By DJ Harding
The Baltimore Ravens traveled into Arrowhead to make their season debut and left with a 27-20 heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jackson is now 1-5 versus Mahomes which includes a loss in last year’s AFC Championship.
Baltimore went into the new season looking to avenge their postseason exit and gave everyone that belief after the opening drive. The Ravens on their first drive of the season went 70 yards on 11 plays which was capped off by a 5 yard rushing touchdown from newcomer Derrick Henry.
Henry would tie Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis for 11th all-time in rushing touchdowns with that score as Baltimore took a 7-0 lead.
The Chiefs would answer right back on their first drive of the season that ended with a 21 yard rushing touchdown from rookie Xaiver Worthy. Worthy, who was selected in the first round by the Chiefs and broke the 40 yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine scored on his first touch of his NFL career.
The game was then tied 7-7 and would have the same score by the end of the first quarter. Baltimore would start a drive to begin the second that would only last one play as Chris Jones would strip sack Lamar Jackson and give the Chiefs the ball.
Kansas City converted off the turnover and hit a field goal giving the Chiefs a three point lead. The Ravens would then turn the ball over on downs which led to another Chiefs field goal.
The Ravens were then down 13-7 before Justin Tucker missed a field goal from 53 yards. But after a Roquan Smith interception off of Patrick Mahomes, Tucker would make a field goal from 25 yards as the first half came to a close with Baltimore trailing 13-10.
Coming out the half Kansas City would extend their lead after traveling 81 yards down the field and scoring on a Isaiah Pachecho rushing touchdown. The Chiefs would hold this 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
Opening the fourth Lamar Jackson would find Isaiah Likely on a pass that Likely would take 49 yards to the endzone to bring the Ravens within three points.
Similar to the opening drives of the game Kansas City would respond right back as Xaiver Worthy would find himself in the endzone once again with a 39 yard Receiving Touchdown that capped off a 8 play 70 yard drive.
Baltimore was once again down 10 points with the game coming to a close. The Ravens would get a field goal from Justin Tucker and then force Kansas City to punt, giving the 2023 NFL MVP a chance to tie the game up with a two minute drill.
Jackson led the Ravens down the field and got into the Red Zone with 43 seconds left. After two complete passes including a missed opportunity to an open Zay Flowers, Baltimore would have one more shot to tie the game.
Jackson with four seconds left got a shot into the endzone to Isaiah Likely which at first glance looked to be a game tying touchdown. As the entire world thought overtime was upon us a review would show that Likely when coming down with the ball would touch out of bounds with the tip of his foot.
The game would end with the Chiefs victorious 27-20 in a game that was won by mere inches. Coach Harbuagh spoke to the media post game and made a comment on the emotions of the ending saying “ We’re not going to talk about emotions. You’re disappointed. I don’t know what it looked like on the replay, so I can’t say.”
Likely the center of the devastating loss had a incredible game despite the rough ending with 111 receiving yards and a touchdown off of nine catches.
Likely postgame would be asked about his takeaway from the game saying “ “I’d say this is probably the worst game we’re going to play all year, so if this is the best that they’ve got, good luck in the postseason.”
The Ravens will have a chance to get in the win column next Sunday when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener which is scheduled to have a 1:00PM EST kickoff.
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