Isaiah Likely fumble: How Bengals' Jordan Battle prevented touchdown vs. Ravens on Thanksgiving

Isaiah Likely fumble: How Bengals' Jordan Battle prevented touchdown vs. Ravens on Thanksgiving originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Ravens have been inching back into playoff contention in recent weeks. On Thanksgiving, they were tasked with a divisional matchup that could put them two games over .500.

Facing a porous Cincinnati Bengals defense at home, the Ravens certainly had some offensive advantages on paper for Thanksgiving. However, with a 7-6 lead in the second quarter, Baltimore had a tough break.

Tight end Isaiah Likely appeared to have scored a 44-yard touchdown on a sprint down the field, but upon further review, he lost control of the football just inches before the goal line.

Here's a look at Likely's unfortunate fumble that cost Baltimore possession against Cincinnati on Thanksgiving.

MORE: Updated look at the Ravens' playoff outlook

Isaiah Likely fumble vs. Bengals

Baltimore had a 7-6 lead in the second quarter of Thursday's matchup, benefiting from a Derrick Henry touchdown run before a pair of Bengals field goals. A Lamar Jackson fumble had already hurt the Ravens, though -- and soon enough, a second fumble deterred their offensive game plan.

Jackson hit Likely in-stride, and the tight end had a clear path to the end zone with Bengals defenders converging on him. But on that last 44th yard Likely needed, the ball came free.

He jumped over a falling defender, but after landing his feet on the ground, the football went bouncing into the end zone for a touchback. It was initially called a touchdown, but the review made things clear; Jordan Battle had hit Likely's hands hard enough to poke the ball free.

Because of the fumble into the end zone, the play resulted in a touchback, and the Bengals took over at their own 20-yard line before taking the lead on another field goal.

For Likely, the play reminded fans of another "almost" highlight he had earlier in his career, a failed toe-tap touchdown reception against the Chiefs.

Fortunately for the tight end, he helped make up for his blunder later in the quarter when Jackson found him for a 30-yard completion.