Stephen Holder, ESPN
INDIANAPOLIS — A couple of debatable officiating cries within the ultimate modest of Sunday’s Browns-Colts matchup helped arrange Cleveland’s dramatic 39-38 victory and left Indianapolis questioning aloud whether or not they’d been wronged.
Cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. used to be at the vile finish of an illegal-contact penalty and, in a while then, a defensive pass-interference name that put the ball on the 1-yard sequence and arrange the profitable landing. The illegal-contact name negated a would-be sack-fumble by way of Colts linebacker E.J. Speed that used to be recovered by way of Indianapolis defensive take on DeForest Buckner. The play games would have, successfully, ended the sport.
The interference name got here after all zone on a go that used to be prime and, arguably, uncatchable. The consequences had been drawn by way of receivers Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, respectively.
“I don’t agree with the penalties at all,” Baker stated. “When those balls are uncatchable, they usually throw those flags out. Especially when they’re initiating the contact with the cornerback. You can put hands on him as long as you’re looking for the ball. I’m not impeding their [progress]. I don’t know what else I could do better on that.”
At the interference name, which took place alongside the again sequence of the tip zone, Baker added, “I know [People-Jones] initiated contact with me. And then I saw the ball in the air so if we’re both hand fighting, that’s all right. And we’re both looking for the ball. So, I definitely don’t see a reason why it’s pass interference.”
Baker used to be most effective within the sport as a result of starter JuJu Brents went unwell with a quad shock. Baker began in Moment 1 however used to be benched refer to presen.
The interference name resulted within the ball being positioned on the 1-yard sequence with 33 seconds excess. The Colts effectively defended at the after 3 Cleveland performs earlier than operating again Kareem Hunt scored on a tricky run on fourth-and-goal from 1 courtyard out with 19 seconds left.
In the end, there have been alternative culprits for the Colts (3-4) to indicate to past the pivotal pair of consequences. Quarterback Gardner Minshew threw for 305 yards however dedicated 4 submits. That makes 8 giveaways for Minshew in his age two begins since starter Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending proper shoulder shock previous this moment.
Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett produced two fumbles on sacks of Minshew, together with one after all zone that led to a Cleveland landing.
“It all comes down to winning the turnover battle,” lecturer Shane Steichen stated. “We’re 3-0 when we win the turnover battle. When we don’t, obviously, we’ve lost four. We’ve got to be better taking care of the football.”
Operating again Jonathan Taylor, who had 120 all-purpose yards for his easiest efficiency of the season, took a matching view.
“[The penalties were] a dagger because you’ve seen how the defense has played and you’ve seen the fight and all that they’ve given,” he stated. “The best thing you can do is to not let the refs get involved in the game.”
