NFC Championship
That’s all for us and our live AFC Championship coverage, but don’t fret, there’s Hunter on the other side, already providing outstanding coverage of San Francisco and Detroit. Thank you for reading and sticking with us. And wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight.
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Read all about it!
Our game report is out – dig in!
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Ravens nosedive
Baltimore held KC to 17 points, and shut them out in the second half. With a defensive performance like that, after a season like they had, they cannot lose this game at home. Bad penalties, a subpar rushing game, underwhelming QB play, key turnovers and a KC defense that deserves a lot of credit, sank the Ravens.
They can’t lose this game, but they did. The recovery will be long and arduous.
Road Warriors
Well if there was one thing you could say about the Chiefs during this tremendous run of success is that they never had to play big games on the road to get to a Super Bowl. Well, now they’ve knocked off the Bills and the Ravens, two very tough football environments, on consecutive weeks.
That’s another box ticked.
Now they’ll try to be the first team to win back to back Super Bowls since the 2004 Patriots
And speaking of the Patriots, there’s been a lot of talk about Bill Belichick trying to become the all-time leader in head coaching wins, but here comes Andy Reid into the mix, six years younger with an all-time great QB. Reid is in that mix for sure as an Hall-of-Fame coach, even more so if he picks up another ring in Vegas.
Chiefs 17-10 Ravens, Final
The Chiefs run out the clock and are heading back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five seasons. That is the stuff of sports dynasties!
Two minute warning
It’s 2nd and 11, Pacheco steams ahead for a few – it’s a two-yard gain. Timeout Baltimore – they’re all out. 3rd. & 9.
Now Mahomes goes back to pass, he’s got a man, it’s Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who makes the catch while back peddling! It’s a first down and way more and this game is all but over!
Chiefs 17-10 Ravens, 2;24 4th quarter
The Ravens get done for too many men on the field. Yikes.
On 1st and 5, someone jumped offside. Who was it?
No, it’s a personal foul on Smith! OK, so now it’s 1st & 10, which is easier to hold han 1s & 5. Interesting way to do it, ok.
Pacheco runs on first down and loses a yard.
It’s 2nd & 11. Timeout Baltimore – they have one left.
FIELD GOAL! Chiefs 17-10 Ravens, 2;34 4th quarter
It’s good from 43. It’s a one score deep?
Should Baltimore try an onside kick? No way. They kick it deep.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 2;39 4th quarter
Under three minutes remaining: on 2nd & 5, McDuffie breaks up a pass heading for Beckham over the middle.
3rd & 5: Jackson, he’s patient, throws it away. But a Ravens receiver is held and thrown down – no flag!
So a field goal try coming up to try and make it a one score game.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 3:17 4th quarter
Hill has a catch and he’s down to the KC 30. Defensive ackle Wharton is down for KC – that stops the clock.
So, both teams have two timeouts, the Ravens are down two scores. This is doable, crazier things have certainly happened, but the margarin for error is Neopolitain crust thin.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 3:43 4th quarter
Jackson is sacked! And that’s no good! It’s George Karlaftis, who had that fumble recovery earlier, and a sack right now!
Suddenly, it’s 3rd & 6…Jackson in the shotgun, little toss to Hill, who bobbles the ball and finally makes the catch for a first down. We’re under four minutes left around midfield.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 5:00 4th quarter
So now with a two-score lead, we are most definitely in chew the clock time, while Baltimore need that ball back as quickly as possible.
It’s 3rd & 8 on the KC 27 and Baltimore elect to use a precious timeout, which kind of makes sense.
Reid runs it with Pacheco to chew a bit more clock, he’s short of the first down and here’s another KC punt. Good return up to the Ravens 46!
Still, a lot of work to do and so little time.
INTERCEPTION! Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 6:45 4th quarter
Jackson throws a terrible pass into all kinds of traffic in the middle of the endszone, and Bush, who recently entered he game when Edwards left, makes he grab for KC!
