The Pittsburgh Steelers’ win over the Baltimore Ravens didn’t come without controversy. The referees made multiple questionable calls throughout that game. The biggest example was Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catching a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give his team the lead. However, upon further review, the officials determined that Likely didn’t complete the catch, changing it to an incomplete pass. Although that went in the Steelers’ favor, Ben Roethlisberger still thinks it was the wrong call.

“I think it’s a touchdown,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday on his Footbahlin’ podcast. “Here’s why. Three things have to happen. You have to possess the ball, you have to have two feet down, or a knee, a shin, whatever equates to two [feet], and then make a football move. He catches the ball; obviously, he has possession of it, there’s no doubt about that. He has two feet down, there’s no doubt about that.

“The third foot would be a football move, or any kind of a tuck, any kind of a turn up, anything like that would be a football move. Did he make a football move? No, he didn’t make a football move… Because it’s in the end zone, it just feels a little bit different… Because it’s in the end zone, that third football move needs to be considered differently because, when you’re in the end zone, you’re not gonna necessarily make a big football move.”

Roethlisberger is correct to note that Likely not making a football move is the questionable part of the play. That’s why officials overturned the ruling of a touchdown. While he caught the ball and got both feet down, Joey Porter Jr. managed to knock it out of his hands before he could get a third foot down.

However, the play came in the end zone, which makes the situation trickier. Roethlisberger makes a good argument as to why Likely should have been awarded a touchdown reception. Usually, all it takes for a touchdown to count is a player possessing the ball and getting two feet down in bounds.

There are other examples of NFL players doing what Likely did and being given a touchdown. It even happened with the Steelers earlier this season. Roman Wilson caught a touchdown reception in Week 8, but the defensive back was wrestling with him for it. The ball got knocked out of Wilson’s hands as he went to the ground. However, the play stood as a touchdown.

Yes, Wilson appeared to get a third step in before he started to lose control of the ball. However, Likely seemed to control the ball in the end zone for just as long. Also, it could be argued that Likely is extending his arms to keep the ball away from Porter, which might be considered a football move.

Had the play been anywhere other than the end zone, perhaps Likely would’ve acted differently, as Roethlisberger says. However, there’s no changing that now. It’s not as if the drive ended after that play, either. The Ravens still could’ve scored a touchdown on that drive.

They didn’t, though, and the Steelers won the game. Rather than debate something that has already happened, maybe it would be more productive if the NFL finally cleared up the catch rule. That’s been a problem for years. It has hurt plenty of teams, too, including the Steelers.

Steelers fans should remember the outrage over Jesse James’ failed touchdown against the New England Patriots. Hopefully, this situation helps eventually create some clarity regarding one of the most frustrating parts of officiating the game.