Who won the football game last night : Kanas City Chiefs Vs Baltimore Ravens

Thursday night brought a unique Week 1 clash, marking the first time in NFL history where the last two MVP quarterbacks went head-to-head: 2022 MVP Patrick Mahomes, steering the Chiefs, and 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson, leading the Ravens. A battle of brilliance, the game had all the fireworks fans expected.

Mahomes, as usual, delivered (throwing for 291 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 20 of 28 passes), outshining Jackson, who turned in an impressive performance of his own (273 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and an electrifying 122 rushing yards on 16 attempts). The Chiefs, back-to-back Super Bowl victors, began their pursuit of a third consecutive title with a 27-20 triumph.

But Mahomes wasn’t the lone star. Enter Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs’ rookie wideout, known for his blazing 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Worthy more than lived up to expectations—he made history. Worthy became only the third wide receiver since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to score both a rushing and receiving touchdown in his debut. His first touchdown? A stunning 21-yard dash on a reverse. The second? A swift 35-yard deep route that left Ravens’ Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey behind. Humphrey handed Worthy off to a safety, but nobody was home. Speed met confusion.

For the Ravens, their shiny new addition, four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, smashed his way into the end zone with a bruising five-yard plunge to cap off Baltimore’s opening drive. Yet, Henry was underutilized as the night wore on, finishing with 46 rushing yards on just 13 attempts. He crossed the goal line once, but left much on the field.

Still, Lamar and the Ravens wouldn’t go quietly. With just over a minute remaining, they began a final drive from their own 13 after a booming 48-yard punt by the Chiefs. Jackson worked his magic, bringing them down to the Chiefs’ 10-yard line, highlighted by a breathtaking 38-yard throw to Rashod Bateman. The clock was ticking, no timeouts. They were on the doorstep. An incomplete pass, and then Jackson, scrambling toward the right, missed an unmarked Zay Flowers in the end zone. One more shot.

On the last play, chaos ensued. Jackson fired what seemed to be the game-tying score to tight end Isaiah Likely, who had previously wowed with a 49-yard catch-and-run. The crowd erupted, and head coach John Harbaugh was signaling for the two-point conversion. But, on review, the call was overturned—Likely’s right toe had barely grazed the white boundary in the end zone. Game over. The Chiefs pulled off the win by seven, mirroring their AFC Championship victory over the Ravens earlier this year.

Key Takeaways from the 2024 NFL Opener:

Why the Chiefs Prevailed

The return of the big-play offense. Kansas City had been forced into shorter, methodical drives in recent seasons, as defenses focused on limiting Mahomes’ deep passes. But on Thursday night? The explosive plays came back in force. Worthy had both a 21-yard rushing score and a 35-yard receiving touchdown. Other targets like Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, and Justin Watson also racked up catches of 20+ yards, many coming from broken plays. If you needed proof that the Chiefs might be even more dangerous this season, the opener gave you that confidence.

Why the Ravens Fell Short

Costly errors. So close, yet so far. The Ravens were flagged seven times for 64 yards. Twice, they received penalties that negated what would have been major setbacks for the Chiefs. Lamar Jackson lost a fumble after Chris Jones stripped him in the first half. Justin Tucker missed a field goal attempt. In the end, Jackson’s missed connection with Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely’s tiny toe touching out of bounds sealed their fate. They were right on the edge, but they fell just short.

Game-Changing Moment

After both squads traded early touchdowns, the Ravens’ next three drives faltered—resulting in a fumble, a turnover on downs, and a missed field goal. The Chiefs took advantage of these slip-ups, though they only managed to score six points. However, those six points ultimately shifted the momentum in their favor.

Who won the football game last night

Although Kansas City claimed the victory, the play of the night belonged to Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely. On second-and-17, the pair pulled off a spectacular 49-yard touchdown. Jackson extended the play, rolling right and keeping it alive just long enough to launch a deep pass. Likely’s run after the catch was nothing short of brilliant, using a juke move to evade defenders and leap into the end zone. Simply jaw-dropping.

What’s Next?

The Chiefs, now 1-0, have some extra rest before they host the Bengals in Week 2. The Ravens, dropping to 0-1 after the AFC Championship rematch, will look to regroup before facing another AFC West team—the Raiders—at home in Week 2.

Avnish Singh