The Baltimore Ravens were undone by the touchback rule against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Lamar Jackson's would-be 44-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely becoming a turnover due to an ill-timed fumble
22:44 ET, 27 Nov 2025Updated 22:56 ET, 27 Nov 2025
Isaiah Likely fumbled at the goalline to suffer a brutal turnover via touchback
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Isaiah Likely fumbled at the goalline to suffer a brutal turnover via touchback(Image: Getty Images)
Fans furiously labeled the touchback the “dumbest rule in football” after the Baltimore Ravens fell foul of the rule on Thanksgiving.
On Thursday, after the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions fell to the Green Bay Packers, the Ravens hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. The primetime contest signaled the return of Joe Burrow, who had been out since Week 2 with a turf toe injury.
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Burrow is returning in a huge AFC North showdown. The Bengals are languishing at 3-8, but the Ravens entered the Thanksgiving clash with an overall record of 6-5 while sitting atop the division.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are also 6-4, losing four of their last six games to allow the Ravens back into the race. With Lamar Jackson back from injury, Baltimore appears well positioned to take control of their destiny and potentially reach the postseason.
However, there are some concerns over the two-time MVP’s recent performances with even his mother ‘cussing him out’ amid speculation he rushed back. Jackson struggled through the first half against the Bengals, suffering two fumbles as part of three Ravnes offensive turnovers.
The other came from Isaiah Likely, who was hit by Jackson on a long completion down the middle. After busting a move on the Cincinnati secondary, Likely broke free and made a run all the way for the end zone - but the tight end made an ill-advised attempt to reach out for the goal line and ended up losing control of the ball before crossing the plane.
As a result, the potential 44-yard touchdown became a touchback to the Bengals. Naturally, fans lashed out and insisted the rule is poor.
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“Fumble through the endzone being a touchback is the dumbest rule in football, why does the other team get the ball,” wrote one fan. Another said: “The NFL really needs to change the fumble into the end zone is a touchback rule. Dumbest rule in football. Just put the ball at the spot of the fumble if nobody recovers it before it goes out of bounds.”
“This is the worst rule in football,” another fan added. “This being a touchback defies all logical reason.”
“That touchback rule really a killer,” another posted. “A fumble out of the Endzone resulting in a Touchback for the defense is the DUMBEST rule in football,” one more wrote.
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One fan defended the rule, though: “Protect the football in the red zone, should be punished for it. It makes players be more careful when extending the ball to the goal line.”