That was so so poor from Jackson, and smacked of desperation. That really should ice this game.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 6:55 4th quarter
Jackson hits Beckham, again, and then Edwards picks up three for the first down. The clock stops because Edwards is down for KC.
This is happening very slowly for Baltimore.
So this helps! Agholor has a 39-yard gain on the far sideline! They’re suddenly down to the KC 25!
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Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 8:17 4th quarter
On 3rd & 1, Jackson is looking, looking, looking, tries a. last second run, but there’s nowhere to go. Jackson takes a loss and it’s 4th & 3 at the Ravens 18. They’re lining up to go for it!
They get the first down! Beckham over the middle. Wow. Breathe now Ravens fans!
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Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 9:40 4th quarter
From the one, the long road begins for Baltimore. Jackson goes long for Bateman down the far sideline – it’s overthrown.
Now he hits Likely on the sideline – 10 yards, first down.
Next play – Odell Beckham, remember him, is streaking down the field, but Jackson overthrows him. The crowd wanted a flag but there’s nothing.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 10:35 4th quarter
It’s 3rd & 13 – this is HUGE. Which is why I used caps.
Baltimore blitzes. It’s incomplete! KC will punt.
Baltimore will begin at the one! What a punt! Wow!
But aside from that, consider how good KC was on offense and how the Ravens have shut them down in the second half. That’s significant. Imagine the momentum Baltimore would have if Flowers doesn’t fumble in the endzone?
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 11:21 4th quarter
Now Clowney hits Mahomes late, lowering his head. that’s roughing the passer. Another sloppy flag on Baltimore and it’s a no brainer. That pushes KC across midfield, as if they needed any help.
Baltimore’s D must rescue this team! This is a start – they sack Mahomes, who takes his first playoff sack in four games according to CBS TV in the US. Madubuike has the sack!
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 13:24 4th quarter
So that just pops the balloon in Baltimore, big time. We were a few inches from a three-point game. And now, welll…
…now the Chiefs have it, and they’ve even converted on a 3rd & 7! Mahomes, to Kelce yet again.
Meanwhile, Flowers has cut his finger after slamming it on the bench following the fumble. There’s some anger management conversations that need to be had with Mr Flowers. First taunting, then hurting yourself, no good. KC call time, their first.
FUMBLE! Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 14:52 4th quarter
Jackson finds Flowers, who leaps towards the endzone, but the ball is knocked out by Sneed just before he lands! That’s a fumble and a touchback! No need to challenge that, clear as day, KC ball! Oh wow!
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, end 3rd quarter
So, what sayeth the Ravens?
Jackson says much! A huge strike to Flowers who is wide open on the near side and finally taken down at the 10!
That’s a 54-yard play…reduced by 15 because Flowers gets up and taunts Sneed. Flags fly! You can’t do that! Why did he do that?
Man oh man. So the Ravens are on the 25 instead.
But Jackson comes right back and finds Flowers again, this time cutting across the field, for 14 yards!
On the next play, Jackson hits Bateman for a short gain, about two yards. And that’s how the quarter ends.
So, Baltimore are on the KC 9 and it’s 2nd & 8. Hard to believe Baltimore can cut this game to three with a TD here, but it’s a true story! And that’s mostly thanks to their defense.
I cannot imagine how many people turned down the Super Bowl Halftime Show before they settled on Usher. It has been 20 YEARS since "Yeah!" @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 28, 2024
Sadly, we’ll never know. But it must be an astronomical number.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 0:49 3rd quarter
Ravens great Terrell Suggs emerges from under the stadium to try and energize a crowd that doesn’t have much to be happy about.
But this helps matters some: it’s already 3rd & 7.
So Mahomes is in the shotgun, being pushed back towards the endzone by Washington, and the Chiefs QB throws it away! So again, the Ravens defense holds!
After the punt, Baltimore will try to kickstart their offense at their own 36.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 2:31 3rd quarter
On 2nd & 5, Jackson is looking for Andrews – incomplete. And to make it worse, a holding call on Simpson backs up Baltimore by 10 yards.
