A furious comeback attempt by the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City came to a screeching halt.

Lamar Jackson, trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter, led Baltimore on two long drives to give the Ravens a chance to win. A 13-play drive gave Baltimore a chip-shot field goal to pull within 27-20. After the defense made a stop, the Ravens drove 77 yards to the brink of another score. Two misses by Jackson set up the final attempt with five seconds left.

While eluding Chiefs’ Chris Jones coming off the edge, Jackson threw a quick pass to tight end Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone. The TE went up for the pigskin and was pushed down by KC linebacker Nick Bolton on the way down. Referees called it a touchdown before video review showed the edge of Likely’s toe went slightly into the white paint.

Jackson was not convinced that the evidence told the truth.

“I thought it was a touchdown,” Jackson said after the loss, via the team’s transcript. “I thought it was a touchdown. I still think it’s a touchdown.”

Likely, too, seemed unconvinced that his toe was out of alignment. He noted, “At this point, you just have to live with the calling,” but he stopped short of denying the evidence.

“That’s my responsibility,” he said. “I just have to get my feet on the ground. I’m pushing myself to catch everything and make sure everyone puts us in the best position possible, so I take responsibility. Next time I’m going to get my feet on the ground.”

The ending was nearly the perfect icing on an extraordinary night for the third-year pro. He likely set career highs with nine receptions for 111 yards and added a touchdown. He was the first Baltimore tight end with 100-plus yards in more than one season — since reaching the plateau as a rookie in Week 18, 2022.

The highlight was a 49-yard touchdown catch and run, with the athletic tight end showing off his athleticism in space by making wide-receiver-like jukes into space. Two plays before the toe-bender final play, Likely went down injured in the end zone, but after missing a snap he returned to nearly help spark the comeback.

“Isaiah just played a great football game, (the) craziest game,” coach John Harbaugh said. “(He made) so many plays, especially in the final period, play after play. … I thought Isaiah played a great football game. I was proud of him and a lot of the other guys.”

The Ravens fought back in the final minutes, but persistent errors throughout the game ruined their chance to pull off the upset. Baltimore was assessed seven penalties (64 yards), including a series of procedural flags on offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Justin Tucker missed an early field goal from 53 yards. The defense was torched on slants by Rashee Rice. The offensive line struggled early on. Jackson missed a number of passes, particularly on the final series.

“This is the worst we’ll play this season,” linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I can promise you that.”

He probably agreed with those sentiments, but he also took a dig at the Chiefs.

“I think this is the worst game we’re going to play this year. If this is the best they can play, then we wish them the best of luck in the play-offs,” he said.

Considering their own losses, mistakes and delays in the game, the Chiefs certainly wouldn’t call this their best game.

The Ravens came up short, similar to how they ended the 2023 campaign in the AFC Championship game. After a thrilling start, let’s hope we get another game in January.