Isaiah Likely seems to be on the wrong end of touchdowns more often than not in the NFL.
During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup against the Steelers, the Ravens tight end caught what appeared to be a touchdown pass. He extended for the ball in the end zone but fell, losing grip just a couple of feet from securing it completely. Initially, the referees ruled it a touchdown, but after a replay review, they reversed the call, stating that he hadn’t completed the catch—there was simply no control as the ball slipped free.
Honestly, anyone who watched that play would likely agree with the final decision.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reflected on the ruling post-game, saying, “They explained that he didn’t get his third foot down before losing the ball.”
And why does this even matter? Well, NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth noted, “The on-field call was a touchdown. At first glance, he had control—he got one foot down, then another. Control is key, but then he lost the ball before getting that third foot down, so it became an incomplete pass.”
Even commentators like Jim Nantz and Tony Romo expressed disbelief during the CBS broadcast. Romo emphasized, “It looked like a touchdown to me. Those two feet were in. Just look at the replay!” Nantz simply agreed, remarking, “It definitely seemed like a touchdown.”
It’s almost surprising how frequently Likely finds himself in situations like this.
Earlier this season, in Week 1, he seemed to secure the game-winning touchdown on the last play, but, ironically, was ruled out of bounds by the back of his heel, resulting in a 27-20 loss against the Ravens.
Now, just last week, another potential touchdown slipped through his fingers when he reached the goal line at the 1-yard mark. The ball managed to fumble into the end zone, leading to a Bengals touchback. That was yet another loss for the Ravens, this time 32-14.
This latest defeat puts the Ravens one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, leaving them outside the playoff picture.
