NFL Security Stopped Ravens-Steelers Playoff Game For Bizarre Reason

01/11/2025 10:44 PM

It was a wild third quarter of today's big Ravens-Steelers playoff game as the Steelers cut into Baltimore's 21-point lead a bit with two huge touchdown scores in the third quarter.

But the high-octane 15 minutes of football were marred by a bizarre shortage that took place late in the quarter. 

With 3:24 remaining in the third, referees called a stoppage to the game that lasted for several minutes. Neither side had burned a timeout and there was no reason for the referees to take a TV timeout either.

For a while, fans were baffled as to who had called the timeout and what was holding up the game. 

It wasn't until Amazon Prime Video sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung got the scoop that Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit were finally able to learn the truth: A drone had been spotted in the area.

Apparently, someone had flown a remote drone over the top of the stadium. And while the drone didn't go into M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, officials were forced to stop play due to league rules.

"NFL security spotted a drone over the top of the stadium. We're told it didn't breach inside the stadium but the NFL policy is that you have to stop play," Hartung explained.

Kaylee Hartung reports that the Steelers-Ravens stoppage was after "NFL security spotted a drone over the top of the stadium." #NFLhttps://t.co/OBda4096Qapic.twitter.com/RNT6AYTgwA

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 12, 2025

While we can't exactly recall the last time an NFL playoff game had to be halted because of a drone, it's been a regretfully common occurrence throughout the league.

The NFL has seen the number of drone sightings in and around their stadiums skyrocket in recent years. What was once a mere annoyance that occurred about a dozen or so times a year has exploded into hundreds of drone sightings throughout an NFL season.

It has gotten so bad that the NFL has had to appeal to local, state and even federal officials to get help in making more stringent penalties to people who fly their drones into and onto stadium grounds.

Given that a drone could cause serious injury if it were to fall and hit someone, the league is understandably concerned - especially when it's becoming so darn common.

Related: Report: NFL Stadium Intercepted Five Drones On Game Day