The Indianapolis Colts played a talented Cleveland Browns team tough in Week 7. One may even go as far to say they looked like the better overall team on the day. 

In a close game, the Colts led 38-33 with under a minute remaining, and a big defensive play seemed to have iced the Colts win. And then, two yellow flags would change the outcome of this game. 

Colts got screwed.

Thanks @NFLOfficiating

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 22, 2023

Flag #1

On 3rd and 4, LB EJ Speed comes on the blitz to create a fumble and recovery for the Colts. It was a play that would have locked up a Colts win. A late flag flys in after the play is over, and after the group of refs huddle, they announce an "Illegal Contact" penalty on Darrell Baker Jr . This penalty would negate the sack and fumble and create a 1st and goal for the Browns on the 8-yard line with 47 seconds remaining.

"Beyond the five-yard zone, if the player who receives the snap remains in the pocket with the. ball, a defender cannot initiate contact with a receiver who is attempting to evade him. A defender may use his hands or arms only to defend or protect himself against impending contact caused by a receiver."

– NFL's illegal contact beyond five yard rule explanation

While there was slight contact on the play, after rewatching the play, it can be seen that WR Amari Cooper is the first to make contact with Baker Jr., who, while being out of position, doesn't initiate the contact and only uses his hands and arms to protect himself from the contact created by Cooper. By rule, this crew's choice to throw the flag here was incorrect. 

Flag #2

On the very next play, QB Phillip Walker throws a ball out of play near the back corner of the endzone. And yet again, a yellow flag hits the field and a "Pass Interference" call is made against CB Darrell Baker Jr. 

"It is a pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch the ball" 

– NFL's pass interference rule explanation 

The important part to consider here is "significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch the ball." This play doesn't fit the rule because the ball thrown was clearly uncatchable, and, therefore, the offensive player's ability to catch the ball can not be hindered, as there is not any possible way the WR could make the catch. 

This was called DPI on the Colts. Is this even catchable…?pic.twitter.com/oYAaNxMdzx https://t.co/B3idue44nU

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 22, 2023

This flag put the ball on the one-yard line for the Browns. And after three unsuccessful tries, they punched it in off a Kareem Hunt run to take the lead and go on to win this game. 

While the Colts made plenty of mistakes on the day that caused this game to be closer than it should have been, that is not an excuse for this officiating crew to change the outcome of this game. 

Trade Candidates for all 32 NFL Teams

One player from every NFL team that could be traded ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline on October 31st.