The Miami Dolphins have had a tough start to the 2025 season. Between a 2-6 start and losing a swath of the roster to injuries, the season hasn’t gone quite as they hoped.
However, after a big 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, hopes were renewed for the Week 9 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens that their misfortune could turn around. Unfortunately, a controversial tripping call halted a massive play in the second quarter, drawing the ire of fans around the league.
What Happened in the Ravens-Dolphins Game?
Despite taking a 3-0 lead to start the game, Miami found themselves in a 14-3 hole towards the start of the second quarter. Following the Ravens’ second touchdown, Miami began to drive down the field, and after getting into Baltimore territory, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a deep 36-yard strike.
However, the referees would throw a flag on running back Ollie Gordon II for tripping. Upon reviewing the replay, it was evident that Gordon had slipped while attempting to break through a block, and any contact with the defender while he was on the ground was incidental and not a tripping attempt. Even Gene Steratore, a rules analyst on the broadcast, said that there was no tripping and the contact was incidental.
RIp…. https://t.co/lrAYiwxQjv pic.twitter.com/uDHKmYPF5n
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 31, 2025
Despite that, the refs did not pick up the flag, nullifying the long completion, which would have put the Dolphins at the Ravens’ seven-yard line and backed them up 15 yards instead. Fans were irate at seeing the mistake, with one X user saying, “Dolphins got screwed. NFL needs AI refs at this point.”
MORE: Ollie Gordon II Injury Update: What’s the Latest on the Dolphins RB After Exiting TNF vs. Ravens?
Dolphins got screwed. NFL needs AI refs at this point
— rudy JUNIOR #BoozerDemin2026 (@RudyNumeroDos) October 31, 2025
Part of the reason fans were upset with the flag is that it was evident Gordon lost his balance and did not attempt to trip the defender. As this fan said, “What an awful call by that ref… guess you can’t lose your balance in the backfield now without a flag being thrown.”
What an awful call by that ref… guess you can’t lose your balance in the backfield now without a flag being thrown
— Miskey (@MiskeyPicks) October 31, 2025
Another issue being pointed out is that referees hardly face any consequences for making bad calls. It doesn’t seem fair to the players who are perceived as making a mistake to be given the brunt of the blame when the referees are the ones causing the issue. As this fan pointed out, “Lmaoooo at what point are these refs gonna be held accountable for atrocious calls!?”
Lmaoooo at what point are these refs gonna be held accountable for atrocious calls !?
— seek27 (@mikesechrist85) October 31, 2025
However, this issue isn’t isolated to Miami’s Thursday Night game, as this fan said on X, “These refs get worse as weeks go by. They need to expedite penalties now. Some of these calls are atrocious,” referencing the league’s new expedited replay introduced this season.
These refs get worse as week goes by.
They need to expedite penalties now. Some these calls are atrocious
— J. Legz🍢 (@jlegz02) October 31, 2025
While Miami has a right to be upset after the call, they have to be happy they were only down 14-6 heading into the locker room at halftime. Will the defense be able to keep up its impressive play while the offense continues to warm up?
