The Kansas City Chiefs opened the 2024 NFL season in exciting fashion, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 on September 6, 2024. With plenty of excitement and drama at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs managed to hold off a late surge from the Ravens for the win. This was more than just any Week 1 game; it was also a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship and did not disappoint the fans of either team.
Chiefs Shine on Offense
Patrick Mahomes was once again the general that led this victory for the Chiefs, passing for 291 yards and having a key touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy. Worthy, in his first NFL game, had not just one but two scores-one a wide receiver’s touchdown reception and another a 21-yard running back score that showed why he was a first-round pick.
It was one of those games that was a constant fight by both offenses, but continuously the Chiefs broke through the Ravens’ defense. Trailing early after a 5-yard rushing touchdown by the Ravens’ Derrick Henry, the Chiefs answered back in a heartbeat just to show how high-powered an offense they can be.
Key Defensive Plays and Costly Mistakes
The game was also very decided by defense, with the Chiefs’ Chris Jones recording a vital strip-sack against Lamar Jackson for a field goal and helping change momentum in favor of Kansas City. For the Ravens, the mistakes continued to add up, from Justin Tucker’s missed field goal-one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL-to trying to keep up with the Chiefs.
Despite the setbacks, though, the Ravens hung in there, in part because of Jackson’s incredible dual-threat effort: 273 passing yards, 122 rushing yards, a spectacular 49-yard touchdown throw to Isaiah Likely among them. But Jackson’s last-ditch attempts for a deadlock were incomplete as a would-be game-tying touchdown was overturned on review, marking another heartbreak for Baltimore against Kansas City .
A Dramatic Finish
The last moments of the game were so intense. Despite being behind 27-17 in the latter stages of the fourth quarter, the Ravens drove down to kick a field goal and made it 27-20. With 1:50 remaining and no timeouts, Jackson engineered a spirited drive that took Baltimore to the Kansas City 10-yard line with just 19 seconds remaining. A would-be overthrow to a wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone and an incomplete pass on the final play sealed the win for the Chiefs and punched their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to build on this great start as they host the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15, while the Baltimore Ravens will look to rebound off this close loss as they head out to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on the same day .
The Chiefs’ defeat against the Ravens made a statement throughout the NFL. With their mighty offense there and some huge plays on the defense, they showed why they are one of the best teams in the league. As both teams head out into the rest of the season, one thing’s for sure-it gets even better as the games go down.