Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens TE unafraid of possible season opener vs. Chiefs

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/9/24

During a Thursday appearance on the "Up and Adams" podcast, Isaiah Likely said he wasn't worried about a possible Week 1 matchup against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Baltimore Ravens tight end pointed to what happened the last time his team was an underdog and why the group didn't need to fear the Chiefs.

The most recent time Baltimore wasn't the favorite was in Week 16 last season on Christmas Day against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens were six-point road underdogs but defeated the Niners 33-19.

#Ravens TE Isaiah Likely on potentially facing the Chiefs in the Week 1 ring ceremony game...

"I mean last time they had us as the underdogs we were playing San Fran and you saw what happened..."@DaGorilla4 @heykayadams #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/TPKvjMkMqh
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 9, 2024

"Wherever [the Chiefs] are, wherever they match up on that schedule, we're gonna be there. 10 toes, every guy there, ready for everything that happens," Likely said. "I mean, last time they had us as the underdogs, we were playing San Fran, and you saw what happened when everyone talks about us like how we ain't ready for this moment, how everybody hoopla hoopla. We gonna come 10 toes ready for anything every time."

Likely's club was then the favorite for its final two regular-season games (a win against the Miami Dolphins and a loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers) and its two playoff contests. Baltimore was 9.5-point favorites entering its Divisional Round home win against the Houston Texans and four-point favorites going into its AFC Championship Game home loss vs. Kansas City.

With star tight end Mark Andrews being limited to 10 games last season due to injury, Likely became one of quarterback Lamar Jackson's favorite targets during his second MVP campaign.

The former fourth-round pick finished tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions (five) and fourth in receiving yards (411) despite ranking only sixth in targets (40).

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