Ravens’ comeback falls a toe brief vs. Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs managed to proceed their stretch of dominance over a key AFC rival, profitable 27-20 in a season-opening heartbreaker for the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday evening.

The sport got here all the way down to tight finish Isaiah Doubtless’s toe being out of bounds on a would-be landing within the last seconds.

Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a two-touchdown efficiency from rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs picked up the place they left off within the Tremendous Bowl and look to be legit contenders for the elusive three-peat.

In the meantime, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fell to 1-5 in his profession in opposition to Mahomes.

Listed here are the keys to the sport:

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

The Chiefs drafted Worthy to assist deliver the large play again to their offense. He will not at all times do it as properly going ahead as he did in his NFL debut, however judging from Thursday evening, he’ll have a huge impact.

Worthy seemed like he matches in properly with a large receiver group that features Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown. Brown did not play in opposition to the Ravens due to a shoulder harm however ought to return early within the season.

Worthy scored a landing on a 21-yard run the primary time he acquired the ball in an NFL recreation. Within the fourth quarter, he caught a 35-yard landing go. Although he will not at all times rating twice in a recreation, search for Worthy to have this sort of impression. He will not essentially get a excessive quantity of touches, however he’ll profit from these he will get.

QB breakdown: Mahomes made a vital mistake by forcing a throw late within the first half that was intercepted. That price the Chiefs an opportunity at some factors and arrange the Ravens with good discipline place, which they used to kick a discipline objective. In any other case, it was a strong recreation from Mahomes. He accomplished 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards whereas topping Len Dawson because the Chiefs’ all-time main passer.

Eye-popping superior stat: WR Rice, who caught seven passes for 103 yards, had 72 of these yards after the catch, the second most in a recreation in his profession. Mahomes was usually capable of finding him when he was transferring up the sphere with a defender trailing or in any other case in a seam in protection. — Adam Teicher

Subsequent recreation: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens’ season started the way in which their final season ended — with a irritating defeat to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

In a rematch of the AFC Championship Sport, Thursday evening’s loss dropped Jackson and the Ravens to 1-5 in opposition to Mahomes. Jackson is 60-19 (.759) in opposition to the remainder of the league, together with the postseason.

On the ultimate drive, Jackson drove the Ravens all the way down to the Kansas Metropolis 10-yard line, the place he had three pictures to the top zone. Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers ultimately zone after which appeared to throw a 10-yard landing to Doubtless as time expired. However Doubtless’s proper foot hit the top line, which led to the rating being overturned.

The reigning Most Priceless Participant, Jackson did all he may to maintain Baltimore in it together with his ninth recreation of 200 yards passing and 100 yards dashing, essentially the most in NFL historical past. Even together with his efficiency, the Ravens could not sustain with the large performs from Mahomes, who now has 14 landing passes and three interceptions in his profession in opposition to Baltimore.

QB breakdown: Probably the most irritating a part of Jackson’s recreation was his play contained in the 20-yard line. Within the first half, Jackson completed 1-of-4 for 9 yards within the pink zone with two off-target throws, together with a batted-down go to a large open Justice Hill. This was a lot totally different from final season, when Jackson accomplished 68% of his pink zone passes. Additionally, Jackson fumbled at his personal 13-yard line within the second quarter, leading to a Chiefs discipline objective. Jackson has misplaced 4 fumbles in six video games in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.

Troubling development: The Chiefs proceed to remove tight finish Mark Andrews, who has been Jackson’s favourite goal. Andrews wasn’t focused till 5 minutes into the second half and completed the sport with two catches for 14 yards. In his earlier 5 conferences with Kansas Metropolis, Andrews had averaged 21.8 yards receiving and scored no touchdowns.

Eye-popping stat: With 122 dashing yards, a slimmed-down Jackson moved previous Russell Wilson for third place on the all-time dashing record for quarterbacks. Jackson trails solely Michael Vick (6,109 yards dashing) and Cam Newton (5,628). However Vick and Newton performed in over 140 video games. Thursday evening was Jackson’s 87th profession recreation.

Greatest query: What are the ramifications of the Ravens’ loss? When you cannot overreact to a Week 1 defeat, this opener confirmed as soon as once more that Mahomes has the Ravens’ quantity. Baltimore knew it could not even the rating from final season’s AFC Championship Sport loss, however the Ravens left Thursday with much more uncertainty about whether or not they can upend Mahomes. After dropping this potential head-to-head tiebreaker, the Ravens’ street to the Tremendous Bowl may need to undergo Arrowhead, the place Jackson is 0-3. — Jamison Hensley

Subsequent recreation: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)