Cris Collinsworth, Jason Kelce react to flurry of trivial penalties in Chiefs-Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens’ first run of the 2024 NFL season got off to a rough start.

The Ravens’ offensive line was called for three penalties in the first seven plays of the game, as tackle Ronnie Stanley and tackle Patrick Mekari were both whistled for illegal formation penalties — a point of focus for preseason refereeing. One of those penalties offset a defensive pass interference violation that would have moved the ball deep into Chiefs territory.

In other words, unnecessary flags flew in the first few minutes of the game. Cris Collinsworth noticed the officiating team’s eagle eye to start the season and brought it up on the NBC show.

“Wow. I call it razor sharp,” Collinsworth said. “… Taking a huge game off the books for the Ravens on the field.”

Recently retired Jason Kelce, who is not on an NFL roster this season for the first time since attending college at Cincinnati, also chimed in.

And everyone else watching from home had a similar thought:

Stanley was called for another illegal formation penalty before the end of the first half.

Fortunately, the game resumed from there. Baltimore battled to penalties and opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run from Derrick Henry, and the Kansas City Chiefs quickly fired back with 13 unanswered points.