The NFL's 105th season has begun, and so has the Kansas City Chiefs' quest for a historic Super Bowl three-peat in thrilling fashion.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens. Insight Media |
In front of a raucous Arrowhead Stadium crowd – which included Taylor Swift – the Chiefs celebrated their latest championship by unveiling their banner, then delivered a nail-biting 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in a game that came down to the final play.
Chiefs' star quarterback Patrick Mahomes made history by breaking the franchise's all-time passing yardage record, surpassing the legendary Len Dawson. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who set the NFL combine 40-yard dash record at 4.21 seconds, added his own chapter by scoring both a rushing and a receiving touchdown.
This rematch of last season’s AFC Championship pitted Super Bowl LVIII MVP Mahomes against reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson. The Chiefs controlled the first half with a 13-10 lead and extended it to 20-10 in the third quarter. But Baltimore fought back in the final period, with Jackson connecting on a 49-yard pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, trimming the Chiefs' lead to 20-17.
Mahomes responded swiftly, finding Worthy for a 35-yard touchdown, giving Kansas City a 27-17 advantage. Worthy had already made an impact earlier in the game, scoring on a 21-yard end-around in his first NFL touch.
A dramatic moment came late in the game when Mahomes caught his own deflected pass, preventing a turnover and maintaining the Chiefs' lead. Still, Kansas City was forced to punt, giving Jackson one last chance.
With no timeouts and only seconds left, Jackson led a final drive, connecting with Rashod Bateman for a 38-yard gain. On third-and-goal with five seconds remaining, Jackson targeted Likely for what appeared to be a game-tying touchdown, but a review revealed that Likely's toe was out of bounds. The Chiefs secured the win by a matter of inches.
“It’s a game of inches,” Mahomes said to NBC after the game. “That’s a great football team, and to come out here and get a win at Arrowhead, it’s a way to start off the season.”
Mahomes had a historic night, finishing 20-of-28 for 291 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson completed 26-of-41 for 273 yards and one score. Despite the loss, Jackson expressed disbelief over the overturned touchdown, saying, “I thought it was a touchdown. I still think it was a touchdown.”
The game was delayed by 20 minutes due to a thunderstorm, but once the weather cleared, fans were treated to a rainbow and a thrilling start to the NFL season.
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