A sliver of Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely’s toe was the difference between overtime in the first game of the NFL season and the Kansas City Chiefs’ first win of the year. 

The final play of the game saw Lamar Jackson and the Ravens needing a touchdown to force overtime, and he fired a strike to Likely, who secured it and looked to get two feet in. 

However, after review, Likely’s toe was on the back line, and he was ruled out of bounds, ending the game in dramatic fashion in favor of the home team, 27-20. 

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh discussed Likely’s performance after the game, calling it a “courageous game” where he “made so many plays, especially down the stretch.” But that one play will be talked about for quite some time, as it appeared Harbaugh was motioning to go for the win with a two-point conversion. 

The Chiefs are hunting for NFL history this season as the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, and on the night they unveiled their latest banner, they did what needed to be done – and saw some luck fall their way in the end – to start off on the right foot (no pun intended).

Earlier this year, the Chiefs defeated the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game to get to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, and they kept that domination alive at home this time in Kansas City. 

And while Patrick Mahomes showcased his regular magic on the football field as quarterback for the Chiefs, it was his new weapon, rookie speedster Xavier Worthy, that really shined in his NFL debut.

One of the reasons the Chiefs are expected to have more explosive plays this season is Worthy, the new record holder in the 40-yard dash after posting a 4.21-second run at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

That speed was showcased immediately in this game, as he had just three touches on the football, but two of them went for touchdowns. 

The Chiefs needed just four plays to get downfield in scoring territory on its first drive of the season, and it was Mahomes hitting his second-year receiver Rashee Rice, who had two catches 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 went in the hands of rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the new record holder in the NFL Combine’s 40-yard dash, for the first time and he didn’t disappoint. The blazing speed was on full display, as he worked his way around the Ravens’ defense and into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown run – his first touch in the NFL. 

The Ravens, though, were the first to put up a touchdown in the new year, and it was their new addition, running back Derrick Henry, plunging in from five yards out for his first end zone trip as a Raven. 

After such a hot start, though, the Chiefs and Ravens both punted on their next drives, but we then saw our first turnover of the new year. 

Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who wreaked havoc all game, got into the backfield and forced the ball out of Jackson’s hands on the first play of the Ravens’ third drive. That set the Chiefs up for another potential touchdown drive, but Juju Smith-Schuster, who rejoined the Chiefs this offseason, couldn’t handle a ball on the goal line. 

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles against Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (98) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

Harrison Butker kicked his first field goal of the year to take the lead for Kansas City. 

It was a lead Kansas City wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the game, as Baltimore just couldn’t get going like they usually did on their way to the best record in the league last season (though their 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 picking off Mahomes late in the first half, the Ravens had to settle for a field goal to head into the locker room down three points, 13-10. 

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The Chiefs created a gap with its first drive in the second half, as Mahomes led the way on a six-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a Pacheco score from one yard out. 

But while the Ravens were struggling on offense, we all know it takes just one play to turn things around, and that’s exactly what happened when Jackson simply threw it up for Isaiah Likely, the Ravens’ tight end who shined last year in place of the hurt Mark Andrews.

Likely secured the pass with linebacker Nick Bolton draped all over him, and he started to make the Chiefs miss. After maneuvering around Bolton, he found a couple blocks and started streaking downfield. He hit the brakes just before the goal line and walked into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown that made it a three-point game again. 

However, Worthy’s second touchdown came immediately after Baltimore felt momentum on its sideline again, as Marlon Humphrey thought he had safety help over the top, and Mahomes didn’t miss his rookie on the right side as he waltzed into the end zone for a 35-yard score. 

The Ravens would cut the lead to seven with another Tucker field goal, and they 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 pass during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

Baltimore made its way downfield, as Jackson started dissecting the defense by finding Likely. Then, things got fascinating when Rashod Bateman went up to grab a 38-yard reception to land on Kansas City’s 10-yard line. 

With second-and-goal and 10 seconds remaining, Jackson danced around the pocket and fired a pass to a wide-open Zay Flowers, but he threw behind him. Then, the Likely mishap occurred, ending the Ravens’ night in heartbreak. 

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Baltimore lost by less than an inch — and a foot.

