Remember when the Kansas City Chiefs lost four offensive linemen before Super Bowl LX? Well, the Ravens lost their entire defensive line, but nobody felt sorry for either team when they were struggling. The Chiefs took advantage and played their best game since the Steelers matchup last Christmas to even out their season record.
Patrick Mahomes hadn’t scored in all four quarters since the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Chiefs’ helmet three years ago at Arrowhead. He was in complete control Sunday, throwing four touchdowns and completing 25 of 37 passes for 270 yards.
Though the Chiefs settled for a couple of field goals in the red zone, they scored multiple touchdowns, and Baltimore never had a chance to win this game. Although the Chiefs led 20-10 at halftime, they recovered the opening kick of the second half and scored a touchdown, effectively ending the game.
The offense dominated against a depleted Ravens defense, showcasing the high-flying potential of Xavier Worthy. He led the Chiefs in rushing with 38 yards and receiving with 83 yards. Early on, he set the tone by testing his injured shoulder with a big 37-yard catch in the first half.
Mahomes was on a roll, throwing touchdown passes to Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Isiah Pacheco, and Tyquan Thornton, becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to reach 250 touchdowns.
On defense, the credit goes to Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who pressured Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson from the start. Although he left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, he had trouble getting back into the end zone after the opening drive.
Chris Jones, who attended a family funeral on Sunday morning, arrived by police escort about thirty minutes before kick-off. He brought a lot of energy to the defense, and his willingness to play today helped lead the Chiefs’ defense to its most dominating performance of the season.
The Chiefs’ defense limited Derrick Henry to just 42 yards on eight carries. With the score in double digits, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh essentially benched his star running back in the second half.
Kansas City, however, won this game because they were able to run the ball effectively. They didn’t have any big runs, but they kept grinding and finished with 118 yards rushing. The offensive line was excellent for Mahomes today, giving him plenty of time to survey the field.
Head Coach Andy Reid must be pleased with this win, given that the Los Angeles Chargers lost to the New York Giants on Sunday. His team’s record stands at 2-2 for the young season.
Kansas City can build momentum from this game and should feel good about surviving the first quarter of the season after a rough start in the first three games.
Great teams find ways to win even when they aren’t at their best. Today, Mahomes had the offense firing on all cylinders, and he still has Rashee Rice’s return in three weeks to boost the offensive lineup.
If there was a silver lining to the season, Worthy’s injury allowed the Chiefs to develop Tyquan Thornton, who scored his third touchdown of the season. Although his catches decreased, he was used as a decoy today, which allowed Worthy to get single coverage and open the middle of the field for Travis Kelce.
Despite the Ravens’ injuries, this was a massive win for the Chiefs. With doubt creeping in after their 0-2 start, they managed to win a challenging road game against the New York Giants and then followed it up with a dominating win over the Ravens.
Next week, the Chiefs have an away Monday Night game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers on the road Sunday. With that win, this becomes a crucial AFC matchup that could impact seedings in January.
