- Derrick Henry and Xavier Worthy each scored a touchdown.
- Justin Tucker’s field goal kept the Ravens close.
- The NFL's first game in Brazil features the Eagles vs. Packers on Friday.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off their NFL title defense with a thrilling victory as they narrowly escaped defeat against the Baltimore Ravens. The game came to a dramatic close with the Ravens’ potential game-winning touchdown being overturned as time expired. The Chiefs, on their quest to become the first team to secure three consecutive Super Bowl titles, held a 27-20 lead when the Ravens got possession with just two minutes left on the clock.
Lamar Jackson, leading the Ravens’ charge, guided his team to the Chiefs’ 10-yard line with under 30 seconds remaining. With three attempts to score from the endzone, the Ravens seemed poised for a comeback. The first two passes fell incomplete, but the third throw connected with Isaiah Likely, who caught the ball in the back of the endzone and was initially awarded a touchdown.
In a bold move, Ravens coach John Harbaugh decided to go for a two-point conversion to win the game outright rather than settling for an extra point to force overtime. However, replays revealed that Likely’s foot had grazed the endline, resulting in the touchdown being nullified. This ruling secured a 27-20 victory for the Chiefs and sent their fans, including Taylor Swift, who was in attendance, into jubilation.
The game mirrored last season’s AFC Championship match-up, further emphasizing the Chiefs’ dominance over the Ravens in recent years. Since the arrivals of quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, the Chiefs have won five of their six encounters with the Ravens. Despite the Ravens securing the NFL’s best regular-season record twice during this period, they have yet to reach a Super Bowl, while the Chiefs have made it to four of the last five, clinching three titles.
Newly signed Derrick Henry, the NFL’s two-time rushing champion, made an immediate impact by scoring an early touchdown for the Ravens, giving them the initial lead. However, the Chiefs quickly responded, with rookie receiver Xavier Worthy rushing for a touchdown to level the score.
Harrison Butker’s two field goals provided the Chiefs with a slim 13-10 advantage at halftime. In the third quarter, Isiah Pacheco extended their lead with another touchdown, showcasing the Chiefs’ offensive prowess.
The Ravens’ hopes were revived at the start of the fourth quarter when Isaiah Likely caught a pass from Lamar Jackson and maneuvered past three defenders for a 49-yard touchdown. Despite this, Worthy capitalized on a defensive lapse to score his second touchdown, pushing the Chiefs’ lead to 27-17. Justin Tucker’s subsequent field goal for the Ravens kept the game within reach, setting up a tense finish.
As the NFL season continues, the league will stage its first regular-season game in Brazil, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo on Friday, with kickoff set for 01:15 BST on Saturday.
