Soccer is again!
After a 20-minute climate delay, the NFL kicked off the 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in a rematch of final 12 months’s AFC Championship, which doubled as Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald’s ultimate recreation as Ravens defensive coordinator. Of their first recreation with out Macdonald, Baltimore’s protection nonetheless regarded comparatively good, however the end result was nonetheless a 27-20 Chiefs win by the thinnest of margins.
Regardless of a number of unlawful formation penalties on Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens struck first with a Derrick Henry speeding landing in his debut. A a lot cooler debut was made by speedy Kansas Metropolis rookie Xavier Worthy, whose first contact was an end-around that went 21 yards for a landing.
Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes each dedicated turnovers that price their respective groups a subject objective. Jackson fumbled on a Chris Jones strip sack, whereas Mahomes was picked off by Roquan Smith proper earlier than halftime. Justin Tucker atoned for his 52-yard miss (one play previous to the Mahomes INT) with a 25-yard chip shot to attract the Ravens inside 13-10 on the break.
Kansas Metropolis prolonged its result in 20-10 on a 1-yard Isiah Pacheco run, which in all probability might’ve been stopped for ahead progress however nonetheless he was pushed into the top zone. A roughing the passer penalty on the Ravens obtained the Chiefs out of what would’ve been third and lengthy within the pink zone.
Jackson didn’t throw down the sector usually on this recreation—cross safety was a problem—however you understand he’s obtained magic in him simply as a lot as Mahomes. This improvised throw to Isaiah Doubtless was nice in itself, however Doubtless did the remaining with enormous YAC and a 49-yard landing early within the 4th quarter.
The three-point deficit was short-lived. A horribly busted protection by the Ravens secondary resulted in Xavier Worthy’s second landing on simply 4 touches.
A Justin Tucker subject objective made it 27-20 however with lower than 5 minutes to go and solely timeout left. Baltimore burning two TOs on protection might’ve loomed giant within the closing levels of the sport. Mahomes was practically intercepted on a tipped cross that he ended up catching in between two Ravens defenders. A primary down might’ve run the clock out, a turnover would’ve been a brief Ravens subject, however he made the catch and warranted the clock would dwindle to the two-minute warning.
With 87 yards to go, Jackson had an opportunity to get a modicum of revenge towards the crew that knocked him out of the AFC Championship. An enormous throw downfield to Rashod Bateman set the Ravens on the Kansas Metropolis 10, however he stayed inbounds and the clock was tick-tick-ticking.
After Jackson missed an open Isaiah Doubtless and Zay Flowers on back-to-back performs, he had another shot with 5 seconds to go. Jackson scrambled, purchased time, and zipped an ideal throw to Doubtless behind the top zone. Landing, Ravens! And so they’re going for 2 and the win?
Nicely…
It truly is a recreation of inches. What a solution to begin the NFL season.
Macdonald’s present crew, the Seattle Seahawks, will get their season underway on Sunday towards the Denver Broncos.
