Ravens’ Isaiah Likely Shades Chiefs After Week 1 Win: ‘Good Luck in the Postseason’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 6, 2024

David Eulitt/Getty Images

Isaiah Likely is already looking ahead to a potential playoff rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’d say this is probably the worst game we’re going to play all year, so if this is the best that they’ve got, good luck in the postseason,” the Baltimore Ravens tight end said following his team’s 27-20 loss to the two-time reigning champions in Thursday’s season opener, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.

To Baltimore’s credit, it couldn’t have been much closer in a hostile environment against the league’s team to beat.

Likely appeared to haul in a touchdown catch on the final play, which would have set the Ravens up for a two-point conversion attempt. However, his toe came down just out of bounds upon replay review, which gave Kansas City the win.

NFL @NFLThe Ravens were THIS CLOSE to scoring the game-tying touchdown 👀#Kickoff2024 pic.twitter.com/08KjTVFHQZ

It overshadowed an excellent game for the tight end, who finished with nine catches for 111 yards and one touchdown.

It is certainly a glass-half-full approach for Likely and the Ravens to assume a rematch that may or may not come in Kansas City would go better, especially since the Chiefs just went on the road and eliminated Baltimore in last season’s AFC Championship Game.

As long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, Kansas City will be a Super Bowl threat. And now it has the inside track for home-field advantage against the Ravens in the race for AFC playoff seeding.

But at least Baltimore doesn’t have to worry about Likely’s confidence being shaken after an early season loss.