[Baltimore Sun] Lamar Jackson does it all but Ravens’ rally comes up short in 27-20 loss to Chiefs
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New season, more drama, same outcome.
The Chiefs began Thursday night by unfurling their Super Bowl championship banner in front of a raucous crowd and ended it with a 27-20 victory over the Ravens in a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game. And just like when the two teams last met at M&T Bank Stadium in January, Baltimore hung it until the end but couldn’t overcome self-inflicted wounds that proved costly against the two-time defending champions.
In the first showdown of players who have each won at least two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards to kick off a season, Lamar Jackson kept the Ravens in it until the game’s final play when he hit tight end Isaiah Likely from 10 yards out for what was initially ruled a touchdown before the call was overturned by replay with the tight end’s toe out of bounds as he came down with the ball in the back of the end zone.
Baltimore’s early miscues created the need for a comeback bid, as the Ravens committed seven penalties, four of which were on a revamped and inexperienced offensive line for illegal formation for lining up in the backfield. Three of those were on left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Meanwhile, a penalty on linebacker Roquan Smith for a horse-collar tackle on the Chiefs’ opening possession helped set up one touchdown, while a third-quarter roughing penalty on defensive tackle Justin Madubuike led to another.
In between, the Ravens’ defense and first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr had few answers for the Chiefs’ speedy and potent offense. Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Rashee Rice had seven catches for 103 yards and rookie receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown along with one carry for 21 yards and another score.
Jackson, who is the league’s reigning MVP, completed 26 of 41 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 122 yards on 16 carries to lead Baltimore’s rushing attack. But it still wasn’t enough.
After the Chiefs took a 13-10 into the second half, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (15 carries, 45 yards) scored from one yard out following the penalty on Madubuike.
On the Ravens’ next possession, Jackson was unable to connect on a deep pass to Likely in one-on-one coverage, then under-threw Zay Flowers, who had a step on cornerback Jaylen Watson. After the Ravens’ defense forced a Kansas City punt, Jackson, however, did connect with Likely as he scrambled and hit him for a 49-yard score to cut the deficit to three points.
The Ravens’ defense, which last season was the first to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game, struggled to contain or even pressure Mahomes.
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In last year’s title game, Baltimore shut out the Chiefs in the second half and held Mahomes to 98 yards passing in the final 30 minutes.
But when Baltimore needed a stop, it couldn’t get one. Mahomes, who was the league’s MVP in 2018 and 2022, marched Kansas City 70 yards in eight plays in the third quarter, hitting Rice for an 8-yard gain on the drive’s first play and Worthy on its last as he broke free behind cornerback Marlon Humphrey for an easy 35-yard touchdown.
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Baltimore cut the deficit to a seven with a 32-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, who was 2-for-3 on the night, including a missed 53-yarder that went wide left with 1:55 left in the second quarter.
When the Ravens finally did stop Mahomes, forcing a Kansas City punt with 1:55 remaining, they got the ball back at their own 13-yard line with no timeouts, having burned two of them early in the third quarter. Jackson drove Baltimore to the Chiefs’ 10-yard-line, highlighted by receiver Rashod Bateman’s leaping 38-yard grab that helped set up the game’s final play.
This article will be updated.
Home opener
Raiders at Ravens
Sunday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m.
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Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner, left, can’t haul in an interception on a pass intended for Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely in the second half Thursday night. (Ed Zurga/AP)
Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner, right, reacts to a missed field goal attempt by Ravens kicker Justin Tucker in the first half Thursday night. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
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