In a penalty-laden debut against the Chiefs, the Ravens were caught in illegal formations four times, thanks to left tackle Ronnie Stanley's knack for bending the rules and the NFL's new whistle-happy approach.

The Ravens’ season opener turned into a penalty fest, with three out of four illegal formation calls hitting on their first drive alone. As left tackle Ronnie Stanley rewrote the definition of 'stretching the rules', fans and analysts alike raised eyebrows at referee Shawn Hochuli’s new fondness for the rulebook, which now seems to be pulled out more often than the game itself. Apparently, lining up correctly is the new trend in the NFL, regardless of how much history suggests it's usually overlooked—unless you're a Raven lining up against the Chiefs.

For those just tuning in, the Ravens' initial drive became a clinic in how not to set up your offensive line. Three penalties in a row, all attributed to Stanley. It was enough to make any casual fan wonder about the emphasis the NFL has placed on linemen stacking up correctly this season, which contributed to the Ravens' illegal formation penalties.

The NFL has introduced a new wave of vigilance regarding linemen aligning themselves properly, something that seemed to take the Ravens by surprise. Stanley, while generally reliable in past seasons, appeared confused about the newly enforced regulations. Maybe he thought they were just guidelines, or possibly he was channeling a rebellious inner spirit that said, 'Why follow the rules when you can push the boundaries?' Surely, if any team should be able to flout the rules, it would be one with a track record of pushing limits, but evidently, this wasn't the time for such creativity.

The uproar from fans was palpable as they watched the flags fly. Many took to social media, criticizing Hochuli and his officiating crew, questioning the necessity of these illegal formation penalties. Was it really that vital for the game's integrity that an extra half-breath taken by a lineman produced such chaos? Perhaps fans were hoping for a more lenient approach reminiscent of yesteryear, when offensive linemen could somewhat get away with their questionable alignments based solely on the prevailing mood of the official.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time the league's commitment to enforcing such fines has come under scrutiny. Just last year, Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor found himself in similar trouble during the season opener, yet his misalignments seemed to slip through the cracks without consequence. This inconsistency has left many heads scratching, grateful that they were not in the business of betting on officiating performance.

According to the NFL rulebook, seven players must line up on the line of scrimmage before the snap. The Ravens were penalized for four illegal formation penalties in the first half of their season opener against the Chiefs, three of which occurred on the first drive. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was responsible for three of the four illegal formation penalties called on the Ravens in the first half. This raises an intriguing question: will he be asked to bring in his ‘A’ game next time?

As Baltimore digs deeper into the season, the hope is that they will iron out their formations before hitting the field again. Surely there's room for adjustments—perhaps an alignment workshop, or a book club focusing on the virtues of staying on the line. If they aren’t careful, they may find themselves establishing records, but perhaps not the kind they were hoping for.

As the Ravens look forward to future matchups, one thing remains clear: it's all about how you line up to the challenge. Perhaps Stanley could take a cue from how to properly align oneself midgame or even consult the internet for some quick guidance on proper procedure. After all, sometimes the best defense is a good offense—specifically, a legally aligned one.