Baltimore Ravens player Zay Flowers faces hefty fine after costly taunting penalty in AFC Championship game against Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens, who were ultimately eliminated from the playoffs, are still feeling the consequences of Flowers’ actions. The rookie wide receiver was hit with a $10,927 fine for his unsportsmanlike conduct.
The incident occurred in the third quarter when the Ravens were trailing 17-7. Quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with Flowers for what could have been a 54-yard touchdown pass. However, after being tackled, Flowers retaliated by shoving cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the ground, spinning the football at him, and standing over him. The referees immediately penalized Flowers for taunting, moving the ball back to the 25-yard line.
While some viewers agreed with the taunting call, many felt that the Chiefs should have also been penalized for similar actions. Bobby Trosset, co-host of “The Vault: A Daily Ravens Podcast,” expressed his opinion on social media, stating that Chiefs’ player Travis Kelce could have easily received multiple taunting penalties.
Flowers acknowledged the disparity in penalties after the game, suggesting that it was expected. Unfortunately for him and the Ravens, the taunting penalty was just the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. Starting the fourth quarter on the 9-yard line, the Ravens had a prime opportunity to narrow the score. On the first play, Jackson once again targeted Flowers, who appeared to be heading towards a touchdown on a slant route. However, Sneed, the same player involved in the taunting incident, made a crucial punchout at the 1-yard line, causing Flowers to fumble. The Chiefs recovered the ball in the endzone, resulting in a touchback.
The Ravens’ hopes of a comeback were dashed, and Flowers’ costly penalty and subsequent fumble will surely be remembered as a significant turning point in the game.
The Baltimore Ravens suffered a devastating blow during their recent game, which ultimately killed their momentum and prevented them from scoring any more touchdowns. The play in question was a fumble, and it had a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Despite this setback, rookie player Flowers remained positive and expressed his unwavering support for his teammates. He stated, “Those are my brothers, I ain’t expecting anything different from them. We all have each other’s backs.”
Prior to the fumble, Flowers had been having an outstanding game, with 5 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. However, he now faces a challenging offseason, during which he will strive to move past the disappointment of that one play and focus on improving his game.
Flowers is not the only Ravens player facing consequences after the game against the Chiefs. Defensive tackle Travis Jones has been fined $6,700 for a hit he made on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The hit occurred before the end of the first half when Mahomes was attempting to escape the pocket and throw the ball. Jones delivered a powerful blow to Mahomes’ face, reminiscent of a move seen in professional wrestling. As a result, he received a 15-yard penalty, which ultimately aided the Chiefs in their drive to score a field goal before halftime.
In conclusion, the Ravens’ loss was undoubtedly influenced by the fumble and the subsequent penalties incurred by their players. It is clear that they will need to regroup and strategize for future games in order to avoid similar mistakes and maintain their momentum.
