said, we are on 3 favs today (2 are Top Plays both in 1:00 hour) #TSR
*Ravens kicked-off our 5-team Teaser✔️— Bobby Sheridan TSR Sports ⚾️🏈🏀🎾⛳️ (@SheridanReport) October 15, 2023
Despite the endless attempts by the refs to hand this game to the Titans, the Ravens win! Way to win an entertaining game across the pond! #RavensFlock 💜🖤
— procrastinatingfan needs someone to save MagnumPI (@SMummert) October 15, 2023
Refs at the end of Ravens vs Titans pic.twitter.com/fliho6alNb
— Ethan – uɐɥʇƎ🧀 (@ethannnnnnnn23) October 15, 2023
Refs at the end of Ravens-Titans pic.twitter.com/B0UoGvIO0Q
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 15, 2023
These refs are a disgrace
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) October 15, 2023
Needless to say, it wasn’t the NFL’s best display of officiating, especially with it being on a worldwide stage.