On 2nd & 15, Jackson from the shotgun, finds Andrews, who slides into the catch near the sideline.
So by that math, it’s 3rd & 9.
Big play – and KC are blitzing! Reid wraps up Jackson! So Baltimore punts from their own territory down to the KC eight yard line.
Once again, KC’s defense holds Jackson and company. And with the 1o-point deficit, in the rain, and time ticking and tocking, it seems like it’s getting late early in Baltimore.
The Ravens “D” really needs to make something happen.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 4:55 3rd quarter
Jackson narrowly avoids a sack, and then on the next play, throws a strike in the backfield to Hill, sho streaks down the near sideline for a first down to the KC 42.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 5:29 3rd quarter
Jackson throws left and hits Collins, who is hit out of bounds after an eight yard gain.
Now Jackson is waiting, loses patience and is off! He runs for 12, so the Ravens have a little bit of momentum here as the rain falls in Baltimore.
Ball at the Ravens 47.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 7:05 3rd quarter
Mahomes spins left, turns right, throws a screen to Pacheco who is going nowhere! So Baltimore hold off KC for a second consecutive possession. The defense is holding their end of the bargain, but Jackson and company need to get it together on offense.
The punt goes into the endzone for a touchback. Here comes Jackson and the Ravens offense.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 7:49 3rd quarter
Taylor gets done for holding again, (third time today) pushing KC back into their own territory.
It’s 3rd & 13. Big play time for Baltimore.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 9:12 3rd quarter
Mahomes, like clockwork! He finds Watson, who is streaking across the field, for a first down and a 16-yard gain.
Now KC are at midfield after Valdes-Scantling makes a catch on the far sideline – a seven-yard gain.
Then Kelce takes a forward lateral for a few yards and a first down. This drive is alive, and moving briskly.
Baltimore need to make a play here. Ball on the Baltimore 43.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 11:08 3rd quarter
So a pair of three-and-outs, and now KC take up their second drive of the half. Mahomes starts off with a pass to Rice, but he’s hit hard by Queen for a loss of a yard.
Now Pacheco runs to his right to the far sideline for five yards. It’s 3rd & 6.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 12:13 3rd quarter
On first down, Edwards is absolutely torn down by Reid – no gain.
Then Flowers runs an end around for four, setting up 3rd & 6.
Jackson, from the shotgun, throws a terrible pass that’s nearly, and should have been, intercepted by Kansas City. Yuck, that was gross.
That’s a bad sequence of football for Baltimore. They kick it back to the KC 21.
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 13:35 3rd quarter
We’re back, and so is Kelce, who has a catch to get the Chiefs within three yards of a first down at their own 33.
Mahomes scammers back and throws up a floater, and it’s knocked down, incomplete. So that’s a good start for the Baltimore defense. After the punt, the Ravens start at their own 22.
The numbers
Mahomes: 20/25, 161 yards, 1 TD, 106.8 rtg
Loved up Kelce: nine catches for 96 yards, 1TD
Pacheco: 14 carries for 41, 1 TD
Jackson: 5/12 67 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost
Flowers: two catches for 39 yards, 1 TD
Jackson: four carries for 27 yards
The big number is time of possession: Chiefs - 20:39, Ravens - 9:21
Baltimore have been thoroughly outplayed in their own backyard. The score could have been worse. Yet, they’re still in it!
Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, halftime
So that will do it for the first half. One which the Ravens barely had the ball, and one which the Ravens high flying offense was smothered by KC’s defense. Mahomes, amazing. Kelce, amazing.
Really, this team is smelling a dynasty right now. This is dynasty football.
FIELD GOAL! Chiefs 17-7 Ravens, 0:04 2nd quarter
It’s good! So now the Chiefs are up 10, and could have been up 13 had Andy Reid not been so greedy earlier in the game, going for it on that 4th & 1 deep in Ravens territory. Regardless, he’s going to be happy going into the lockers after a half like this.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:08 2nd quarter
Mahomes finds Kelce for nine yards, and that brings up 4th & 15 and a 52-yard kick attempt for Harrison Butker. Will he have enough leg?
