The NFL has fined Baltimore Ravens receiver Zai Flowers for provoking Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rajarius Snead during last weekend’s AFC Championship Game.
Late in the third quarter, after being tackled on a 54-yard pass play, a Ravens receiver pinned Snead’s shoulder to the ground and spun the ball near Snead’s face.
The referee called a taunting penalty on Flowers, a crucial 15-yard violation that set the Ravens back.
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Zai Flowers, 4, of the Baltimore Ravens, hits Kansas City Chiefs’ Rajarius after a first-down reception during the third quarter of the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on January 28, 2024. provoking Sneed (38 years old). (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Flowers then kept the drive alive with a clutch first down, but things quickly deteriorated.
Flowers was the target on the first play of the fourth quarter. He caught the pass and tried to get into the end zone, but Snead got his revenge by punching the ball away just before Flowers crossed the goal line.
The Chiefs recovered the ball in the end zone and ultimately won 17-10, advancing to their second straight Super Bowl.
Zai Flowers, 4, of the Baltimore Ravens hits Rajarius Snead, 38, of the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter of the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on January 28, 2024. (years old) provoked. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The penalty in the big game was much more than 15 yards. The NFL announced Saturday that it had fined Flowers $10,927.
Flowers also cut his hand after clapping in frustration as he reached the sideline after a fumble. His hands were seen covered in blood on television.
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The rookie, who was drafted 22nd overall last year, led the Ravens with five receptions for 115 yards in the game.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zai Flowers fumbles the ball in the end zone during the second half of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Jan. 28, 2024. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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He caught 77 passes for 858 yards in his first NFL season out of Boston College.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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