Ravens Legend Shannon Sharpe Defends Steelers Amid “Buying the Refs” Controversy – And the NFL’s Final Ruling Sends Steelers Nation Into a Frenzy
Baltimore, Maryland – 12/9/2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-22 victory over the Baltimore Ravens has ignited one of the biggest controversies of the season: accusations that the Steelers “bought the referees” following the late-game incompletion ruling on Isaiah Likely. For hours after the final whistle, social media exploded with allegations, slow-motion breakdowns, zoomed-in screenshots — all attempting to prove that Pittsburgh was “gifted” the win.
But just as the debate reached its peak, Shannon Sharpe — the Ravens legend many expected to fiercely defend Baltimore — stunned the entire NFL by stepping forward to defend the Steelers instead.
After review this was ruled an incomplete pass and not a touchdown for the Ravens pic.twitter.com/ZHjsi81JGs
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) December 7, 2025
Appearing on national television, Sharpe silenced the studio with a single statement:
“I love the Ravens and I’ll always respect their fighting spirit, but the accusations thrown at the Steelers have gone too far. Frustration is understandable, but frustration isn’t evidence of anything. Last night, everything I saw told me the Steelers were in the right — and the rest is just emotion getting amplified.”
His words instantly detonated across social media. Steelers fans hailed him as “the only one willing to say what everyone else avoided,” while some Ravens fans were stunned and disappointed. But the real shockwave hit when the NFL released its official final ruling: the referees’ decision was completely correct, based on catch-control rules and the requirement for a “football move.”
According to the league, Likely did not maintain control long enough to satisfy the rule, and Joey Porter Jr. lawfully dislodged the ball before any act common to the game could be completed. No missed call. No favoritism. No corruption.
Steelers Nation erupted instantly. Social feeds filled with celebrations, memes, and hashtags like #NoFraudOnlyFacts and #HereWeGo, with some fans thanking Sharpe for “speaking the truth even as a Ravens legend.”
In Pittsburgh, head coach Mike Tomlin stayed characteristically calm, offering only a concise statement: “We played within the rules. And now the rules have spoken.”
With the NFL’s final ruling, a controversy that threatened to overshadow the entire AFC North race has finally been put to rest — and once again, the Steelers walk away victorious both on the field and in the firestorm that followed.
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