KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New season, more drama, same outcome.
The Chiefs began Thursday night by unfurling their Super Bowl championship banner in front of a raucous crowd and ended it with a 27-20 victory over the Ravens in a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game. And just like when the teams last met at M&T Bank Stadium in January, Baltimore hung it until the end but couldn’t overcome self-inflicted wounds that proved costly against the two-time defending champions.
In the first showdown of players who have each won at least two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards to kick off a season, quarterback Lamar Jackson kept the Ravens in it until the game’s final play, when he hit tight end Isaiah Likely from 10 yards out for what was initially ruled a touchdown before the call was overturned by replay with the tight end’s toe out of bounds as he came down with the ball in the back of the end zone.
Baltimore’s early miscues created the need for a comeback bid, as the Ravens committed seven penalties, four of which were on a revamped and inexperienced offensive line for illegal formation for lining up in the backfield. Three of those were on left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Meanwhile, a penalty on linebacker Roquan Smith for a horse-collar tackle on the Chiefs’ opening possession helped set up one touchdown, while a third-quarter roughing penalty on defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike led to another.
In between, the Ravens’ defense and first-year coordinator Zach Orr had few answers for the Chiefs’ speedy and potent offense. Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Rashee Rice had seven catches for 103 yards and rookie receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown along with one carry for 21 yards and another score.
Jackson, who is the league’s reigning MVP, completed 26 of 41 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 122 yards on 16 carries to lead Baltimore’s rushing attack. But it still wasn’t enough.
After the Chiefs took a 13-10 into the second half, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (15 carries, 45 yards) scored from 1 yard out following the penalty on Madubuike.
On the Ravens’ next possession, Jackson was unable to connect on a deep pass to Likely in one-on-one coverage, then under-threw Zay Flowers, who had a step on cornerback Jaylen Watson. After the Ravens’ defense forced a Kansas City punt, Jackson, however, did connect with Likely as he scrambled and hit him for a 49-yard score to cut the deficit to three.
The Ravens’ defense, which last season was the first to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game, struggled to contain or even pressure Mahomes.
In last year’s AFC title game, Baltimore shut out the Chiefs in the second half and held Mahomes to 98 passing yards in the final 30 minutes.
But when Baltimore needed a stop, it couldn’t get one. Mahomes, who was the league’s MVP in 2018 and 2022, marched Kansas City 70 yards in eight plays in the third quarter, hitting Rice for an 8-yard gain on the drive’s first play and Worthy on its last as he broke free behind cornerback Marlon Humphrey and was uncovered for an easy 35-yard touchdown.
Baltimore cut the deficit to a seven with a 32-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, who was 2-for-3 on the night, including a missed 53-yard attempt that went wide left with 1:55 left in the second quarter.
When the Ravens finally did stop Mahomes, forcing a Kansas City punt with 1:55 remaining, they got the ball back at their own 13-yard line with no timeouts, having burned two of them early in the third quarter. Jackson drove Baltimore to the Chiefs’ 10-yard-line, highlighted by receiver Rashod Bateman’s leaping 38-yard grab that helped set up the game’s final play.
This article will be updated.
Home opener
Raiders at Ravens
Sunday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
