Over the past seven seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC, establishing themselves as the team to beat. In that time, they’ve developed fierce rivalries with several top contenders in the conference. While the Buffalo Bills often draw the most attention as Kansas City’s primary rival, the Baltimore Ravens have emerged as another major challenger.
After a dramatic and controversial regular-season battle last year, the Chiefs and Ravens are set to clash again in Week 4. Expectations are high for another thrilling matchup. On Thursday, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely joined Up & Adams with Kay Adams to reflect on last year’s fiery finish and preview the upcoming rematch.
When Adams asked if he’d be wearing white cleats this time around, Likely smiled and said, “Oh no, see, I feel like everybody’s waiting for me to wear the white cleats, but in my head, just being the bad little kid, I want to wear the black ones again and score the exact same way.”
Isaiah Likely’s Determination Pays Off for Chiefs in 2025 Season
In a rematch of last season’s dramatic opener, the Ravens and Chiefs once again found themselves in the spotlight. That previous game ended in controversy for Baltimore fans after Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely appeared to score a crucial touchdown. He hauled in a ten-yard pass from Lamar Jackson, but after review, officials ruled that Likely’s toes had just touched the sideline, nullifying the score.
While his black cleats made it clear he was out of bounds, some Ravens fans still felt robbed of a chance to tie the game and force overtime. Interestingly, Isaiah Likely’s continued preference for black cleats has now become a subtle advantage for the Chiefs. Black cleats make it easier for referees to see when a player steps out of bounds—unlike white cleats, which can blend in with the sideline. If Likely switched to white, he might gain a few extra yards or catches by making close calls harder to judge—potentially shifting momentum away from Kansas City. And if that happened, fans—especially in Baltimore—would have fewer reasons to claim the officials were biased. In any case, Likely’s choice to stick with black cleats ultimately favors the Chiefs. Regardless of footwear, a Ravens-Chiefs matchup is always a high-stakes, heart-pounding showdown.
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