I mean how close can you realistically get? A game of inches? Not last night's tilt. No, last night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs was decided by millimeters.
After a terrible night of officiating by the referees, the game settled down in the second half and that's when the drama started peaking through.
The Ravens went into the fourth quarter down 20-10. Early in the quarter, quarterback Lamar Jackson found tight end Isaiah Likely, and the two connected on a beautiful 49-yard catch and run that resulted in a touchdown.
It didn't take long for Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy to score on the following KC drive. A field goal by Ravens kicker Justin Tucker with 4:54 left in the game brought the score to 27-20. All the Chiefs had to do was run out the clock. They couldn't do so, therefore Jackson and company had a fighting chance to secure the dub.
In the final seconds of the game, Jackson scrambled and threw the ball into the back of the end zone where Isaiah Likely jumped, caught the pass, and then came in inbounds to put the Ravens behind 27-26 with no time left on the clock. The Ravens were going to go for two, with a chance to steal a win in Kansas City. Until the touchdown was overturned.
Just like that, in a matter of moments, all wind was knocked out of the Ravens' sails.
The Baltimore Ravens' would-be touchdown gets overturned after replay showed Isaiah Likely's toe falling barely out of bounds as the Kansas City Chiefs take the season opener. https://t.co/CNgsWxaOBI
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) September 6, 2024
How much closer could he actually get?
Several fans and players thought that the touchdown should have stood, including Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Unfortunately, it wasn't a catch and Likely was out of bounds when he caught it. He admitted so himself. But boy was it close. And what a shame, too. It was an unbelievable catch even if the touchdown didn't count.
Fans had some fun with the missed touchdown, much to the chagrin of Baltimore Ravens fans. You can always count on the fans to provide some entertaining content on social media.
The Shoe forced Isaiah Likely's toe out of bounds pic.twitter.com/W2KeZ0fRSx
— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton1) September 6, 2024
If I were Isaiah Likely, I'd literally go home and cut off my toes https://t.co/VDiDTlWocN
— Caitlin Marie :) (@catlikessports) September 6, 2024
Refs: Isaiah, your toe was out
— Keith Richards (@5280Keith) September 6, 2024
Isaiah Likely: pic.twitter.com/LRHYqikpCT
Football truly is a game of inches. If only the football gods used their infinite wisdom to help the Ravens knock off the Chiefs. The good news is Isaiah Likely is a stud and should have a prominent role in the Ravens offense this season. He was truly a difference-maker last night.