Substitions but the New England Patriots questioned by Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh on Saturday were within the rule book.

Former NFL director of officials Mike Pereira said the moves were “perfectly legal” even if they caused confusion on the Ravens’ sideline.

“There is a specific rule that says than an eligible numbered player can report as ineligible and line up anywhere on the line as long as he is covered by a wideout who is on the line,” Pereira said. “Perfectly legal. … The Ravens have a responsibility to react immediately.”

Patriots running back Shane Vereen reported as an ineligible player and lined up in the slot for the Patriots.

New England ran three plays that declared a receiver ineligible. The confusion helped the Patriots to a touchdown that made the score 28-21 and helped New England reach the AFC Championship game. Near the end of the drive, after the third trick move, the Baltimore coach was hit with a penalty after charging down the sideline and yelling at the officials.

“It’s a substitution type or a trick type of a thing,” Harbaugh said after the Ravens’ 35-31 loss. “So they don’t give you the opportunity, they don’t give you the chance to make the proper substitutions and things like that.

“It’s not something that anybody’s ever done before. The league will look at that type of thing and I’m sure that they’ll make some adjustments and things like that.”

Asked if he’d seen it before, Harbaugh said, “No. Nobody’s ever seen that before.”

Did he consider it cheap or dirty?

“I’m not going to comment on that,” Harbaugh said.

Over on the other side, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was having none of it, saying, “Maybe those guys got to study the rule book and figure it out.”