NFL Crackdown On Illegal Formations In Chiefs-Ravens Game Steals The Show

The NFL season is officially underway with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game.

So, of course, the biggest storyline of the night quickly became what it always seems to become in the NFL — the referees.

In last year’s season-opener, the refs stole the show by refusing to call an illegal formation on Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor.

Well, it appears that they’ve fixed that problem this season. But they did so by going way in the opposite direction. Officials called the Ravens for an illegal formation three times on the opening drive on Thursday night.

Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley got called for the violation twice, while guard Patrick Mekari was called for the other.

In all three instances, the officials determined that the linemen were not lined up on the line of scrimmage, meaning the Ravens did not have enough players on the line.

Fans are media alike were baffled by the sudden crackdown.

Ironically, Taylor was not called for an illegal formation once on Kansas City’s opening touchdown drive.

Welcome back, NFL. We missed your nonsense.