[caption id="attachment_86266" align="alignright" width="375"]John Harbaugh and the Ravens are likely pretty happy after hearing that the unbalanced line the Patriots used in the playoffs is now illegal. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)[/caption] The eligible receiver/ unbalanced line tactics the Patriots utilized in the AFC divisional playoff game agains the Ravens have now been ruled illegal. The league announced Wednesday that they have passed a proposal to make it "illegal for an offensive player with an eligible number to report as ineligible and line up outside the core of the formation." The genesis of the rule change came from the postseason contest between New England and Baltimore when Patriots ran a handful of plays using four offensive linemen and a running back (Shane Vereen) or tight end (Michael Hoomanawanui) lined up as the tackle. Before the plays, the Patriots informed the referee of the ineligible player, and on at least one occasion, the referee announced to the crowd that No. 34 (Vereen) was ineligible, adding "don't cover (Vereen)." The Ravens were clearly steamed at the legal sequence after the game. Ravens coach John Harbaugh called it "deception," and took issue with the idea that "they don't give you the chance to make the proper substations and things like that." He added: "We wanted an opportunity to be able to ID who the eligible players were. What (the Patriots) were doing was they announce the ineligible player and then Tom [Brady] would take them to the line right away and snap the ball before we had a chance to figure out who was lined up where. That was the deception part of it. It was clearly deception." In the midst of the confusion, the Patriots were able to capitalize -- on three plays, New England hit on pass plays of 16, 11 and 14 yards. While it wasn't the biggest turning point in the game, it was clear that it contributed to the normally unflappable Ravens coming unglued, as Baltimore twice choked up 14-point leads on the way to the Patriots win. After the game, Brady was asked about the play. "Maybe those guys (should) study the rule book and figure it out," said the quarterback with a smile. For more Patriots news, check out weei.com/patriots.