The tension in Arrowhead Stadium was thick enough to cut with a knife. If you woke up this morning wondering what was the score for last night's game, you missed a heavyweight bout that lived up to every ounce of the hype. The Kansas City Chiefs walked away with a 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, but the final numbers on the scoreboard barely tell half the story. It was a game of inches. Literally.
Isaiah Likely thought he had the game-tying touchdown as the clock hit zero. He didn't. His toe was on the white line by the thinnest of margins. It’s wild how six months of training and sixty minutes of brutal physical contact can come down to a few millimeters of rubber on a cleat. That's football.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Chiefs 27, Ravens 20
Patrick Mahomes didn’t look perfect, but he looked like Mahomes. He finished with 291 passing yards and a touchdown, though he did throw a pick that kept Baltimore in the hunt longer than Andy Reid probably liked. On the other side, Lamar Jackson was basically a one-man army. He ran for 122 yards. He threw for 273. He did everything except win the game.
Honestly, the Ravens' offensive line looked a bit shaky early on. Losing three starters from last year isn't something you just "fix" in the preseason. You've got to feel for Lamar; he was under duress for a huge chunk of the night. Chris Jones was doing Chris Jones things, which usually involves ruining a quarterback's evening.
Xavier Worthy is as Fast as Advertised
If you were looking for the breakout star, look no further than the rookie. Xavier Worthy had two touches. He scored two touchdowns. His first NFL touch was a 21-yard end-around where he basically outran the entire Baltimore secondary without breaking a sweat. It's scary. The Chiefs haven't had that kind of "touch the ball and score from anywhere" speed since Tyreek Hill left for South Beach.
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The kid caught a 35-yard touchdown later in the game because the Ravens had a blown coverage. You can't do that against Mahomes. You just can't.
The Play That Everyone Is Talking About
Let's get back to that final drive. Baltimore marched down the field with zero timeouts. Lamar missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the back of the end zone—a throw he’d usually make in his sleep. Then came the pass to Isaiah Likely. He jumped. He caught it. The crowd went silent.
Then the replay happened.
The "toe-drag swag" wasn't there. His black cleat clearly landed on the white paint of the end zone boundary. It was the correct call by the officials, but man, what a heartbreaker for Baltimore. It’s one of those moments that will be replayed on every sports talk show for the next week. It shows how the margin for error in the NFL is basically zero.
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Defensive Adjustments and Under-the-Radar Stats
Steve Spagnuolo is a mad scientist. The way he disguised his blitzes in the second half really neutralized the Ravens' rhythm. Rashee Rice also deserves a massive shoutout. While everyone was watching Worthy, Rice was the engine of the move-the-chains offense, hauling in 7 catches for 103 yards. He’s clearly become the reliable "Option A" when Travis Kelce is being bracketed by two or three defenders.
Speaking of Kelce, it was a quiet night for him. Only 3 catches for 34 yards. But that’s the thing about this Chiefs team—they don't need him to be a superhero every single week anymore. They have depth. They have speed. They have a defense that can actually hold a lead.
- Total Yards: Baltimore outgained KC 452 to 353.
- Time of Possession: Ravens held the ball for 34 minutes.
- Turnovers: Each team gave it away once.
Usually, when you outgain an opponent by 100 yards, you win. Not against Kansas City. They are the masters of the "bend but don't break" philosophy.
Why This Result Changes the AFC Outlook
A lot of people thought the Chiefs might have a "hangover" after winning back-to-back Super Bowls. Nope. They look hungry. Winning the season opener against a team as good as the Ravens sends a massive message to the rest of the league. If you want the crown, you have to come to Kansas City and take it.
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The Ravens shouldn't panic, though. Lamar Jackson looks like he’s in mid-season MVP form. If they can clean up the offensive line issues and find a way to finish drives in the red zone, they’ll be right there in January. Derrick Henry had a decent debut with a touchdown, but he didn't exactly explode. They need to find a way to integrate his power running game with Lamar’s scramble drills more effectively.
What to Watch for Next Week
Kansas City heads into a matchup with the Bengals next. That’s another massive rivalry. If Mahomes and Worthy continue this chemistry, the league is in serious trouble. Meanwhile, Baltimore has to regroup. They have the talent, but starting 0-1 in a division as tough as the AFC North is never ideal.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're tracking these scores for your fantasy league or just to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of this game. Both teams played a very physical style.
- Pick up Xavier Worthy if he’s somehow still on your waiver wire. His volume might be low, but his ceiling is the moon.
- Watch the Ravens' O-Line. If they don't shore up the right side, Lamar is going to be taking hits all season, and that’s a recipe for disaster.
- Respect the Chiefs' defense. They are no longer a " Mahomes has to save us" unit. They are a legitimate top-5 defense that wins games on their own merit.
The road to the Super Bowl still runs through Arrowhead. Last night proved it. Whether it's a toe on the line or a 70-yard bomb, the Chiefs find ways to be on the right side of the scoreboard when the clock hits zero.
Next Steps for Your Week 2 Prep:
Check the official NFL injury report on Wednesday to see the status of Baltimore's mid-game exits. If you are betting the over/under for next week, keep in mind that the Chiefs' defense is playing much tighter than the preseason projections suggested. Follow the specific snap counts for Derrick Henry to see if Baltimore intends to increase his workload or keep him as a red-zone specialist.