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:12 2nd quarter
Rice catches a screen pass and waltzes into the endzone, but that’s coming back with a second consecutive holding call on Smith! Wow! And Smith was nowhere near the play – bad bad bad.
So it’s 3rd & 24 and KC are out of field goal range, all the way back at the 42.
They need about eight yards to get into field goal range. Baltimore calls timeout.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:20 2nd quarter
Mahomes takes it himself for the first down, but there’s a holding call on Smith that brings it back! That means it’s 3rd & 14. Huge play here.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:26 2nd quarter
Rice has a catch on an out route, a six-yard catch. He stops the clock by running out of bounds. Now they’re in the red zone. It’s 2nd & 4.
Mahomes in the shotgun, hit as he throws, incomplete looking for Gray. Big third down here.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:36 2nd quarter
Travis Kelce is open at the far yard marker and has yet another catch! Timeout KC at the Baltimore 23. They have two timeouts left.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:43 2nd quarter
So if the Chiefs get points here and then come out in the second half and get points, that’s no good for the Ravens. So a really crucial drive coming up.
Pacheco gets hit for a loss, and then we have some extra curricular activities with flags flying. Kyle Van Noy, the third guy in a little skirmish for the Ravens, gets done for unsportsmanlike conduct for jawing and pushing with Kelce.
Kelce loves this off course.
So that doesn’t help the Ravens and either does this roughing the passer penalty by Jones! He basically punches Mahomes in his grill, and suddenly, the Chiefs are close to midfield after 30 yards of stupid penalties.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 1:46 2nd quarter
Jackson is looking for Hill and a first down but it’s incomplete! It forces a punt, 42 yards down to the KC 11. Can we talk about what KC’s defense has done to mute this high flying Ravens offense, on the road? Pretty special performance so far.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 1:56 2nd quarter
Jackson floats a pass down the far sideline looking for Agholor, but it’s incomplete.
It’s 3rd & 4 and Ravens HC John Harbaugh wants to talk it over. They have two timeouts left.
Two minute warning
Jackson connects with Likely for a six yard completion as the clock rolls down to the warning. The ball is on the Baltimore 47 and it’s 2nd & 4.
Gisele: "My husband can not [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time."
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson: "rip to your ex but im different." @LengelDavid
That was a neat party trick.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 2:47 2nd quarter
Mahomes throws deep to Rice but Hamilton has him well covered – incomplete.
It’s raining in Baltimore, and now it’s 3rd & 10.
Mahomes, in the shotgun – Hamilton is blitzing from the corner position, and Mahomes has to throw it away! The Ravens defense finally shows it’s pointy beak, forcing KC’s first punt! And the timing is excellent.
The kick is short, just 31 yards, and the Ravens will have a chance to tie this thing up with pretty good field position, starting on their own 41.
Remember, the Chiefs get the ball after halftime, so Baltimore really need some points here.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 3:49 2nd quarter
The Chiefs are applying pressure and Jackson barely gets the ball away, so that’s an incompletion setting up 3rd & 9 instead of much worse.
But then Chris Jones slaps away Jackson’s pass and now Stout has to come out for his second punt.
It’s a 49-yard kick to the Chiefs 29. The Ravens fail to capitalize on Andy Reid’s greed and now KC will have a chance to put a stamp on this first half.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 4:42 2nd quarter
Jackson runs right and picks up four yards.
Now Jackson throws and the ball is batted into the air. The ball is high in the air! It’s way way up there! It finally comes down and Jackson has it! He caught his own pass! A 13-yard gain to the Ravens 31. Wow!
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 6:18 2nd quarter
Another Kelce catch – he’s the playoff record holder for receptions – but he’s short of the first down.
On 4th & short, Pacheco is running into the pack – did he get it? It doesn’t look like it!
That’s a huge play for the Ravens! Andy Reid elects to go for it instead of an easy kick for three, and he pays the price.
