On Thursday night, the Baltimore Ravens faced off against the Cincinnati Bengals in a crucial AFC North showdown. However, the game was marred by an unusual incident that caused play to come to a halt.
During the second quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium, a drone was spotted hovering above the field, flashing red and green lights. The Amazon game cameras immediately shifted their focus to the intruder, bringing the game to a dramatic pause. As veteran broadcaster Al Michaels called for a commercial break, officials were left scrambling to figure out how to deal with the situation.
After a brief delay, play resumed in the second quarter and continued through the third without incident. However, as the fourth quarter was about to begin, the drone reappeared, causing another stoppage in play. This time, the broadcasters referred to it as an “administrative timeout,” as officials worked to remove the unwanted visitor from the stadium.
After the game, the Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh commented on the incident, saying, “We heard there were drones. Is that what you guys heard? We saw them up there. That’s a first. I thought I’d seen it all with the Super Bowl, with the lights going out at the Super Bowl. Now we have drones flying around.”
The NFL has stopped play in the Bengals-Ravens game because someone is flying a drone inside the stadiumpic.twitter.com/6VBqoqv2bM
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 17, 2023
However, the Ravens have declined to comment on whether they are investigating the matter further, leaving many to wonder who was responsible for the drone intrusion.
Despite the distraction, the Ravens managed to stay focused and recorded an impressive 34-20 win over the Bengals. This victory has put them in a strong position in the AFC North, with a 6-2 record.
Drones have become increasingly popular in recent years and have been used for various purposes, including aerial photography, delivery services, and even as a firefighting tool. However, this is not the first time drones have caused a disruption in a major sporting event. In 2019, a tennis match at the U.S. Open was disrupted by a drone, and in 2018, a drone caused a major security scare at a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Although it may seem like a harmless prank or a publicity stunt, drone intrusions in sporting events are taken very seriously. They not only jeopardize the safety of players and spectators but also have the potential to cause major disruptions and delays.
As the use of drones becomes more widespread, it is essential for authorities to take necessary precautions to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. It is also vital for individuals to understand the potential consequences of flying drones in restricted areas without proper authorization.
As for the Ravens and their fans, they can breathe a sigh of relief as the drone incident did not affect the outcome of the game. However, it serves as a reminder that even in the world of sports, we must be vigilant and prepared for unexpected disruptions.
