Colts rue late penalties that keyed Browns' dramatic win - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — A pair of controversial officiating calls in the final minute of Sunday's Browns-Colts matchup helped set up Cleveland's dramatic 39-38 victory and left Indianapolis wondering aloud whether they'd been wronged.

Cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. was on the unfortunate end of an illegal-contact penalty and, shortly after, a defensive pass-interference call that put the ball at the 1-yard line and set up the winning touchdown. The illegal-contact call negated a would-be sack-fumble by Colts linebacker E.J. Speed that was recovered by Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The play would have, effectively, ended the game.

The interference call came in the end zone on a pass that was high and, arguably, uncatchable. The penalties were drawn by receivers Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, respectively.

«I don't agree with the penalties at all,» Baker said. «When those balls are uncatchable, they usually throw those flags out. Especially when they're initiating the contact with the cornerback. You can put hands on him as long as you're looking for the ball. I'm not impeding their [progress]. I don't know what else I could do better on that.»

On the interference call, which occurred along the back line of the end zone, Baker added, «I know [People-Jones] initiated contact with me. And then I saw the ball in the air so if we're both hand fighting, that's all right. And we're both looking for the ball. So, I definitely don't see a reason why it's pass interference.»

Baker was only in the game because starter JuJu Brents went down with a quad injury. Baker started in Week 1 but was benched the following week.

The interference call resulted in the ball being placed at the 1-yard line with 33 seconds