That was really silly. KC just gave life to the Ravens. What’s wrong with a 10-point AFC Championship lead?
Gordon Gecko said greed is good. Not in the NFL.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 7:01 2nd quarter
Mahomes is in the shotgun on 2nd & 9. He has a lot of time, really way to much. He moves right before throwing the football away.
That means we have a big 3rd & 9.
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Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 7:56 2nd quarter
Pacheco starts the drive with a three yard run up the middle. The Baltimore crowd is trying to prop up this beleaguered defense. No luck – Kelce passes Jerry Rice with his 151st catch, one for five yards.
On 3rd & 1, Pacheco powers for the first down, while cornerback Arthur Maulet is shaken up on the play. He exits under his own power, and we resume at the Baltimore 24.
FUMBLE! Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 9:26 2nd quarter
Hill runs hard up the middle and just about picks up the first down.
Now Jackson is patiently waiting in the pocket for something to happen, but this is not what he’s waiting for! Omenihu swipes at the arm of Jackson and the ball is loose! Who has it? Kansas City! Karlaftis has the recovery, and this is a total; disaser for Baltimore!
Their exhausted defense must hold KC, who have it at the Baltimore 36!
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 10:12 2nd quarter
Well, the Ravens offense is well rested, and Flowers return with a flash – a nine yard grab over the middle.
Now Jackson is looking for Flowers again, but the screen pas is incomplete, so it’s 3rd & 1.
TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 10:56 2nd quarter
A methodical drive by the Chiefs ends with Pacheco marching into the endzone. And the Chiefs have been incredible on offense thus far. How about 16 plays in 9:02.
Baltimore need a long drive themselves to give their gassed defense, on the field for most of this game, a breather.
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 11:36 2nd quarter
It’s 3rd & 3 on the 13. Mahomes in the shotgun, he’s going to run, and he’s got the space, tackled finally after another first down! It’s first and goal to go!
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 12:34 2nd quarter
It’s 3rd & 5 and Mahomes has time! He sits, has some soup, a main and dessert. Then finally the Ravens come for him. He throws at the last second for Kelce who has it! Wow! Another first down for KC! Kelce has five receptions for 52 yards.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are on the Ravens 12-yard-line!
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 14:13 2nd quarter
And we’re back in second quarter action with Mahomes hitting Rice for another completion, this time on the far sideline. Rice was a pinball out there taking some loud hits CBS’ sound folks picked up well for the US broadcaster. Ouch!
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, end of 1st quarter
First down no8 is in the hands of Kelce towards the far sideline. he Chiefs have entered Baltimore territory.
Now Pachco pushes the pile for about four yards. 2nd & 6.
Mahomes is throwing to his left, a screen for Edwards. No gain!
Big third down here: Mahomes drops back, has the time and finds Rice who was running over the middle towards the near sideline.
That’s nine first downs, and the end of a dynamic first quarter of football. KC at the Baltimore 31 when we resume.
Can the Ravens stop Perfect Pat, who has yet to throw an incompletion?
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 2:34, 1st quarter
Now Pacheco is wrapped up for a loss, setting up 2nd & 12. The Chiefs are a first down machine, seven so far in the first quarter!
Mahomes is running, and running, a little short of a first down and midfield.
It’s 3rd & 1.
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Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 3:41, 1st quarter
So the Ravens drive was eight plays in 2:43 over 75 yards. A very nice response, wouldn’t you say?
Meanwhile, Pacheco has a catch over the middle for 10 yards to the KC 38. Here they come again.
This game is even better than the pre-game…
And the pre-game hi-jinx was a lot of fun, as you can see below.
Justin Tucker set up on the Chiefs side of the field. Kickers have been doing this on purpose for years, trying to irritate.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 28, 2024
Kelce and Mahomes did the right thing tossing his gear... should have tossed it further. Play stupid games, earn stupid prizes.pic.twitter.com/NJuFCqeLhh
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 4:58, 1st quarter
Jackson is chased, survives a near tackle, buys some more time, and throws all the way down field! He’s got Flowers in the endzone for the touchdown! Wow! That is incredible work by Jackson to extend that play long enough for Flowers to break free. We’re tied!