That’s the right foot of Ravens receiver Isaiah Likely, who appeared to catch the tying touchdown against Kansas City with 0:00 showing on the clock. Replay revealed his right toe was just into the white of the back of the end zone, however, and the Chiefs held on for a 27-20 victory.

It was a thrilling ending to a rematch of last season’s AFC title game, which Kansas City won by a touchdown in Baltimore.

The play in question came on third down from the 10-yard line, after Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had missed would-be touchdown throws to Likely and a wide-open Zay Flowers.

One of the heroes for Kansas City was rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, who scored a pair of touchdowns on a 21-yard end around and a 35-yard throw from Patrick Mahomes.

“We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to get better at, but that’s a great start,” Mahomes said.

By winning their opener, the Chiefs did what the past two Super Bowl champions could not. Kansas City lost to Detroit last season, and the Rams fell to Buffalo in 2022.

Kansas City is looking to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

It was another newcomer who scored the opening touchdown for Baltimore. Derrick Henry, who joined the Ravens in the offseason, ran up the middle for a five-yard score. The former Tennessee Titans star became a trivia answer, scoring the first touchdown of the 2024 season.

But the marquee matchup was between quarterbacks Jackson and Mahomes, each a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player.

Jackson ran for a game-high 122 yards, breaking the 100-yard rushing mark for the 14th time in his career.

The game began with a 25-minute rain delay that had virtually everyone in the stands heading for the covered concourses. Eventually, the storm cloud passed and it was a pleasant evening.

In the second quarter, Kansas City took advantage of two Baltimore turnovers — a strip sack and a failed fourth down — and built a six-point lead with a pair of Harrison Butker field goals. But the Ravens answered with a field goal at the end of the first half, set up by an interception of Mahomes.

Mahomes set a club record in the second quarter, connecting with tight end Travis Kelce for a 23-yard gain. That pushed the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player past late Hall of Famer Len Dawson for the most career passing yards in Kansas City history (28,542).

Kelce is the boyfriend of pop superstar Taylor Swift, who was at the game, watching with the tight end’s family from a midfield suite.

Croix Bethune’s head-turning rookie season came to an abrupt end when she suffered a torn meniscus while throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game last week.

The injury will require surgery and will land Bethune on the season-ending injury list, the Washington Spirit said Wednesday.

Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez said the injury occurred during the ceremonial first pitch.

“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”

Croix Bethune will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with injury.

We are wishing you a healthy recovery, Croix! Sending our love and support your way 🫶https://t.co/6gn2kqiIC1

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— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 4, 2024

The 23-year-old packed more accomplishments in her first half-year as a professional than many players squeeze into a full career. Bethune was selected third in the 2023 NWSL Draft, with Washington trading defensive anchor Sam Staab to obtain the pick. It paid off swiftly as she became an instant starter in the wake of Ashley Sanchez’s departure via a trade on the same day. Bethune took home NWSL Rookie of the Month honors in March/April, May and June; no other player had previously won the award in back-to-back months, much less three in a row.

The strong form for her club helped her land on the United States women’s national team, first as a training player for Emma Hayes’ first camp in June and making her debut in a July tune-up friendly before being named as an alternate for the 2024 Olympics. An injury to Jaedyn Shaw saw Bethune get promoted to the 18-player squad, where she made one appearance from the bench as the USWNT returned to gold-medal standing.

Despite this knee injury, Bethune still projects as the favorite to take home NWSL Rookie of the Year — if the litany of monthly honors wasn’t enough evidence toward that point — and challenge for a Best XI honor.

In 1,389 regular season minutes, she scored five goals and logged 10 assists. Her 15 goal contributions is tied for 5th in the league as of Sept. 4, 2024. Those 10 assists are far ahead of joint second-ranked Sophia Smith and Temwa Chawinga’s six, and had her tied with USWNT icon Tobin Heath for the NWSL’s single-season record, which Heath set in 2016.

The Spirit will understandably take a cautious approach to Bethune’s rehabilitation. The midfielder suffered three ACL tears during her time in high school and college, a fact that may explain why two teams passed on her in the 2024 Draft. In announcing her injury, Washington clarified that she will remain with the team throughout her recovery, working closely with the Spirit Performance, Medical and Innovation department.

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(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)