Football is officially BACK! Man, does it feel great to say/read that or what!? On Thursday night, the two-time defending champions Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the 2024 NFL season with a home game against the Baltimore Ravens. For both teams, they began the 2024 campaign exactly how they left 2023: the Chiefs prevailed in a thriller, and the Ravens suffered another one-score loss to Kansas City, as Baltimore fell 27-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Once more, the Ravens could not overcome their primary rivals in the AFC. Last season, Baltimore’s year came to an end with a 17-10 home loss in the conference championship to the Chiefs. Despite the Ravens pitching a second half shutout (thanks to Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, the then-defensive coordinator) reigning MVP Lamar Jackson could not muster enough offense to dethrone Kansas City.
Ultimately, this was stil the case, despite both teams scoring 10 points more, each. The only difference here is the Ravens defense was able to get one last stop while the Chiefs were trying to ice the game, which gave Jackson a final chance to tie the game. An opportunity he very nearly completed, as Jackson got Baltimore’s offense to the Kansas City 10-yard line, thanks to a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman with less than a minute left to play.
But that was all she wrote, as Jackson missed open receivers on first and second down which would have given the Ravens a touchdown. With five seconds left, Jackson found tight end Isaiah Likely for what was initially called a touchdown! Until it was overturned due to the most unfortunate out of bounds call we’ve seen in a while.
It’s a game of inches.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1831903953250136219
The heartbreaking ending for Baltimore spoiled an otherwise spectacular night from both Jackson and Likely. Jackson completed 26-of-41 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, as well as leading the Ravens on the ground with 16 rushes for 122 yards. Likely hauled in nine receeptions for 111 yards and a score.
Of course, it’s hard to overcome Kansas City when Patrick Mahomes is on the other sideline. Mahomes was a crisp 20-of-28 for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception from being hit while throwing. The breakout star of the night was rookie Xavier Worthy from Texas, who scored his first touchdown on his very first play, rushing 21 yards for a touchdown. Worthy also hauled in a 35-yard score to give the Chiefs a 27-17 lead.
As it stands, the Seahawks are not scheduled to face either of these teams in 2024. Of course, theoretically, they could always meet in New Orleans on Feburary 9th, 2025.
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