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Hunter speak! And he’s right as always!
Mahomes was throwing there on 4th and 2 and I was literally like there is zero chance he isn't going to find someone here. I don't think I've ever trusted a passer more in these situations. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 28, 2024
Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 6:01, 1st quarter
Jackson is pushed all the way back, some 20 yards, towards his own endzone by the Chiefs rush before he throws the football away.
This is better – a nine-yard reception from tight end Andrews, over the middle, marking his return from injury.
Except the 3rd & 1 run by Hill is stuffed setting up 4th & short. Baltimore are going for it. In their own territory! Whoa!
Jackson is keeping it, and he’s running through the line with loads of space! It’s a 21-yard run! That will wake them up in Baltimore.
Now there’s an administrative timeout, and I have no idea what that is. But play has stopped with the Ravens breathing easier after surviving a key fourth down conversion.
Ball on the KC 45.
Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 7:41, 1st quarter
Wow, so that was pretty typical stuff by the Chiefs, against a Ravens defense that’s anything but typical. It’s 10 plays, 5:41 over 81 yards, and so now let’s see how Jackson and the Ravens respond. This is a huge drive for Baltimore coming up.
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 7:41, 1st quarter
Mahomes goes right at stellar Ravens corner Kyle Hamilton, but Kelce beats him and has the football in the near corner of the endzone! Nobody has done that to Hamilton all season and the Chiefs have come out with a hard hook to the Ravens, on the road in the AFC Championship!
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Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 8:00, 1st quarter
Mahomes rolls right, fires and finds Kelce – that huge, friendly target. That’s a key fourth down conversion right there. KC are on the Baltimore 28!
Great maiden drive fore the Chiefs, chewing up clock.
Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 9:17 1st quarter
Pacheco maneuvers to his right for seven yards setting up 3rd &2.
The crowd is loud in this big spot! Pacheco has it and is stuffed!
It’s 4th & 2 and KC are going!
Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 10:38 1st quarter
Now it’s Pacheco, running angry through the guards up the middle for another Chiefs first down! KC are moving well in the air and on the ground, just shy of midfield.
Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 11:46 1st quarter
The Ravens first drive features a Jackson scamper for six yards but little else. It’s three and out for the Ravens. A 66-yard punt puts the Chiefs on their own 14. Here comes Mahomes, who quickly has a first down after a completion to Pacheco. Then there’s a toss right to Rice for 11 yards and another first down. The Chiefs are on the move at their 38.
We're off!
The Chiefs win the toss and elect to kick to Baltimore. No return on the kickoff and the Ravens start at their 25.
National Anthem
The anthem is done extremely well by the Morgan State Choir, I give it 8/10. Ray Lewis makes an appearance to fire up the crowd. It’s 47 degrees, about eight degrees Celsius, a chance of rain and a wee bit of wind. Here comes kickoff!
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Kadarius Toney
The Chiefs wideout is not playing today with a hip injury, but he has suggested KC brass may not be telling the truth about their butterfingered wideout on Instagram. I’m imagining this will not go over so well in the coaches room. Caution, there is some extremely vulgar language here.
WILD: #Chiefs Kadarius Toney just went OFF on Instagram live saying the #Chiefs are lying about his injuries...🤯pic.twitter.com/O4p6im9Abf
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 28, 2024
(h/t @JahsHavinn) https://t.co/faQ4Bhm7CD
It’s almost time!
Which AFC team will advance to Super Bowl LVII (I think that’s 58) in Las Vegas? Baltimore? Kansas City? We’re about to find out: kickoff is soon – stand by!
And some more pre-game hype
I don’t know what Roquon Smith is saying, but he seems to have their attention.
