Chiefs begin Super Bowl defending campaign with close win over Ravens

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 in the National Football League (NFL) season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday. The home team's quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of his 28 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

The Chiefs' newly-drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy scored a touchdown when he touched the ball for the first time in the first quarter when he completed a 21-yard run. His speed of finishing a 40-yard dash in a record-breaking 4.21 seconds at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine made him unstoppable to the Ravens' defenders.

The Chiefs' second touchdown came from their running back Isiah Pacheco in the third quarter. He rushed toward the end zone but was stopped in the crowd. When players of the two sides were deadlocked in front of the end zone, Mahomes threw himself to the crowd, enabling Pacheco to score the touchdown.

Harrison Butker made two field goals (FGs), one from 32 yards and the other from 31 in the second quarter to add six points for the Chiefs while converting both of their extra-point attempts. His Rabens counterpart Justin Tucker made one FG from 25 yards after missing a 53-yard kick.

Baltimore's QB Lamar Jackson completed 26 of his 41 passes for 273 yards while rushing 122 yards. They scored a touchdown on their first offense of the game. Running back Derrick Henry, who joined the team in March, powered his way into the end zone from five yards.

Jackson made two lethal mistakes in Thursday's game with a fumble at the end of the first quarter and an incomplete pass on a 4th & 3 attack in the second quarter. Kansas City scored on both offense following the two mistakes.

The Ravens began the fourth quarter with a 49-yard connection between Jackson and tight end Isaiah Likely. The play led to the team's second touchdown, cutting their deficit to chasable three points (20-17) after Tucker made the extra-point kick.

However, Baltimore's mistake soon cost them again, and on the defensive end this time. Worthy was left wide open on a 2nd & 10 attack when Mahomes found him from 35 yards. The rookie receiver ran into the end zone easily to extend Kansas City's lead back 10 points (27-17) after Butker converted the extra-point attempt.

Tucker scored a 32-yard FG for the Ravens in this quarter. The team then used their final timeout to draw a defensive play that shut the Chiefs down at their own 42 yards when there were two minutes left. The Ravens then launched the final 11-play rally for 70 yards. Nonetheless, when Likely caught Jackson's pass in the end zone, his right foot touched the boundary line. As a result, the touchdown was ruled out.