The Kansas City Chiefs opened their 2024 season with a 27-20 nail-biter victory over the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Under the bright red lights of Arrowhead, the Chiefs unveiled their fourth Super Bowl championship banner and followed it up with a hard-fought victory, starting the season at 1-0. This game, a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship, lived up to the hype, delivering intense moments and big plays.
First Half
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The Ravens struck first, with quarterback Lamar Jackson utilizing a balanced attack of runs by running back Derrick Henry and passes to wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs’ defense struggled to contain this dual threat, allowing Baltimore to score on their first offensive possession with a Henry rushing touchdown, capping off a long drive. The Chiefs responded swiftly, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading a five-play, 67-yard drive, which was capped off by a 21-yard touchdown run by rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, tying the game 7-7.
The Chiefs‘ defense rebounded on the next series, but the offense stalled due to relentless pressure on Mahomes, resulting in a sack and a three-and-out to close out the first quarter. The second quarter opened with a play by defensive tackle Chris Jones, and the ball was recovered by rookie defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, giving the Chiefs an opportunity in Ravens territory.
However, after two dropped potential touchdowns, they settled for a Harrison Butker field goal, taking a 10-7 lead. Defensive back Trent McDuffie’s open-field tackle on the next series halted the Ravens once again. The Chiefs regained possession but had to settle for another field goal, entering halftime up 13-7.
Second Half
The Chiefs received the ball to open the second half. Mahomes connected on a 34-yard pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who finished the night with 7 receptions for 103 yards. This completion was followed by a 25-yard completion to wide receiver Justin Watson. Isiah Pacheco finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, ending his night with 15 carries for 47 yards, extending Kansas City’s lead to 20-10.
Defensively, Jaylen Watson continued to shine, coming up with a timely pass breakup on a deep pass intended for Flowers, forcing another Ravens punt. Watson also had a team-high 11 total tackles, with six being solo.
Xavier Worthy further solidified his breakout performance, scoring his second touchdown of the night on a 35-yard reception, giving the Chiefs a 27-10 lead. Jackson and the Ravens cut into this lead in the second half, bringing it down to 27-20 largely due to Jackson’s scrambling plays and his connection with tight end Isaiah Likely. Linebacker Leo Chenal, who was the spy on Jackson, made timely plays throughout the game, allowing the Chiefs to edge out this victory over the Ravens.
Final Thoughts
Despite the win, the Chiefs have a lot to address before next week’s game. While it was a strong start to the season, they committed six penalties, including recurring issues from last season like offensive holding and false starts. Additionally, there were timing issues on offense, which can be fixed with time but cost them multiple scoring opportunities. On defense, players like linebacker Nick Bolton and safety Bryan Cook had off nights; both were frequently out of position, missed key tackles, and appeared sluggish.
Up next, the Chiefs face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, September 15, at 4:25 p.m. EDT. The Bengals have beaten the Chiefs every time they’ve met in the regular season. Kansas City will need to correct their self-inflicted mistakes and focus on details like hand placement, timing, and tackling to avoid relying solely on Mahomes’ brilliance for success.
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