The Isaiah Likely Non-Catch & Why NFL Rules Are Written By People Who Hate Fun

I want you to imagine something: You're a Ravens fan. Your team is down 27-22 with under three minutes left. Lamar Jackson launches a ball to Isaiah Likely in the end zone. Likely catches it. Both feet down. He takes a step. TOUCHDOWN.

Ravens lead 28-27. The stadium erupts. You're screaming. Your neighbor's dog is barking. Life is beautiful.

And then — record scratch — the refs huddle up, watch the replay, and determine that Joey Porter Jr. knocked the ball out before Likely could get a "third football move." Game-tying touchdown? Gone. Ravens ball on the 13? Gone. Will to live? Gone.

This is the NFL in 2025, folks. We have reached the point where a guy can catch a football, put two feet in bounds, take a step, and have it not count because he didn't achieve the mystical third step of the "act common to the game." What does that even mean? Do you need to file a W-2? Sign a lease? Complete a CAPTCHA?

Here's the official explanation from NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth: "The control is the first aspect of the catch. The second aspect is two feet or a body part in bounds, which he did have. Then the third step is an act common to the game, and before he could get the third foot down, the ball was ripped out."

Cool, cool, cool. So he controlled it. He got two feet down. But he didn't complete an act common to the game. You know what's an act common to the game? CATCHING THE BALL AND SCORING A TOUCHDOWN.

Tony Romo and Jim Nantz both thought it was a touchdown on the CBS broadcast. John Harbaugh's head was about to spin off his body. Lamar Jackson said his frustration level was "through the roof" after the game. The Ravens outgained the Steelers by 102 yards and out-rushed them 217-34, and they still lost.

And you know who's absolutely loving this? The Steelers, who are now 7-6 and in first place in the AFC North. Aaron Rodgers had one of his best games in a Pittsburgh uniform, DK Metcalf went for 148 yards, and somehow the 38-yard Jaylen Warren touchdown where the entire Ravens defense forgot how to tackle was only the second most egregious play of the game.

The real loser here? Football fans who just want to watch the sport without needing a law degree to understand whether someone caught a ball.

Isaiah Likely is now 0-for-2 in the "crucial plays in the end zone" department after fumbling out of the back of the end zone on Thanksgiving. The guy is being haunted by that painted rectangle. Someone needs to sage his locker.

Ravens host the Patriots next week at 11-2. Cool, cool, cool.