Chiefs Edge Ravens 27-20 in 2024 NFL Season Opener

Patrick Mahomes briefly thought the Chiefs were headed to overtime, as did Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson had connected with Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone for what seemed to be a game-tying touchdown as time expired. However, the outcome of the NFL season opener on Thursday night hinged on a video review by referee Shawn Hochuli.

In front of a packed stadium that included pop star Taylor Swift, Hochuli quickly determined that Likely had landed with his toe on the end line, rendering him out of bounds. This crucial call preserved a 27-20 victory for the Chiefs, who began their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl title.

“Definitely nerve-wracking because it looked good from my angle,” Mahomes admitted, “but then the first view showed his cleat. … He needs to wear white cleats next time. That’s my advice.”

Mahomes threw for 291 yards and a touchdown to rookie Xavier Worthy, who also rushed for a score in his NFL debut. The Chiefs secured a win in the rematch of last season’s AFC Championship game, marking their fifth victory in six matchups against the Ravens.

Jackson, who has dubbed Kansas City the Ravens’ “kryptonite,” was exceptional with 273 passing yards, a touchdown, and an additional 122 yards rushing. However, the replay review of the final play left him frustrated, as he fell short of a breakthrough win over Mahomes and the Chiefs.

“I thought it was a touchdown,” Jackson said. “Still think it was a touchdown.”

Down 27-17 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens narrowed the gap with a field goal and regained possession at their 13-yard line with 1:50 left and no timeouts. Jackson connected with Likely for several key plays, including a scramble for a vital first down. A 38-yard pass to Rashod Bateman moved the Ravens to the Kansas City 10 with just 19 seconds left.

After an initial throwaway, Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the back of the end zone. On the final play, Jackson scrambled for what felt like forever before finding Likely, who appeared to have forced overtime — until the review negated the touchdown.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh had planned to attempt a 2-point conversion to win the game, but the opportunity never came.

“Our guys fought hard,” Harbaugh said. “It looked like we had a chance to tie the game and win, but it didn’t happen in the end.”

The dramatic finish followed a 20-minute weather delay caused by heavy rain and lightning. The Ravens opened the game with an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run from Derrick Henry, who had a history of success against the Chiefs from his time with the Titans.

But the Chiefs, determined to avoid a second straight season-opening loss, responded swiftly. Mahomes connected twice with Rashee Rice before Worthy’s 21-yard touchdown run showcased why Kansas City selected him in the first round of the draft.

After those explosive drives, the first half was defined by miscues. Chris Jones strip-sacked Jackson deep in Ravens territory, setting up a Chiefs field goal. Flowers was stopped short on fourth-and-3 near midfield, resulting in another Chiefs field goal. Even reliable kicker Justin Tucker missed a 53-yard attempt wide left.

The Chiefs made their own mistakes. Mahomes threw a late first-half interception to Roquan Smith, which led to a Ravens field goal that cut Kansas City’s halftime lead to 13-10 — a rare occurrence for Baltimore, which only trailed twice at halftime last season.

Ultimately, Baltimore’s failure to capitalize in the red zone proved costly. The Chiefs opened the second half with an 81-yard touchdown drive, and though Jackson found Likely for a 49-yard touchdown on a broken play, Mahomes answered with a 70-yard drive, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 27-17 with 10 minutes remaining.

Tucker’s field goal made it a one-score game with under five minutes left, and the Ravens’ defense forced a quick punt. But despite Jackson’s heroic efforts, Baltimore fell short once again against Kansas City.

“It was a fight to the end,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “When they say it’s a game of inches, sometimes it’s even shorter than that.”

Stars in the Crowd

Alongside Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, other celebrities attending the NFL’s season opener included Olympic 400-meter champion Quincy Hall and AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, who is set to join the U.S. national team for an exhibition against Canada in Kansas City on Saturday.

Injuries

Baltimore: Linebacker Kyle Van Noy left the game in the second half due to an eye injury and did not return.

Upcoming Games

Ravens: Host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Chiefs: Host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 15.