Chiefs-Ravens LIVE updates: Kansas City leads 20-10 in the third quarter

For the NFL’s 2024 season opener, the Kansas City Chiefs are hosting the Baltimore Ravens for ”Thursday Night Football” on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The teams last met in January, when Kansas City defeated Baltimore 17-10 in the AFC Championship at M&T Bank Stadium. The Chiefs have won four of the five games between these two teams since Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson became their respective starting quarterbacks in 2018.

First quarter

After a 20-minute weather delay, the season finally got under way with Harrison Butker’s kickoff landing in the end zone, for a touchback to the 30-yard line. Running back Derrick Henry’s first carry as a Raven went for less than two yards. After a penalty pushed Baltimore back five yards, Chris Jones nearly had a sack before Lamar Jackson completed a five-yard pass. The second of two Jackson completions to running back Justice Hill went for 18 yards to set Baltimore up with a first down at their own 47-yard line. The Ravens appeared set to have a big gain due to a pass interference penalty on Jaylen Watson, but Baltimore’s third illegal formation call of the drive offset the foul. A play later, Jackson found Zay Flowers for a 19-yard gain to the Chiefs’ 33-yard line. Jackson and Henry quickly combined for 20 more yards on the ground the Kansas City 13-yard mark. Two plays later, Henry punched the ball in for a touchdown. Justin Tucker’s extra pointed opened the scoring at 7-0 Ravens.

Rookie running back Carson Steele took the Chiefs’ first kickoff opportunity, returning Tucker’s kick 28 yards to start the Chiefs at their own 33-yard line. Patrick Mahomes quickly found Rashee Rice for ten yards and a first down. The drive appeared in danger of stalling after Mahomes was nearly sacked on first down and Isiah Pacheco only gained five yards on second down. On third-and-5 from the Chiefs’ 48-yard line, Mahomes found Rice for a 16-yard reception. A personal foul on the play put the ball on the Baltimore 21-yard line. One play later, rookie wideout Xavier Worthy took an end around the distance for a rushing touchdown on his first career touch. Harrison Butker’s extra point evened the score at Chiefs 7, Ravens 7.

Butker’s second kickoff again went into the end zone to start consecutive drives at the 30-yard line for Baltimore. Jackson started the drive with a 15-yard pass to tight end Isaiah Likely. The Ravens would only gain five more yards, however, with safety Justin Reid making a great third-down stop on Hill. Raven’s punter Jordan Stout came on for the first time of the evening, and Mecole Hardman called for a fair catch at the Chiefs’ ten-yard line to start their second drive.

Mahomes eluded a sack, and Pacheco took a dump off for 23-yards on first down. Rice followed with another reception, this time for 19 yards to enter Baltimore territory. Unfortunately, the Chiefs next two plays only gained a total of two yards. The first quarter came to an end with Mahomes taking a ten-yard sack back at the Chiefs’ 44-yard line.

Second quarter

Matt Araiza came on for his first career regular season punt to start the second quarter, a touchback to start Baltimore’s third possession at their own 20-yard line.

On first down, Chris Jones burst through the Ravens’ offensive line to drop Jackson for a six-yard loss — and a forced fumble. Second-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah fell on the loose ball to give the Chiefs the ball back at the Baltimore 14-yard line.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs’ gift possession started with a detrimental holding call on a trick play with Pacheco taking a direct snap out of the wildcat. An 11-yard pass to tight end Noah Gray — reported pregame to have signed a lucrative contract extension — gave the Chiefs a chance to convert a third-and-9. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster could not bring in a pass near the goal line, however. Butker came on for a successful 32-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a 10-7 lead.

Butker’s third kickoff yielded the same result of Baltimore starting at their own 30 after a touchback. A pass to Flowers and a carry by Henry quickly gained 12 yards to move the chains. Baltimore would then suffer their own costly penalty, as an offensive pass interference call negated a short gain by Flowers. Baltimore advanced the ball back to midfield, where they kept the offense on the field for a crucial fourth-and-3. Flowers gained only a single yard, and the Chiefs retook possession at their own 49-yard line.

The Chiefs appeared in danger of badly underwhelming, as two short gains were followed with a false start by Jawaan Taylor. On third-and-12 from the Chiefs’ 47-yard line, Mahomes scrambled to avoid a sack and found Travis Kelce for a 23-yard pass that broke franchise legend Len Dawson’s team record for passing yards. Worthy followed by taking his first reception for a dozen yards. The drive would stall, with Worthy essentially playing cornerback in the end zone to prevent an interception. Butker was true from 31 yards to extend Kansas City’s lead to 13-7.

For the fourth time, Baltimore started a possession at their own 30 after a kickoff touchback. The Ravens were enjoying a methodical drive, gaining 33 yards to the Chiefs’ 37-yard line on six plays. A pair of penalties, however, slowed their pace. The first half reached the two-minute warning with Baltimore facing third-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 35 and down six points.

A running Jackson withstood pressure to get off an incomplete pass. Justin Tucker’s reputation for accuracy proved for naught, as he narrowly missed a 53-yard field goal to the left. The Chiefs took possession at their own 43-yard line with 1:50 remaining until halftime.

The Chiefs immediately gave the ball back to the Ravens as Mahomes threw an interception to linebacker Roquan Smith at the Baltimore 49-yard line with 1:44 remaining.

Baltimore made the last minute and change interesting, advancing to the Kansas City seven-yard line on eight plays. Their timeout management proved costly, as they were unable to find the end zone with the run game taken off the table. Linebacker Leo Chenal prevented a touchdown with a batted pass. Tucker came on for a short field goal to trim the Chiefs’ lead to 13-10.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Mahomes took a knee to bring the first half to a close.

Third quarter

Hardman took the kickoff to the 31-yeard line, but a holding call would start the possession at the 19. Pacheco appeared injured after a five-yard carry on first down. Rice then took a catch and run for 33 yards to the Baltimore 43-yards line before personnel confusion forced a timeout. Pacheco immediately returned to the field as Mahomes scrambled to find Justin Watson for a 25-yard gain. After a holding call wiped away a nine-yard Pacheco run, the Chiefs appeared to be again floundering. A roughing-the-passer call against Nnamdi Madubuike, however, gave the drive new life — and a new set of downs — at the Ravens’ 14-yard line. After an injury timeout for Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, Mahomes found Gray on a screen to the two-yard line. Pacheco would then punch in the short touchdown. Butker’s extra point extended the Chiefs’ lead to 20-10.

The second half would not break the trend of Baltimore starts at their own 30-yard line after touchbacks. After quickly reaching third-and-12, Jackson found Hill for a 17-yard gain. Henry was then dropped for a two-yard loss — and Jackson followed with a pair of incomplete deep passes. Hardman fielded Stout’s punt at the Chiefs’ ten-yard line with a fair catch.

Over nine plays, the Chiefs would drain almost five minutes from the clock. Samaje Perine’s first touch as a Chief went for ten yards and a first down. Steele’s first touch on offense was a five-yard carry. Rice contributed another 15 receiving yards. Unfortunately, the drive went for naught as Perine dropped a key pass on third down that would have extended the drive. Araiza’s second punt again found the end zone, starting Baltimore at their own 20-yard line.

Injuries

After the Ravens’ first drive, cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end Malik Herring were both reportedly evaluated for concussions. Per NBC’s Melissa Stark on the broadcast, both were cleared to return to the game.

Running back Isiah Pacheco appeared to leave injured on the Chiefs’ first drive of the third quarter, but he returned to the field a few plays later and would end the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown. Per Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest, Pacheco vomited while on the sideline.