The Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts engaged in one of the more exciting contests of the 2023 season, one that saw a combined 77 points at Lucas Oil Stadium.
But it was also a game full of controversy, especially in the final minutes of the Browns’ 39-38 comeback win.
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Referees Nullified 3 Crucial Moments Involving the Colts
At first, it appeared the Colts were putting together a stout defensive outing. But all that got wiped away due to a video review or a penalty.
The unraveling, though, began with 47 seconds left.
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PJ Walker, stepping in for DeShaun Watson, was sacked and lost the football to DeForest Buckner. However, officials ruled that the strip sack came with illegal contact made by Darrell Baker, which wiped away the turnover.
On the subsequent play, Walker tried hitting Donovan Peoples-Jones on a pass that fell incomplete. However, Baker was flagged for defensive pass interference. That penalty placed the ball at the Cols’ 1-yard line. Colts linebacker Shaq Leonard claimed the pass was uncatchable, indicating no marker should’ve been thrown.
Was this ball uncatchable or should it have been pass interference on the Colts? pic.twitter.com/W1VpEuJOUf
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 22, 2023
It all led to the final Kareem Hunt one-yard score. Then, Pierre Strong punched it in to give Cleveland the lead for good at 39-38. But the reactions were strong for the final officiating decisions, especially for Baker.
Colts CB Darrell Baker Has Strong Words Postgame
Baker, via Colts insider Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, let it be known what his feelings were for the late penalties.
“I don’t agree with the penalties at all,” Baker said after the game. He added how the illegal contact call came from “normal hand fighting” between him and the receiver in coverage.
Head coach Shane Steichen was asked about that controversial call. His response? “I have to go back and look at it.”
Steichen at the mic after the Colts loss pic.twitter.com/SSSVJFjvqG
— Dave Griffiths (@DaveG_Sports) October 22, 2023
Baker had a backer in CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards.
“Terrible call against Darrell Baker. There was no chance that ball could have been caught,” Edwards said on X.
However, the Colts reporter for ESPN, Stephen Holder, gave a different take on the call.
“I’m gonna say this and then mute the replies … I think questioning the final DPI versus the Colts is fine. But the outrage is also a little over the top in my opinion,” Holder posted. He also added how the illegal contact call against Baker was “unquestionably accurate.”
Still, not everyone on the national media took the side of the refs or the Browns after the contest. And that includes veteran radio personality Mike Greenberg.
ESPN’s Damien Woody also didn’t blame anyone from the Colts for feeling heated by the referee calls.
Was There Reactions on the Browns’ Side?
From the social media side of things, the Browns couldn’t help but troll the Colts.
One post went with a “giddy up” theme — one that had fans believing the refs gave Cleveland the assist in the mentions. And, on a day the Colts went with their “Indiana Nights” themed jerseys, the Browns used an Indiana Jones meme.
Indy recovers another precious artifact pic.twitter.com/YCT8foMVCD
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
However, there wasn’t much of a reaction toward the final referee calls when Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski went to the postgame podium. He instead addressed his decision to pull what he described as a banged-up Watson and moving forward from a win like this.
Indianapolis dropped to 3-4 overall and is now third in the AFC South standings. Cleveland moved to 4-2 and is currently a game behind the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens.