Chiefs put on passing clinic against depleted Ravens in 37-20 win

By MATT PIKE

After starting the season 0-2, the Kansas City Chiefs have bounced back with back-to-back wins and are back to .500 after beating the Baltimore Ravens 37-20. 

The Chiefs had not started 0-2 since 2014.  Cornerback Trent McDuffie says no matter the record, this team always brings the same energy 

“Since I’ve been here the attitudes never changed, you know, whether we’re 0-2, whether we’re 2-2, whether we’re 2-0,” McDuffie tells reporters in the locker room after the game.  “It’s always get back to work and it’s always that next week mentality, so we’re going to enjoy this win, but we’ve got another opponent next week.”  

The Chiefs took advantage of a depleted Ravens defense and put up the most points they’ve scored in a game since just over two years ago, on September 24th, 2023.  But it didn’t look like it would be that easy to start.  

Following the opening kickoff, the Ravens used a nine-play drive, moving down the field efficiently to score a touchdown, with former MVP Lamar Jackson finding backup running back Justice Hill for an 11-yard passing touchdown.  Kansas City answered with a nine-play drive of their own, but stalled inside the redzone, having to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Harrison Butker to go down 7-3.  

Baltimore’s offense took over and again appeared to be driving down the field.  An illegal formation set the Ravens back for a moment, but on a 17-yard pass from Jackson to Zay Flowers, safety Bryan Cook was charged with an unnecessary roughness penalty, that moved Baltimore to the Kansas City 32-yard line.  On the ensuing pass from Jackson though, linebacker Leo Chenal made a miraculous one-handed interception to get the Chiefs the ball back.  Kansas City ended up though with just three points off the turnover, having to settle for another field goal from Butker, this time from 23 yards out. 

The Chiefs forced the Ravens to punt on the drive following the field goal and took a drive for the touchdown and the lead next, starting the drive with a big 21-yard run from Xavier Worthy, one drive after a big 37 yard catch down field from Patrick Mahomes.  The drive needed just five plays and led to Mahomes first touchdown pass of the day, finding JuJu Smith-Schuster for his first touchdown of the season, a four-yard reception.   

The Chiefs receiving corps was nearly back to full strength, with a healthy Worthy in the lineup who had over 120 all-purpose yards in his return.  

Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton says the impact Worthy has on the offense shows 

“You can see it out there man, we’re glad to have him back, he’s out there running fast, making plays left and right, great addition to this offense,” Thornton says. 

Wide Receiver Hollywood Brown adds that Worthy adds a speed dynamic to the offense 

“Speed kills you know, when everyone’s lined up in different spots it affects the defense so well and he’s a playmaker at all three levels of the field, so it’s good to have him back,” Brown adds. 

A big stop on fourth down by the Chiefs defense put the ball back in Mahomes and the offenses hands late in the first half with just under three minutes left and Kansas City drove six plays this time for another passing touchdown, this time with Mahomes finding Isiah Pacheco for his first score of the year on an eight-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 20-7 with 1:41 left in the half. 

Baltimore’s struggles continued as Jackson would be sacked on their next drive and would fumble, with the fumble being recovered by linebacker Drue Tranquill to give Kansas City the ball back.  The Chiefs would not extend the lead though as Butker’s field goal attempt sailed wide left, giving the Ravens the ball back, and it would be Baltimore that would cut into the Chiefs lead to end the half on a 43-yard field goal by rookie kicker Tyler Loop to go to the halftime break down 20-10.  

Getting the ball back to start the second half, Kansas City scored again to run away with the game even more, Mahomes third touchdown pass of the game, and his third touchdown pass in as many games to Thornton as he found the former New England Patriot for an 11-yard touchdown pass.  Again, the Ravens answered on the ensuing offensive drive with a field goal, a sack by George Karlaftis on 3rd and 12 forcing Baltimore to send Loop out for a 32-yard field goal, which the rookie knocked through to cut the lead to 27-13. 

A 10-play drive by the Chiefs following Loop’s field goal ended with a field goal of their own, using over six minutes of clock though, Butker converting a 31-yard kick.  Again though, the Ravens offense was stopped on their next drive on fourth down for a turnover on downs, the drive now being led by Baltimore backup quarterback Cooper Rush after an injury to Jackson on the sack, and Kansas City scored the decisive touchdown as Mahomes found Brown for a 15 yard touchdown strike, Browns first touchdown reception in a Chiefs uniform, for a 37-13 lead.  

Baltimore turned the ball over on downs on their next offensive drive, but the Chiefs just using up clock ended up punting the ball back to the Ravens with 3:29 left in the game.  Baltimore scored the final touchdown of the game in just three plays with Hill rushing down the sideline, with Chiefs backups on the field, for a 71-yard touchdown run.  Kansas City got the ball back with 1:56 left in the game, and after a five-yard run by Brashard Smith, Gardner Minshew knelt out the remaining time. 

After a slow start to the season, the Kansas City Chiefs put on one of their best performances in all three phases.   Chenal says a performance like the one on Sunday from the team is both motivating and energizing 

“When everything’s clicking, you know offense, special teams, defense, all those and guys are running off the field yelling, like all three phases yelling and getting each other going, it’s like nobody’s dead, everybody’s energized,” Chenal says.  “So, it definitely does feel good, especially at home.” 

Mahomes was 25-for-37 through the air for 270 yards with four touchdowns.  Mahomes four touchdown passes in the game were the most he’s thrown since 2023.  Worthy had five catches for 83 yards in his return; he also added two rushes for 38 yards.  Travis Kelce had five catches for 48 yards.  Pacheco added seven rushes for 35 yards on the ground, while Kareem Hunt had 13 runs for 34 yards. 

Kansas City next has a Monday Night Football matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 6th on the road.  Kickoff will be at 7:15pm with pregame beginning at 6 on both KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and Q Country 92.7 (92.7FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.