Did Steelers Get a Break from Refs During Final Field Goal vs Ravens?

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers might have gotten a break from the officials — in addition to a little help from above — as Baltimore Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a potential game-winning field goal as time expired on what became a 26-24 Steelers win on Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium.

The Steelers sent the house to try to block Loop’s 44-yard field goal attempt with two seconds left on the clock, including sending wide receiver Ben Skowronek through the A gap.

Skowronek tried to jump over left guard Emery Jones in order to block the kick — which he is allowed to do. What he’s not allowed to do is push off the back of a teammate to do so. When Skowronek jumped, he put his right hand on the back of Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward, and he appeared to be in violation of the league’s infrequently called leverage rule.

The NFL defines leverage as “Placing a hand or hands on a teammate or opponent to gain additional height to: (1) block or attempt to block an opponent’s kick or apparent kick, or (2) attempt to jump through a gap to block an opponent’s kick or apparent kick.”

In addition to Heyward, Skowronek also but his hand on the back of Baltimore long snapper Nick Moore, though that was when he was coming back down from his leap.

Former NFL defensive back Jason McCourty, now of CBS Sports, thought that Skowronek should have been called for the penalty.

Sheesh this was close!

Hell of a game nonetheless! https://t.co/5E0TRVvevq pic.twitter.com/N7uNO4bdLM

— Jason McCourty (@JasonMcCourty) January 5, 2026

Leverage is a 15-yard personal foul. With the ball at the 36-yard line, the Ravens would have been able to kick again from the 21-yard line during an untimed down if the penalty had been called.

Leverage was only called five times around the NFL this season, so it’s an uncommon penalty, but it certainly seems that the Steelers were fortunate to not be flagged during Loop’s missed attempt.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Did Steelers Get a Break from Refs During Final Field Goal vs Ravens?