Roquon Smith has the entire stadium fired up 😤#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/9lCGeb6gOM
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 28, 2024
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Pre-game hype
It’s not quite Any Given Sunday, but it’ll do.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?! pic.twitter.com/J8pwBlExVw
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 28, 2024
Crab cakes vs ribs
I’ve often thought to myself, what do I prefer, crab cakes or ribs? You know, I was driving home from Washington DC a few weeks back, and I stopped at this back road seafood hole in the wall joint in Maryland and had a crab cake. And it was pretty good. Simple, but good. But I feel like there’s a ceiling on crab cakes, like there’s a ceiling on hamburgers. How good can a burger really get? How good can a crab cake really be? You can only be blown away so much. But when I was in KC, the ribs. Oh the ribs. I was there for under 24 hours, on a trip that also included a trip to the ER – I was ok, thank you for your concern. But I got KC ribs in, and man, there’s no ceiling on anything with a thick sticky sweet sauce. So BBQ ribs v Baltimore/Maryland crab cakes, it’s ribs in a rout.
Does this mean I should take the points?
Experience factor
Who has the quarterback edge? Patrick Mahomes is 13-3 in the playoffs. Jackson? He’s 2-3. That said, Jackson has never had a team around him like he does now. You could see that Lamar had a look of concern on his face when his team was tied 10-10 with the Texans, but he turned it around and piled on Houston in the second half. It won’t be as easy against KC of course. And Mahomes does have the experience. He faced the toughest road matchup of his career last week, helping his team dispatch a QB on his level in Josh Allen. I doubt he’ll be phased by another road test in Baltimore, though the Ravens defense is ferocious.
So, who has the edge? The future MVP or a guy who has won two Super Bowls? Until someone takes down KC, I’m thinking it has to be Mahomes.
Chris Jones’ money
How effective Chris Jones is today will have a lot to say about how the KC defense holds back Baltimore’s juggernaut offense. Not that a player like Jones needs much motivation, but should his Chiefs find a way past B’more, he’s in line for a tasty $1m check, thanks to an incentive that pays him to reach the Super Bowl. Jones has been gradually clawing back the million bucks in cash he lost after holding out at the start of the season, reaching incentives for playing time and sacks, after begging coach Andy Reid to stay on the field in week 18 to reach his sack goal.
Money aside, Jones knows he’s in for a potentially tough day.
They’ve showed that throughout the year, how competitive they are against the better teams in the league. Look at a team like the 49ers, look at what they did against Miami. They’ve been showing that type of dominance throughout this year, so it’s going to be tough, it’s a challenge, but I’m excited for it.
Jones isn’t wrong – Baltimore has been terrific against the leagues best. They’ve won 14 games this season – 11 of those have come against teams with winning records. So the Ravens didn’t get to the AFC title game by beating up on have nots.
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Let's go!
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the AFC Championship game! It’s good that you turned up, because it’s hard to imagine this matchup not living up to the hype. We’ve lined up the Chiefs, seasoned Super Bowl winners, who have lived in this title game for six years running. And the Ravens, who have the best record football, a future MVP at quarterback and the highest point differential in the NFL. We did this all, just for you. You’re welcome.
It’s going to be great to watch and follow along, but trying to figure out who has the edge has been challenging. Let’s try to break it down some.
The Ravens are at home, always helpful. They’re getting their stellar tight end Mark Andrews back. Lamar Jackson is an elite, do it all quarterback looking to finally break into the big show. Baltimore has a monster defense, one of the best kickers of all-time and a head coach with a Super Bowl ring. While the upstart Texans gave them a run in the divisional round for a half of football, Baltimore ran wild in the second half, cementing a blowout.
The Chiefs need less of an introduction. After a regular season that was less than stellar by their standards, Kansas City is approaching Kansas City levels. Mahomes, who let’s face it, hasn’t been operating on his level, is coming around, having pulled out all the stops on the road in Buffalo last week. That’s some thanks to Rashee Rice, who has become the go-to receiver they lacked earlier in the season. Loved up Travis Kelce also looked a lot more like himself in the last round. the offensive line play has been exceptionally strong. And despite having some banged up key players, Willie Gay, Mike Edwards, por ejemplo, the kids behind them missing have played extremely well.
