KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes against Leo Chenal #54 of the Kansas City Chiefs for a touchdown during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NFL season is underway and after an explosive first two drives, the defenses have largely taken over as the Chiefs lead the Ravens 13-10 at halftime in Kansas City. The Ravens opened the game with a 70-yard touchdown drive, capped-off by a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Derrick Henry in his first game as a Raven.
Kansas City responded immediately with a 5-play, 57-yard drive that took less that three minutes that ended with a 21-yard Xavier Worthy touchdown run on his first touch in the NFL.
After that opening flurry, the two defenses bowed up, with Baltimore stopping two Kansas City drives in the red zone that led to field goals, while Justin Tucker missed a 53-yarder but made a 25-yarder at the end of the first half for the Ravens.
The start of the game was delayed by 20 minutes due to inclement weather in Kansas City just ahead of the scheduled 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Baltimore continues to be able to run the ball well
Lamar Jackson is over 100 yards rushing — a mark he reached just once last year — but he is the NFL’s all-time leader with 100-yard rushing games by quarterbacks. The Ravens are averaging 6.1 yards per carry, but trail by 10 as they close in on the red zone, halfway through the 4th quarter.
Mahomes finds Worthy to put Kansas City back up 10
After scrambling for a big 1st down in a huge 3rd down spot, Mahomes hit a wide open Xavier Worthy streaking down the right sideline for a 35-yard score. The first TD pass of the season for Mahomes and second score of the day for Worthy who’s having a huge NFL debut.
Rice looking the part of a No. 1 receiver
Rashee Rice is over 100 yards in the season opener. He had just two 100-yard games in his first season, and he has looked like a top-option for Patrick Mahomes against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Baltimore strikes with 49-yard Jackson to Likely TD pass
Lamar Jackson’s magic was on full display with this one. The reigning league MVP gets the Ravens back in it, escaping pressure to get the ball to his emerging No. 2 tight end who tightroped down the sideline to cut Kansas City’s lead to 20-17.
Lamar Jackson makes a play with his legs, picking up a big 1st down
On a tough third down, Jackson’s 16-yard run got Baltimore into K.C. territory. He’s up to 79 yards rushing and the third quarter isn’t even done yet. Jackson followed that up with another long run that was called back by a hold on center Tyler Linderbaum.
the Chiefs addition of Xavier Worthy has the effect of opening things up for Rashee Rice underneath. Which is why I thought Rice would be a focus for the Chiefs tonight. https://t.co/euWB3wkD63
Baltimore’s drive runs out of gas and the Ravens punt
The field is flipped and the Chiefs will start on their own 10-yard line. The Ravens have run the ball well, averaging 5.4 yards per carries on 19 rushes. But moving the ball early in drives has been a challenge, setting up long down-and-distance situations
Back-to-back big pass plays have Baltimore on the move
The Ravens have opened up their drive following up the K.C. touchdown with a couple of big pass place to get into Chiefs territory. A third-and-12 conversion to Justice Hill and a big pickup by Mark Andrews set up Baltimore across the 50.
Isiah Pacheco puts Chiefs up 20-10 with 1-yard touchdown run
The Chiefs go up by 10 with a 6-play, 81-yard drive, highlighted by a 33-yard Rashee Rice catch-and-run and a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty that set up Pacheco for the 1-yard score. He had 7 rushing touchdowns last year in his second season as Kansas City’s lead back.
Rashee Rice’s big night continues
5 catches for 80 yards for Rice who just had a big, 33-yard catch to get K.C. moving on the Chiefs’ first drive of the second half. Rice was the second leading receiver for the Chiefs last season with 79 catches and 938 yards.
Fitting for a 2-time NFL MVP
Here’s the all-time list:
Michael Vick: 6,109 yards
Cam Newton: 5,631 yards
Lamar Jackson: 5,321+ yards
About that take about Xavier Worthy
NBC commentator Rodney Harrison was blunt about his analysis of Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy.
Rodney Harrison – “Xavier Worthy is this little skinny guy, he doesn’t scare me, I know he is fast, but he doesn’t scare me.” pic.twitter.com/EjwbspMhyx
In what felt like an “Inside the NBA” moment, his colleagues had fun with the comment at halftime in wake of Worthy scoring a first-half TD.
Ravens end first half with field goal, cut lead to 13-10
After the Mahomes interception, the Ravens were able to get deep in the red zone, but were unable to get a touchdown. Justin Tucker knocked in a 25-yard field goal to cut the Chiefs lead to 3. Kansas City will receive the ball to start the second half.
And just as quickly as Kansas City gets the momentum it swings back with an interception
Patrick Mahomes’ first interception of the season comes on a first down after heavy pressure from the Ravens forced a mistake that Roquan Smith was able to make the play on, and the Ravens will go back to work to cut into the Chiefs’ lead.
Justin Tucker misses!
After a down year last season from 50+ yards, making just 1 of 5 attempts, Tucker missed from 53 with a chance to cut Kansas City’s lead to 3. Now with 1:50 left in the first half and two timeouts, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will have a short field again. The good news for Baltimore is that after an explosive first couple of plays, the Chiefs have been slowed down on offense, managing just 6 points off a red-zone fumble and turnover on downs at midfield.
Baltimore penalties have been killing drives all night
Another illegal formation wipes out a second down gain for the Ravens who’ve now been flagged 5 times for 40 yards in the first half.
Lamar Jackson flashes the wheels
Jackson with a huge gain to get Baltimore into K.C. territory on a broken play as the Ravens march into Chiefs territory with the clock under 4 minutes to go in the first half.
Mahomes magic on display for the first time tonight
Chiefs pick up a big third-and-12 after Patrick Mahomes escapes a host of defenders to find Travis Kelce to keep the drive alive, and on the play Mahomes passed Len Dawson to move into first place all-time in career passing yards for Kansas City Chiefs.
Welcome to the game, Travis Kelce
Kelce makes his first reception of the game, picking up just one yard to get K.C. to a third-and-7.
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