When the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers clash, drama is guaranteed. But after their Week 14 showdown, the conversation wasn’t just about the rivalry, it was about a single, game-deciding mistake that has a Hall of Famer questioning a young star’s fundamentals.
What Did Shannon Sharpe Say About Isaiah Likely?
The Steelers’ visit to Baltimore delivered plenty of suspense, but the game hinged on one controversial moment in the end zone. Isaiah Likely appeared to have a go-ahead touchdown, but officials ruled the catch incomplete because he failed to complete a “football move,” specifically, making three steps while possessing the ball.
Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson broke down the play on “Nightcap,” referencing a postgame reaction from Ravens receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
“13 years in this league, how many steps do you need in the end zone for a TD?” Hopkins posted. While Johnson clarified that a receiver needs three steps, Sharpe focused his frustration entirely on Likely’s technique.
“How many times, Likely, are you gonna get the ball punched out?” Sharpe asked. “Remember, Ocho, he tried to switch the ball against Cincinnati, and he got it knocked out. Now, go back to the first touchdown that he got, and see what he did. He secured it.”
Sharpe criticized Likely’s overall approach, suggesting the tight end prioritizes flash over fundamentals.
“You don’t get style points for touchdowns,” he said. “All he had to do was secure it. Why?”
The Hall of Famer pointed back to the Ravens’ Thanksgiving game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that contest, Likely also had the ball knocked loose in the end zone, a mistake that cost Baltimore a touchdown.
“You saw him on Thanksgiving,” Sharpe continued. “He did the same thing, and it got knocked out, and it was a touchback. Actions without consequences, no lesson can be learned. You would’ve thought the actions that he had Thursday night on Thanksgiving would’ve taught him a lesson. … But guess what? He didn’t learn.”
This mistake had massive consequences for the AFC North race. Both teams entered the matchup at 6-6, fighting for the division lead. With the loss, Baltimore drops to 6-7 and faces a steep climb to reach the postseason.
The Ravens are now on the outside looking in. To sneak into the playoffs behind Pittsburgh, they will need to outpace tough competition, including the 9-4 Buffalo Bills, the 8-5 Houston Texans, and the 9-4 LA Chargers.
