Football is dubbed the game of inches for a reason.
Trailing 27–20 with five seconds to play, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a strike to tight end Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone for what appeared to be a potential game-tying touchdown. Officials initially ruled it a completed catch, but a replay review confirmed that Likely's toe was out of bounds.
The call was overturned to an incomplete pass, and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs officially secured a Week 1 victory to launch their 2024 campaign.
LAMAR TO LIKELY???
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2024
📺: #Kickoff2024 on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vCRoiX08rO
out by an inch 😱#Kickoff2024 pic.twitter.com/TUeV7bxF6z
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2024
That wasn't the only play on the Ravens' final drive filled with drama. On the previous play, Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers on a pass to the end zone.
Lamar Jackson missed a WIDE OPEN Zay Flowers 🤯
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/GKZx7ney1Y
Jackson was rather inaccurate most of the night, but he did complete 26-of-41 attempts for 273 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 122 yards on a team-high 16 carries.
On the other sideline, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 291 yards on 20-of-28 passing with one touchdown and one interception. Kansas City first-round pick Xavier Worthy shined in his debut, scoring twice on a 21-yard scamper in the first quarter and a 35-yard reception in the third.
The Chiefs, gunning for their third straight Super Bowl title, will return to the field in Week 2 to host the Cincinnati Bengals. Baltimore will search for its first win next Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Isaiah Likely, Ravens Miss Last-Second Game-Tying Touchdown vs. Chiefs by an Inch.
