TE Isaiah Likely on his connection with J.J. McCarthy

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

So Isaiah, his first thing I had to ask you is about the 60-plus yard touchdown that gave you guys the lead there in the fourth quarter. What happened on that play to break you free, and at that point, did you think that, you know, things were gonna wind up going your way tonight?

Isaiah Likely (0:15)

I mean, Coach Nagy caught a great play, JJ threw a great ball, saw them at Greengrass, they gave me a great open field block, and at that point, you just gotta score. And, I mean, there was a lot of time still left on the clock, you know, never wanna look too far ahead, but we knew that we put ourselves in a great position.

SPEAKER_1 (0:30)

Your defense comes up with a couple of picks in the final, I guess it was six and a half minutes or whatever it was. As an offense, how frustrating is that to see them come up with those turnovers and then not be able to put the game away?

Isaiah Likely (0:43)

Very frustrating. I mean, you know, defense gives you two opportunities in the game, especially on down the distance, down the distance is where you feel like you could get it. So, you know, as an offense, that's frustrating, you know, going to the sideline, keep putting them in positions to go out there and try to ice the game again. They've been doing a great job. You know, this year, when they're playing situations, ice the game, but as an offense, we've got to look ourselves in the mirror and be able to do that ourselves.

SPEAKER_1 (1:04)

You guys have been so good in the clutch, down in these dramatic finishes this year. What was the mentality of the guys as you went out there for your final offensive drive in the huddle, knowing that you had to at least get three points to send this game to overtime or perhaps win it?

Isaiah Likely (1:19)

To win.

SPEAKER_1 (1:22)

Was the confidence as high as you wanted it to be?

Isaiah Likely (1:24)

Absolutely. I mean, anytime, whenever there's time on the clock, there's always a chance. So everybody in the huddle knowing that, you know, we had a job to do when we go out there.

SPEAKER_4 (1:32)

Take us through the touchdown catch from your perspective.

Isaiah Likely (1:37)

Seeing Millfield open, turned my eyes when JJ threw the ball, threw a great ball, caught the ball, seen them with green grass and leak in front of me, had to go score.

SPEAKER_4 (1:48)

Did you think he could get that to you? I mean, there was a guy like right in front of his face.

Isaiah Likely (1:51)

Yeah, me and JJ talked, you know, this whole week about, you know, the pressure looks, zero looks, and, you know, where to be at the right time. So, you know, JJ trusted me to be at that spot. I was at that spot and made a play.

SPEAKER_3 (2:03)

Isaiah, you guys had a huge opportunity to kind of separate yourselves tonight. How difficult is that to deal with and just kind of come back, you know, put that out of your mind and move forward?

Isaiah Likely (2:13)

Very frustrating. I mean, you know, when you want to be one of the best teams in the league, you got to be able to ice the game, be ice. So, you know, got to watch the film, got to see where we get better. And next time we get this opportunity, you got to be able to finish.

SPEAKER_4 (2:26)

How much do you miss the opportunity to take control or, you know, grab the division and maybe bury some of the other teams?

Isaiah Likely (2:35)

Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, when you give teams life, give them hope to win games. And that's exactly what, you know, we did towards the end and just got to be able to be better as offense, be able to ice those games.

SPEAKER_5 (2:48)

John Harbaugh was saying, like, he was saying he wants to keep it in perspective. Like, it's one that got away, but there will be other opportunities. That was the message he wanted to give to you guys. Do you feel like that's how the locker room is responding to this?

Isaiah Likely (3:00)

Absolutely. I mean, at the end of the day, it is one game. Obviously, we're going to be frustrated because, you know, it's a game that we should have had.

Had two great opportunities to ice the game. But in the grand scheme of things, it is one game. But obviously, you don't want to just give a game away.