Chiefs survive late drive, begin Super Bowl title defense 1-0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The two-time defending Super Bowl Champions kicked off their quest for the NFL's first-ever three-peat with a win on banner night. The Chiefs narrowly held off a potential game-tying drive to defeat the Ravens 27-20 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night.
Kansas City's defense was tasked with protecting a seven-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation on Baltimore's final drive of the game. The Ravens reached their opponent's 10-yard line on a 38-yard pass from Lamar Jackson to Rashod Bateman with less than 20 seconds left in the contest. After a pair of incomplete passes in the end zone, the Chiefs were inches away from allowing a touchdown as time expired. Isaiah Likely caught a pass in the back of the end zone that was ruled as a touchdown on the field but overturned after video review, sealing a season-opening win for Kansas City.
Xavier Worthy's breakout NFL regular season debut fueled Kansas City's 1-0 start to the season. The first Chiefs touchdown of the 2024 season belonged to the first round NFL draft pick, showcasing his game-changing speed with a 21-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his professional career, to tie the contest in the first quarter. Then, when Baltimore pulled within three points of tying the game in the fourth quarter, Worthy posted a 35-yard receiving touchdown to give Kansas City a two-score lead with about 10 minutes left in the game. The former Texas Longhorn became the first player in league history to score a rushing and receiving touchdown of 20-plus yards in their NFL debut.
Patrick Mahomes began his eighth NFL season by rewriting franchise history. The Kansas City quarterback became the Chiefs' all-time leader in passing yards at 28 years old, surpassing the legendary Len Dawson, who recorded 28,507 passing yards in his career. Mahomes finished Thursday night's season-opener 20-for-28 with 291 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Rashee Rice was Kansas City's leading receiver, catching seven passes for 103 receiving yards. This was the third-time in his NFL career that Rice surpassed 100 receiving yards in a regular season game.
On the ground, Isiah Pacheco led the team with 15 carries, 45 rushing yards and his first touchdown of the 2024 season.
Up next - The Chiefs welcome another AFC North opponent to Kansas City in Week 2. Kansas City and Cincinnati are scheduled to play on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3:25 p.m.
