FOXBORO — Whenever a pool reporter is required to speak to an official, you know something bizarre happened. And on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, that something occurred late in the fourth quarter, with Patriots trying to put away the pesky Baltimore Ravens.

With the Pats leading 24-21 with 7:14 left in the fourth, Steve Gostkowski came out to attempt a 28-yard field goal. But holder Chris Hanson threw a pass to Chris Baker on a fake, with Baker apparently getting a first down at the 5-yard line.

But hold on.

There was a penalty on the Patriots for illegal motion. And the Ravens were challenging a the pass as incomplete on replay.

After five minutes of waiting and deliberating, referee Ron Winter came out to announce that the review confirmed the catch but the penalty pushed the Pats back.

The Patriots converted the 33-yard field goal after all that and had themselves a 27-21 lead.

Here’s the story from referee Ron Winter:

“The Ravens were challenging that the pass should have been called incomplete. If it had been an incomplete pass, then they would have declined the penalty and they would have taken the ball at the previous spot. Baltimore would have — because it was fourth down [and an] incomplete pass — so they would have gotten the ball first-and-10 at the previous spot.

“So, that’s why they challenged that, to determine whether or not it was, in fact, a completed pass. When we found it was a completed pass, then the illegal motion kicks in. That takes it back, so they have to repeat the down. It was a fourth down. He caught the pass and it was good for a first down.”

There will be a test later.