A stubble on Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely's toe was the difference between overtime in the NFL's season opener and the Kansas City Chiefs' first win of the year.
On the final play of the game, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens needed a touchdown to force overtime, and he threw a pass to Likely, who secured it and looked to advance two feet.
However, upon review, Likely's foot was on the baseline and he was ruled out of bounds, ending the game in dramatic fashion in favor of the home team, 27-20.
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) scores a touchdown against Baltimore Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison (40) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Images by Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn)
The Chiefs are looking to make NFL history this season as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, and on the night they unveiled their final banner, they did what they had to do (and ultimately got a little lucky) to get off on the right foot.
Earlier this year, the Chiefs defeated the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, and they kept that dominance alive at home this time in Kansas City.
And while Patrick Mahomes showed his usual magic on the football field as the Chiefs' quarterback, it was his new weapon, rookie speedster Xavier Worthy, who really shined in his NFL debut.
One reason the Chiefs are expected to have more explosive plays this season is Worthy, the new record holder in the 40-yard dash after recording a 4.21-second run at the NFL Scouting Combine.
That speed was immediately on display in this game, as he only had three touches on the ball, but two of them ended in touchdowns.
The Chiefs needed just four plays to get down the field in scoring territory on their first drive of the season, and it was Mahomes who connected with second-year receiver Rashee Rice, who had two receptions for 27 yards, his last a 16-yard catch-and-run with a horse-collar tackle that added 15 yards on top of that.
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Then the ball fell into the hands of rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the new NFL Combine 40-yard dash record holder, for the first time and he did not disappoint. His blistering speed was on full display as he tore through the Ravens defense and into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown run, his first NFL touch.
The Ravens were the first to score a touchdown in the new year, though, and it was their newest addition, running back Derrick Henry, who dove in from five yards out for his first trip to the end zone as a Raven.
However, after such a hot start, both the Chiefs and Ravens punted on their next drives, but then we saw our first turnover of the new year.
Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who had been causing havoc all game, came into the backfield and stripped the ball from Jackson on the first play of the Ravens’ third drive. That set up the Chiefs for another potential touchdown drive, but Juju Smith-Schuster, who rejoined the Chiefs this offseason, couldn’t control a ball at the goal line.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) battles Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (98) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Images by Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn)
Harrison Butker kicked his first field goal of the year to give Kansas City the lead.
Kansas City didn't relinquish that lead for the rest of the game, as Baltimore couldn't rally like it typically did on its way to the league's best record last season (though its final drive made things interesting). Justin Tucker, who struggled from beyond 50 yards last season, missed his first field goal of the year from 53 yards out.
And despite taking out Mahomes at the end of the first half, the Ravens had to settle for a field goal to go into the locker room trailing by three points, 13-10.
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The Chiefs created a gap with their first drive of the second half, when Mahomes led a six-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Pacheco.
But while the Ravens were struggling on offense, we all know it only takes one play to turn things around, and that's exactly what happened when Jackson simply threw the ball to Isaiah Likely, the Ravens tight end who shined last year in place of the injured Mark Andrews.
He likely secured the pass with linebacker Nick Bolton all over him and began making the Chiefs miss. After maneuvering around Bolton, he found a couple of blocks and began racing downfield. He hit the brakes just short of the goal line and drove into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown that brought the game back within three points.
Worthy's second touchdown, though, came immediately after Baltimore felt momentum on its sideline again as Marlon Humphrey thought he had safety help up top, and Mahomes didn't miss his rookie on the right side as he trudged into the end zone for a 35-yard score.
The Ravens would cut the lead to seven on another Tucker field goal, and were able to get the ball back at the two-minute warning in an attempt to tie, or perhaps win, the game.
Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) drops back to throw during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Images by Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn)
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Baltimore worked its way down the field, as Jackson began to dissect the defense and found Likely, who set career highs in this game with 111 on nine receptions. Then, things got fascinating when Rashod Bateman went up to catch a 38-yard reception and land on the Kansas City 10-yard line.
With second down and goal and 10 seconds left, Jackson moved around the pocket and threw a pass to a wide-open Zay Flowers, but Flowers threw behind him. Then, Likely's mishap occurred, ending the Ravens' night in disappointment.
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