With Taylor Swift looking on from her box at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas Chiefs kicked off the 2024-25 NFL regular season with a thrilling 27-20 victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens.
Patrick Mahomes completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 291 yards and a TD. Isiah Pacheco led the Chiefs with 45 yards on 15 carries and a score. In the losing effort, Lamar Jackson accumulated a combined 395 yards of total offense. He led the Ravens with 122 rushing yards in 16 carries.
In his Baltimore debut, Derrick Henry carried the ball 13 times for 46 yards and a score. The Chiefs controlled this game for essentially three-and-a-half quarters. Down the stretch, Baltimore mounted a furious comeback — largely thanks to the brilliance of TE Isaiah Likely. He led all players in catches (9) and receiving yards (111). Likely flashed some all-pro ability when evading multiple defenders en route to a spectacular 49-yard touchdown catch.
The often maligned Rashee Rice led Kansas City with seven catches for 103 yards. However, it was first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy turning more than a few heads. He caught one touchdown and rushed for another. Billed as the fastest player not named Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs may have found their next version of the player that helped in building this current KC dynasty. On the game’s final drive, Baltimore scored what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown. Jackson found Likely in the back of the end zone for a toe-tapping TD grab as time expired.
Baltimore HC John Harbaugh was even signaling for the team to go for two — ultimately to try and win the game without going to overtime. However, the replay showed Likely’s toe just slightly touching the white paint on the out-of-bounds line, thus disallowing the catch leading to a Chiefs victory. The NFL season could not have gotten off to a better start. It featured two juggernaut teams with hopes to win a Super Bowl. Having the game come down to the final possession with mere seconds left couldn’t have been scripted any better if the NFL tried.
The Chiefs escaped with a great win, while Baltimore will have something to motivate them with should the teams square off again in postseason play.
