It’s the nightmare scenario that no fantasy football owner wants to deal with: the NFL stat correction that swings what was a nail-biter of a victory or loss days after the outcome of the matchup was apparently decided.
It’s happened before — remember when Ezekiel Elliott’s fumble turned out not to be one? That changed a bunch of playoff matchups in 2018.
This time, the NFL made a late correction on a play involving the Baltimore Ravens’ defense and the Cleveland Browns.
With just over two minutes left in the second quarter, Baker Mayfield tossed the ball back to RB Kareem Hunt, who was tackled deep in the backfield. Days later, the NFL declared that it was a sack and not a tackle for a loss:
This play was ruled a sack by the NFL. The ensuing stat correction then reversed several fantasy title games where teams who had the Ravens defense (down a point) were rewarded with a win because of it. pic.twitter.com/s1iuqvJfwL
— aonethelp (@aonethelp) December 26, 2019
That meant some fantasy owners woke up earlier this week and found out they had either won or lost:
@ESPNFANSUPPORT ESPN is showing a sack for the Ravens D on a play that was negated due to a penalty on the Ravens. This sack has changed the outcome of my fantasy league championship game.
— Kevin Andre (@CoachAndre4008) December 26, 2019
Hi Kevin, thanks for reaching out. Per NFL, the ruling on this play which came during Cleveland's Second Drive of the Second Quarter with 2:09 remaining was ruled a sack; https://t.co/5Pv6w7PmmJ As such, the site was updated accordingly and the Ravens credited with the sack. -J.Y
— ESPN FAN SUPPORT (@ESPNFANSUPPORT) December 26, 2019
Ho ho ho Merry StatCorrectionmas! I just won my league that I lost by .3 over a best friend by getting a sack rewarded to my Ravens defense! pic.twitter.com/4s8vz5cCCP
— Corey Gass (@CGass24) December 25, 2019
So @ESPNFantasy made a stat correction to give the Ravens another sack and knock me out of the playoffs… it’s made for a mildly grumpy Christmas morning 😠 #FantasyFootball #Fail pic.twitter.com/Mgc9HgLY01
— Rod Mercado (@rcmercado) December 25, 2019
Thought I won my fantasy league (first pic) only to find out today a stat correction was made and cost me the win (second pic)
Yes, I know nobody cares about fantasy team tweets but this is a brutal Xmas gift pic.twitter.com/gkVbYjUKDO
— nin nainggolan (@ngigeaux) December 27, 2019
Merry Christmas to everyone, but especially to our fantasy last place finisher who lost today because of a stat correction @FieldYates pic.twitter.com/wkwqimJH6t
— Nick W. Jones (@NowWeJankin) December 25, 2019
@TheClemReport @BarstoolBigCat I know most fantasy seasons are over and people don’t care anymore but have you guys ever heard of a championship ever being lost on a stat correction?? pic.twitter.com/iimzUQv1Ld
— S_Rosenberg (@S_Rosenberg) December 27, 2019
Anybody else have a Fantasy Football league that was effected by the Stat Correction that just gave Baltimore 's defense an extra Sack?#FantasyFootball #Fantasy #FF
My league league crowned 1 team winner by 1 point on Tuesday and today that team has now lost by 1.
— A.Ward (@Iam_AWard) December 26, 2019
Brutal for those who lost, miraculous for those who won because of it … but it happens.
[jwplayer RZc2pcTB-q2aasYxh]