Lamar Jackson missed TDs: Ravens QB whiffs on critical throws to Zay Flowers, Isaiah Likely late in loss to Chiefs

Dan Treacy

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Lamar Jackson missed TDs: Ravens QB whiffs on critical throws to Zay Flowers, Isaiah Likely late in loss to Chiefs image

Lamar Jackson accounted for 395 total yards in the Ravens' season opener against the Chiefs on Thursday, but there were 10 more he needed to get to walk away with a win. 

Jackson made magic happen with his legs throughout the game, only to burn the Chiefs' defense with a massive 38-yard completion to Rashod Bateman in the final minute of the fourth quarter. The play set the Ravens up with a dream scenario: as many as three shots at the end zone, with only a touchdown needed to tie or even win the game.

The ball reached the end zone three times, but only once did it land in the hands of a Ravens pass-catcher — and never did it land in the hands of a Ravens pass-catcher who had two feet in bounds.

Here's a look at the missed touchdown throws by Jackson that decided Thursday night's NFL opener.

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Lamar Jackson missed TD passes vs. Chiefs

The Ravens seemed fortunate just to find themselves in a position to tie or win the game after trailing throughout the second half, but they wound up with a chance to exact a little bit of revenge for last season's AFC championship defeat when they set up 10 yards from the end zone with 18 seconds remaining.

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Jackson had a relatively clean pocket on the first play but managed to launch a pass to an open Isaiah Likely in the back corner of the end zone. The throw sailed too high for Likely, who was defended well by Bryan Cook and fell so hard to the ground that he writhed in pain for more than a minute after the play.

The break did give the Ravens extra time to drum up a play, and the scheme they came up with was a beauty. Zay Flowers got himself wide open in the middle of the end zone, but Jackson badly missed him, throwing behind the second-year receiver and failing to score a touchdown that would have given Baltimore a chance to win.

To possibly make matters worse, depending how you look at it, Jackson said he wasn't originally intending to throw to Flowers on that play after the game. He saw Rashod Bateman breaking free, according to Giana Han of the Baltimore Banner.

The final play of the game wasn't necessarily an errant throw from Jackson, but the result was the same. Jackson threw to Likely in the back of the end zone, but the tight end had one foot on the line and was ruled out of bounds after a review. It was a high pass by Jackson, but that's often what's needed to avoid a turnover. 

The raw numbers were impressive for Jackson in Thursday's loss, but his performance was immediately overshadowed by two colossal missed opportunities to potentially knock off the defending champions. John Harbaugh appeared to be planning to attempt a two-point conversion if the Ravens scored, as he often chooses to do rather than playing for overtime. 

Jackson will aim to get the Ravens in the win column against the Raiders in Week 2 before a gauntlet of matchups with the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals. 

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy Photo

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.