"The NFL’s 105th season has kicked off, along with the Kansas City Chiefs' ambitious pursuit of a historic Super Bowl three-peat, and they did so in thrilling style.
In front of an excited Arrowhead Stadium crowd—including Taylor Swift—the Chiefs unveiled their championship banner, securing a nail-biting 27-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in a game that was decided on the final play.
Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes shattered the franchise record for all-time passing yards, surpassing Len Dawson. Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who set the NFL combine 40-yard dash record at 4.21 seconds, contributed with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
This matchup was a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game, showcasing Super Bowl LVIII MVP Mahomes against reigning league MVP Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Chiefs initially controlled the game, leading 13-10 at halftime and extending their advantage to 20-10 in the third quarter.
However, the Ravens fought back in the final quarter, with Jackson completing a 49-yard pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, narrowing the gap to 20-17. But Mahomes, displaying his trademark quick response, connected with Worthy for a 35-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 27-17. Worthy had previously sprinted 21 yards for a touchdown on an end-around during his first touch in the NFL."
The biggest catch of the night may have come from Patrick Mahomes himself. With under three minutes remaining and the Chiefs leading by seven, Mahomes had a third-down pass deflected by Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson. However, he managed to fend off two defenders and make the catch, preventing a turnover.
The Chiefs were forced to punt, giving Jackson and the Ravens one final chance. Without timeouts, Jackson connected with wide receiver Rashod Bateman for a 38-yard gain, moving them to first-and-goal. However, incomplete passes to tight end Isaiah Likely and wide receiver Zay Flowers led to a critical third-and-goal with just five seconds left.
On the last play of the game, Jackson threw to Likely in the back of the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown, which would have given the Ravens a chance to either tie with an extra point or win with a two-point conversion. But after a review of the play, it was determined that Likely had a toe out of bounds, ruling it an incomplete pass and allowing the Chiefs to escape with a narrow victory.
“Obviously, it was nerve-wracking,” Mahomes told NBC. “It’s a game of inches, that’s what they say. That’s a great football team, and to come out here and get a win at Arrowhead, it’s a way to start off the season.”
This moment allowed Mahomes to celebrate his new milestone in Chiefs history. His record-breaking accomplishment happened on a familiar play—on third-and-12, under pressure, he scrambled and connected with his long-time target, tight end Travis Kelce, for a 23-yard gain in the second quarter.
Mahomes entered the game just 84 yards shy of surpassing Len Dawson for the franchise record. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing one interception. Jackson finished 26 of 41 for 273 yards and one touchdown.
After the game, Jackson expressed his disbelief over the final ruling: “I thought it was a touchdown,” he remarked about the last play. “I still think it was a touchdown.”
The kickoff for the season opener was slightly delayed by 20 minutes due to a thunderstorm over Arrowhead Stadium, prompting event activities to be postponed. Fans were asked to leave their seats for safety, and players cleared the field. Once the rain passed, a rainbow appeared in the distance, signaling the start of an exhilarating NFL season.
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