You know what else is crazy? The Chiefs are getting points, 4.5 of them. We’re talking about a team led by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, being handed a very decent chunk of points by the oddsmakers. They were given 2.5 on the road last week in Buffalo and look how that turned out. So from a gambling perspective, it seems tough to turn down the points, which seems like a Vegas trap! As to who is going to win the real world match-up, I’m still spinning my wheels.
But what do you think? Why not let me know? Join the show, send me your thoughts and feelings to X at @LengelDavid, or via email. Do it, and I’ll make you famous.
More to come soon. Stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a quick preview of today’s game:
Story of the season: A new hierarchy has been established in the AFC. The Ravens dethroned the Chiefs in the regular season by cooking up a 13-4 record that is even better than it looks when an excusable loss from Tyler Huntley and the backups to Pittsburgh in Week 18 is taken into account. The Chiefs will care little for all that though. Their scratchy run to January still delivered victory in the AFC West as they scraped by thanks in large part to their defense picking up the considerable slack from Patrick Mahomes’ down year. The master quarterback can turn it on like a tap though, and he was close to his best when the Chiefs knocked off the Bills last weekend. He will have to do it all over again if he wants to show the Ravens who the kings of the AFC really are.
What the Chiefs need to do to win: Andy Reid needs to figure out how to maintain offensive efficiency in the face of the NFL’s best defense. Mahomes helped Travis Kelce pop off the stat sheet last week: he scored for the first time in eight games. But Mahomes’ job was made easier because he was targeting the Bills’ depleted linebackers. He will have no such luxury on Sunday. Reid has to be creative in his play calling while leaning on the explosive Isiah Pacheco to keep Mahomes from having to win the game on his own. If the quarterback is improvising to beat the Ravens from the get-go then Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme, based on confusing the opposition through showing blitz but dropping into coverage and vice versa, could well thrive.
What the Ravens need to do to win: Baltimore have to maintain their defensive ferocity. They smothered CJ Stroud last week, pressuring the quarterback on 51.4% of his dropbacks as he completed 7 of 17 passes for 62 yards under duress. Yes, they recorded zero sacks but the intensity was enough to keep Stroud under lock and key. Even the defensive backs were shutting down trick plays behind the line of scrimmage. Mahomes is unlikely to be as fazed as a rookie like Stroud but if the Ravens direct heat at Kelce then the quarterback will have to go looking for significantly less dangerous receivers. The man who can lead the fight for the Ravens is safety Kyle Hamilton. He has the size at 6ft 4in and 220lbs to stand up to Kelce while positionally he excels at the line of scrimmage. Perfect for covering the tight end’s hunting ground in the middle of the field.
Key player for the Chiefs: Jason Kelce, beer drinker. Forget Taylor Swift, the Chiefs have a new mascot. Travis balled out with big bro in the stands, 40 beers deep, sticking it to Bills fans. Give this man a megaphone, five well-stocked fridges and let him go to work in Baltimore. Kelce, Kelce, KELCE.
Key player for the Ravens: Lamar Jackson, quarterback. “We can’t keep trying to get deep and developing routes because our guys can only block for so long. I gotta move, just gotta get the ball out,” said Jackson to his quarterback coach Tee Martin at half-time after Houston rocked him with two sacks before the break. An average time to throw against the blitz of 3.44sec dropped to 2.02sec in the second half while he pitched a 24-0 shutout. Running, passing, elite reading of the game. MVP.
Prediction: Ravens over Chiefs. The Ravens feel like a team that still have not had to push to the extremes Kansas City had to find to overcome Buffalo, so they should have plenty in the tank to match a Mahomes-led onslaught. Tight end Mark Andrews’ return could be the tipping point. Jackson will reportedly have his red-zone monster back to further split the Chiefs’ defensive priorities, a big boost if the Ravens are pushed into a shootout.
