The Baltimore Ravens faced a tough loss against the Kansas City Chiefs, falling 27-20 in a nail-biter during the Week 1 opener on Thursday night.
More news: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely Calls Out Chiefs After Close Season Opener Loss
It was an emotional start to the NFL season, especially for a team that now sits at 1-5 against star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
With seconds left on the clock, Lamar Jackson launched a pass to Isaiah Likely in the end zone. Likely made the catch, leading the Ravens to prepare for a potential game-winning 2-point conversion.
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As the score shifted to 27-26, hopes were high for a Raven victory. All they needed was a 2-point conversion to seal the deal.
“The ref looked at me, I looked at the ref, and when he signaled touchdown, I thought it was it,” Likely told reporters, as per Jamison Henley of ESPN. “Then, obviously, we were going to win the game.”
However, after a review, officials determined that Likely’s toe was out of bounds during the catch. Social media lit up as fans pointed out his black cleat resting on the white out-of-bounds line, solidifying the call.
Jackson expressed his disbelief: “I thought it was a touchdown. I still think it’s a touchdown.”
The Ravens’ social media team shared a video of the moment with an excited caption, “TOUCHDOWN OMG!!!” However, they were met with a cheeky community note on Twitter stating, “No, it wasn’t.”
With the ruling confirmed, Kansas City celebrated their first win of the season, all while aiming for a third consecutive Super Bowl title.
“The runner’s toe hit out of bounds,” referee Shawn Hochuli stated. “It’s an incomplete pass. The game is over. Kansas City has won.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned that his team was aware of the out-of-bounds situation thanks to their upstairs staff keeping a close eye on the play: “The guys upstairs saw it, and so they knew he was out,” Reid said. “We were just waiting after that.”
If anything, this match was a rematch of the AFC Championship, and the Ravens sought redemption. Instead, they faced more heartbreak against the Kansas City powerhouse.
“At this point, you just have to live with the call,” Likely reflected. “You need to move on, watch the film, and figure out how not to let it come down to the refs next time.”
While the Ravens couldn’t secure the upset at Arrowhead Stadium, the thrilling matchup certainly set an intriguing tone for the rest of the 2024 season.