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TNF game halted for second week in a row as drone interrupts Jaguars vs Ravens
A general overall aerial view of M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland
A general overall aerial view of M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland (Image: Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

M&T Bank Stadium may be capable of containing any NFL quarterback's aerial assault, but it appears powerless against unwanted aircraft. For the second consecutive Thursday, a drone brought play to a halt.

An unidentified drone briefly interrupted Prime Video's Thursday Night Football broadcast between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens, just moments after Jacksonville took an early 7-0 lead.

Bhayshul Tuten punched it in from a yard out for the Jaguars, with Cam Little converting the extra point, before attention was suddenly diverted from the field. Cameras captured Trevor Lawrence on the sideline as officials dealt with the aerial intrusion, with 11:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Viewers never caught a glimpse of the rogue device after Michaels informed fans that the game would be paused for an administrative stoppage.

As cameras panned to sweeping overhead shots of M&T Bank Stadium, the Prime Video broadcast team kept things entertaining with a spirited exchange between Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on the subject of drones.

Play resumed with the Ravens' fake handoff trick play
Play resumed with the Ravens' fake handoff trick play (Image: undefined)

The College GameDay veteran quipped to Michaels whether drones were a common sight when he and John Madden used to call games together. Michaels fired back, "We had gliders. We knew the Wright brothers personally."

While Orville and Wilbur Wright completed the first airplane flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, more than 40 years before the 81-year-old was born, the quip still drew laughter from his broadcast partner as the discussion concluded.

Coverage then returned to the field, where the Ravens gave Derrick Henry a direct snap for their opening play. Two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's backup, Tyler Huntley, remain sidelined on injury reserve.

A virtually identical issue disrupted the Green Bay Packers' matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field just one week earlier. Both occurrences forced players from both squads to the sideline until the field was deemed safe to restart play.

The drone incident occurred just before Jacksonville's first touchdown
The drone incident occurred just before Jacksonville's first touchdown (Image: undefined)

Referee Scott Novak stopped the game with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter as the Packers neared the red zone against the Carolina Panthers. The Prime Video broadcast team informed viewers that the drone was not associated with its production equipment.

Play remained suspended for several minutes before officials permitted the players to return to the field. Green Bay police confirmed they had identified the drone operator but declined to release further information as the investigation is ongoing.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations typically ban drone operations within three nautical miles of designated NFL stadiums, up to 3,000 feet above ground level.

FAA regulations extend to the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, NCAA football, and virtually every major motorsports organization.

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