FINALLY

 Ravens 36

Chiefs 35


We did it!  We finally beat the Chiefs!


I was so pessimistic all day long and for nearly all of the game.  For the past three years, Patrick Mahomes has undeniably been the NFL’s premier quarterback, winning MVP honors before leading his once-forlorn franchise to a Super Bowl victory as well as another appearance.  And in each of his first three years, he owned Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.  The Ravens looked on in envy as the Chiefs wound up the Super Bowl, while the Ravens looked on in envy.

Entering this game, the Ravens were badly banged-up, with 15 players on injured reserve.  The game started off hellishly for us.  Lamar overthrew Hollywood Brown on what should have been an easy touchdown, then threw a pick-six to Tyrann Mathieu.  But then the two teams swap scores, and Kansas City leads 21-17 at halftime.

The Chiefs get the ball to open the second half, and score without resistance.  28-17.  But then then Lamar throws a jump shot touchdown to Hollywood.  28-24.  Then the defense can’t tackle Travis Kelce.  35-24.  Then the offense stalls out, at which point I lose all hope.  The team is burning their timeouts and taking bad penalties.

But things begin to turn around in the fourth quarter.  Lamar runs in a touchdown and converts a 2-pointer.  But the latter is called back.  35-30.  After a defensive stand, the offense has a chance to take the lead.  With running and a few passes, the Ravens reach the 1-yard line, where Jackson takes it in with three minutes left!

But we all know what Mahomes can do, and I was still unnerved, especially after another missed 2-pointer.  Indeed, Mahomes hits his first two passes to put the Chiefs in field goal range.  But then, on a running play Clyde Edwards-Helaire is stripped by Odafe Oweh, and the Ravens recover!

However, the game was not yet over, as the Chiefs had all three timeouts and 1:20 left.  The Ravens go nowhere on the first two plays, then Lamar finds Sammy Watkins short of the first down, setting up a 4th-and-1 on our 43.  Do you punt the ball back, giving Mahomes a minute to set up a field goal?  Instead, Harbaugh went for the first down.  If Lamar can’t get one yard, the Chiefs are on the cusp of a field goal.  But if it works…

He gets the first down and the Ravens win!  This was a huge win for us.  If we lose, we are 0-2 with the playoffs looking less likely.  But this win should rally us going forward.

✊✊✊✊✊✊✊

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