The Baltimore Ravens suffered a sad loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game last weekend. Both teams’ emotions were running high, especially during pregame warmups, when Chiefs Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce got into a heated argument with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. However, during a vital stretch of the game, a Baltimore superstar was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in him being disciplined by the league.
Baltimore Ravens Superstar Punished.
Ravens star receiver Zay Flowers received a taunting call during the game after catching a ball for a big gain and then standing over a Chiefs defender, which earned the flag. Flowers earned a $10,927 punishment from the NFL for the penalty, according to a league report released on Saturday. The penalty has already gone down in history because it prevented the Ravens offense from scoring a touchdown on the drive, which would have kept them in contention.
Zay Flowers’ Meltdown
With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter with Baltimore behind 17-7, the star receiver made a 54-yard reception that would have put the offense on the 10-yard line. However, Chiefs defender L’Jarius Sneed grabbed Flowers’ leg after he made the catch, prompting the receiver to knock Sneed down and flip the ball near him while standing over him flexing. This prompted a flag from the officials, sending the Ravens back 15 yards from the end of the reception.
Following Flowers’ severe penalty, Baltimore’s momentum on the drive appeared to wane, and it was eventually interrupted by a fumble by the star receiver just before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback and giving Kansas City possession. With the final score 17-10 in favor of the Chiefs, the touchdown would have sent the game into overtime, giving Baltimore a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
Did Flowers Deserve the Punishment?
It’s safe to assume that Flowers’ tragic sequence of events contributed significantly to the Ravens’ loss, and the NFL’s large fine is simply the icing on the cake. Even though Baltimore did not make it to the big game, their future appears promising, particularly for Flowers, who had a fantastic rookie season leading up to the game. Do you think Flowers deserved the large fine imposed by the league, or were his actions justifiable given the prominence of the game?
