Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I really wish we could have witnessed a game-winning two-point conversion attempt by the Ravens.
In today’s SI:AM:
🔫 The Chiefs’ new weapons
🖐️ The Ravens’ new O-Line
👕 An iconic uniform duel
Well, the wait was worth it.
After six months without professional football, the 2024 NFL season began Thursday night with an AFC Championship rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens that lived up to expectations. It wasn’t a stone-cold classic like the Chiefs’ legendary comeback win over the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 Divisional Round, but it had everything you could want from a regular season game.
Kansas City won 27-20 in a game that was close throughout and remained exciting until the end. Lamar Jackson was both brilliant (122 rushing yards on 16 carries) and frustrating (missing open receivers in the final moments). The Chiefs featured a much improved group of targets for Patrick Mahomes, including Newcomer Xavier Worthywho scored two touchdowns in his debut. The Ravens also put an unexpected emphasis on offense, relying heavily on second-string tight end Isaiah Likely.
In that regard, it was a game we’ll be talking about a lot before Week 1. How much better will the Chiefs offense be this year after being surprisingly mediocre on that side of the ball in 2023? Will Likely replace Mark Andrews as Baltimore’s best tight end? How far can Jackson take this team?
It’s all good to talk about that sort of thing, but what really made the game the ideal season opener was that it was just a damn good football game — especially the fourth quarter. The Chiefs scored a touchdown and took a 27-17 lead with about 10 minutes left after a broken coverage left Worthy all alone on the sideline, giving Kansas City a sizable but not insurmountable lead. The Ravens responded with a long drive down the field, scored a field goal to make it 27-20, and then made a defensive stop to regain the ball with just under two minutes left. (Kansas City was able to take three minutes off the clock in just five plays because Baltimore had called two defensive timeouts earlier in the half.)
The Ravens’ final drive was exciting. Jackson created plenty of action with his legs, either by scrambling to gain yards or by maneuvering in the pocket to extend plays and buy himself time to find an open receiver. He did the latter on the ninth play of the drive after the Chiefs had done a good job of limiting the Ravens to short gains. With 43 seconds left on the clock and the ball near the halfway line, Baltimore had no hope. As the pocket collapsed around Jackson, he calmly slid into open space and threw a bullseye on the run to Rashod Bateman, who gained 38 yards on a diving catch. Suddenly the Ravens were back in business.
Baltimore had three shots on the end zone when the game was on the line, but couldn’t convert any of them. On the first, Jackson threw an open likely in the corner of the end zone too far. On the second Jackson had a misunderstanding with his recipients and missed a loose ball from Zay Flowers. The third and final chance was exactly the kind of play you want to see as a fan.
Once again, the Chiefs pressured Jackson in the pocket, forcing him to literally run in circles. Then he found Likely free in the end zone and threw a brilliant pass that only the receiver could catch. Likely came down with the ball, the referee signaled a touchdown, and the NBC cameras cut to Ravens coach John Harbaugh on the sideline, signaling to his offense that he wanted to try for a crucial two-point conversion with no time left in the game. That moment was worth staying up until midnight for.
And then the air was out of the moment when a The replay showed that Likely’s toe was just outside the field of play. The touchdown was taken off the board and the game was over.
It was exactly the kind of game fans have been waiting for for six months. Two of the best teams in the conference played out a tight matchup that came down to the final play. And it was only the first game of the year. Not every game this week or this season will be this good, but it was fun to start the season with a game that reminds us why we’re so excited for the NFL to return.
… things I saw last night:
5. The scene in the San Marino dressing room after the men’s national team won its first game in 20 years and its first competitive game in its history. The small state with 33,000 inhabitants Victory against Liechtenstein1–0, in the UEFA Nations League.
4. Jason Benetti’s call from Parker Meadows Grand Slam to victory.
3. Blake Doud, player of the Colorado School of Mines 80-yard boat, which was launched on 1.
2. Isaiah Pacheco’s presence of mind not to give up the piece when he tackled over a defender.
1. Isaiah Likely’s run after the catch on a 49-yard touchdown.
