| Advertisement |
Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Lamar Jackson and several Baltimore Ravens players think referees should have allowed their last-second touchdown, instead of overturning the call, during their season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Referees disallowed the score, which would have given the Ravens a chance to win the game, ruling that tight end Isaiah Likely's right foot came down out of bounds Thursday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Advertisement
"I thought it was a touchdown," Jackson told reporters. "I still think it was a touchdown."
The 10-yard toss came from a play that started with five seconds remaining. Jackson took the final snap and first avoided several pass rushers. He then ripped a throw to the back of the end zone. Likely leapt and snatched the pass before coming back down.
Officials first ruled that he was inbounds, resulting in a touchdown and cutting the Ravens' deficit to a single point. The Ravens were lining up to go for a potentially game-winning two-point conversion when officials met to review the previous play.
Footage showed the tip of Likely's right black shoe crossing the white line at the back of the end zone, resulting in a ruling of an incomplete pass.
"I threw it so he could make a play on it," Jackson said of his final throw. "I threw it so he could jump a little bit. I thought he did a great job, an acrobatic catch, and I believe their were two feet in."
Jackson completed 26 of 41 passes for 273 yards and a score. He also ran for 122 yards on 16 carries in the 27-20 setback. Likely caught nine passes for 111 yards and a score.
The Ravens trailed by 10 points in the second half before nearly winning the game with their final 11-play drive, which started at their own 13-yard line. They out-gained the Chiefs 452-353 in total yards and held a 33:43-26:17 edge in time of possession.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards, a touchdown and an interception, joked that Likely should wear white shoes next time, so it is harder to see if his feet stay in bounds.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he did not have a good view of Likely's feet during the final play. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he could't tell if Likely's foot was out of bounds based on footage shown on the stadium big screen and he didn't know what the play "looked like on replay."
Other Ravens players, including linebacker Roquan Smith and running back Derrick Henry, thought the initial touchdown call should have stood.
"I didn't think it was enough evidence to overturn it," Smith said. "But I feel like that'll be something that the refs will have to deal with whenever that time comes and that's out of my control."
Likely said he will "live with the call."
"You have to look on, obviously watch the film and see where we can get better to not put ourselves in the situation to leave it in the refs' hands to be able to call that," Likely said.
Henry ran for 46 yards and a score in his Ravens debut. Smith totaled seven combined tackles and an interception.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco totaled 78 yards from scrimmage and a score on 17 touches. Wide receiver Rashee Rice logged seven catches for 103 yards. Rookie playmaker Xavier Worthy, who scored with a 21-yard run on his first NFL touch, also logged two catches for 47 yards and a score.
The Ravens will host the Las Vegas Raiders in their second game at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 15 in Baltimore. The Chiefs will battle the Cincinnati Bengals at 4:25 p.m. Sept. 15 in Kansas City, Mo.
