Officials looked wrong getting call right in Baltimore

Officials debate whether Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson's field goal attempt with no time left against the Ravens cleared the uprights. AP

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BALTIMORE -- If Romeo Crennel and his upstart Cleveland Browns go on to reach the playoffs this season -- and at 6-4 they may well be on their way -- perhaps they'll look back to Sunday's game against the Ravens and realize their drive to the postseason began in earnest with as close to a life-after-death experience as the game of football allows.

A stinging loss. Then a miraculous tie. And finally a dramatic win. That's how it went late Sunday afternoon for the Browns, whose happy fate rested on the bizarre double bounce of the oblong ball off a metal goal post. Cleveland's 33-30 overtime victory over Baltimore spawned what might just in these parts come to be known as Dawson-Gate, in honor of the highly controversial, 51-yard, game-tying field goal that Browns kicker Phil Dawson booted on the final play of regulation.

Get ready to hear plenty more about this one, folks. The debate is just beginning. While the officiating crew clearly got the eventual call correct -- as replays showed -- there's sure to be discussion about how and why an unreviewable play under the league's replay system some how got an "unofficial'' review. By someone, somewhere. Even if it was just by virtue of the game officials looking up and seeing the numerous replays of the disputed kick on the JumboTron screen at M&T Bank Stadium.

"I wasn't all that optimistic,'' said Dawson, whose kick was first waved off as no good by field judge Jim Saracino, before being reversed in part due to back judge Keith Ferguson's steadfast claims that he saw the ball clear the stanchion -- or extension -- that supports the crossbar and uprights. "But it's about time that this organization and franchise got a call.''

Long after the game was seemingly over -- players from both teams had already taken part in the ritual postgame mid-field prayer and some 20 to 25 Ravens were in the locker room pulling off jerseys and tape -- the Browns got the call. Referee Pete Morelli ruled Dawson's field goal good, forcing overtime and giving Cleveland the chance to win it on Dawson's 33-yarder on the first possession of the extra period.

The NFL has another potential officiating mess on its hands with this one, even though justice was served in the sense that Cleveland didn't lose a game due to a needless loophole in the replay system. Field goals are not reviewable under current league rules, but you can bet there will be a hue and cry from around the NFL that they should be in light of Sunday's events.

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