Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats
Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs extended their dominance over a key AFC rival with a 27-20 victory in a thrilling season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
The game was decided by a narrow margin, with tight end Isaiah Likely’s potential game-winning touchdown being nullified due to a toe grazing the out-of-bounds line in the final moments.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs, supported by rookie receiver Xavier Worthy's two-touchdown performance. Kansas City, picking up right where they left off after their Super Bowl victory, looks poised for a serious bid at a three-peat.
For the Ravens, quarterback Lamar Jackson fell to 1-5 in his career matchups against Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy to reinvigorate their offense with explosive plays. While he might not always replicate his debut performance, his impact was evident on Thursday night.
Worthy seamlessly integrated into a receiving corps that also features Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown. Although Brown missed the game against the Ravens due to a shoulder injury, he is expected to return early in the season.
In his NFL debut, Worthy made an immediate impression, scoring on a 21-yard run and later adding a 35-yard touchdown reception. While he may not always score twice per game, he’s expected to make the most of his opportunities, even if his touches are limited.
Quarterback Breakdown: Patrick Mahomes had a solid performance overall, completing 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards and surpassing Len Dawson as the Chiefs' all-time leading passer. However, he made a critical mistake late in the first half by forcing a pass that was intercepted, which allowed the Ravens to score a field goal.
Eye-Popping Advanced Stat: Receiver Rashee Rice, who caught seven passes for 103 yards, had 72 of those yards after the catch, marking the second-highest total in his career. Mahomes frequently found him as he maneuvered through defenders or exploited coverage gaps. — Adam Teicher
Next Game: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ season opener mirrored the ending of their previous season, with a frustrating loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
In a rematch of the AFC Championship Game, the Ravens fell to 1-5 against Mahomes, who continues to be a challenging opponent for them. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson boasts an impressive 60-19 record (.759) against the rest of the league, including the postseason.
During the final drive, Jackson managed to advance the Ravens to the Kansas City 10-yard line, where he had three opportunities to score. He missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone and appeared to throw a game-winning 10-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely as time expired. However, Likely’s right foot was out of bounds, nullifying the touchdown.
Despite Jackson’s best efforts, including his ninth game with at least 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing—the most in NFL history—the Ravens struggled to match Mahomes’ big plays. Mahomes now has 14 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in his career against Baltimore.
Quarterback Breakdown: Jackson’s performance was marred by struggles in the red zone. In the first half, he completed just 1-of-4 passes for 9 yards inside the 20-yard line, with two off-target throws and a batted pass to a wide-open Justice Hill. This is a significant drop from his 68% completion rate in the red zone last season. Additionally, Jackson fumbled at his own 13-yard line in the second quarter, leading to a Chiefs field goal. He has lost four fumbles in six games against Kansas City.
Troubling Trend: The Chiefs have consistently neutralized tight end Mark Andrews, Jackson’s preferred target. Andrews wasn’t targeted until five minutes into the second half and ended the game with only two catches for 14 yards. In his last five games against Kansas City, Andrews averaged just 21.8 receiving yards and did not score any touchdowns.
Eye-Popping Stat: With 122 rushing yards, Jackson surpassed Russell Wilson for third place on the all-time rushing list for quarterbacks. Jackson now trails only Michael Vick (6,109 yards) and Cam Newton (5,628 yards), despite having played just 87 career games compared to their 140+.
Biggest Question: What are the implications of the Ravens' loss? While it’s early in the season, this defeat highlights the ongoing challenge the Ravens face against Mahomes. With this loss, the Ravens face increased uncertainty about their ability to overcome Mahomes and potentially face him again in the playoffs. After missing this chance at a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker, the path to the Super Bowl may well go through Arrowhead Stadium, where Jackson is 0-3. — Jamison Hensley
Next Game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)
