Philip Rivers Is Pissed and Sent Out a Stern Message After the Colts’ Latest Loss
It’s 2020, and still, no one understands what a catch in the NFL is. This includes even one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game in Philip Rivers. Following the Indianapolis Colts‘ recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens, one in which they lost in part due to a controversial call, Rivers was not happy. He ended up sending out a stern message about that call and the NFL’s unclear catch rule, too.
A Philip Rivers’ throw was controversially ruled as an interception
The Indianapolis Colts dominated the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of their Week 9 meeting on Sunday. The Ravens then drove down the field on their first possession of the second half, but the Colts forced a fumble near the goal line. This helped Indy keep the lead and it gave Philip Rivers and the Colts’ offense a chance to score again.
However, on the first play of the Colts’ possession, Rivers threw a pass to receiver Marcus Johnson that Ravens’ defensive back Marcus Peters intercepted. However, it appeared that he dropped the ball, as Johnson hit it out of his hands to force an incomplete pass.
On the field, it got called as an incomplete pass. After review, though, the officials called it an interception and then a fumble, which ultimately got recovered by the Ravens.
The head of NFL officiating, Alberto Riveron, then gave this explanation about the call.
“We have clear and obvious visual evidence where the defender controls the football, takes three steps, fumbles the ball, and then it’s ultimately recovered by the defense,” Riveron said in a video tweeted out by NFL Officiating’s Twitter account.
The Ravens then scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession, which helped lead to their 24-10 win.
Philip Rivers was not happy after the game
After the Colts’ loss, Rivers voiced his frustration about the call.
“It’s gotten so, really jacked up of how the catch rule is,” Rivers said, according to Bleacher Report. “I mean, nobody that’s played any amount of football or that has been around the game, watched that and thought it was a catch, including the guy who dropped it…But somebody that’s sitting back, watching this, probably hasn’t thrown a football in his life gets to call it.”
He did, somewhat, take back what he said, though.
“I’ll probably get in trouble for saying that about a guy who hadn’t thrown a football,” Rivers said, according to The Athletic’s Zak Keefer. “They called it an interception, so it’s an interception. The bottom line is I shouldn’t have thrown it — shouldn’t have thrown it short.”
Even with the second comment, Rivers clearly proved that he wasn’t happy with the call. It potentially resulted in the Colts’ losing the game. However, now, the Colts must bounce back and they must do it in a hurry.
The Indianapolis Colts need to bounce back quickly
The Colts might have lost, but they are still in the running for a division title and have a chance to make the playoffs. They just need to bounce back quickly.
Indianapolis — who is second in the AFC South standings with a 5-3 record — play the Tennessee Titans, who are in first place in the division with a 6-2 record, on Thursday night.
The Colts have one of the best defenses in the NFL. They are only allowing 20 points per game, which is third in the entire league. They will have their hands full with the Titans, though. Tennessee is scoring 29 points per game behind Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, and A.J. Brown. The Colts’ offense, however, has a chance to bounce back as Tennessee is allowing 25.1 points per game.
Philip Rivers and the Colts have a reason to be mad about their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. With a tough schedule coming up, and with them being right in the middle of a divisional title race, though, the Colts need to bounce back, and they need to do it fast.
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
