Key occasions
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 operating out of bounds. Now they’re within the purple zone. It’s 2nd & 4.
Mahomes within the shotgun, hit as he throws, incomplete on the lookout for Gray. Big third down right here.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:36 2nd quarter
Travis Kelce is open on the far yard marker and has yet one more catch! Timeout KC on the Baltimore 23. They have two timeouts left.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 0:43 2nd quarter
So if the Chiefs get factors right here after which come out within the second half and get factors, that’s no good for the Ravens. So a very essential drive arising.
Pacheco will get hit for a loss, after which we’ve some additional curricular actions with flags flying. Kyle Van Noy, the third man in slightly skirmish for the Ravens, will get executed for unsportsmanlike conduct for jawing and pushing with Kelce.
Kelce loves this off beam.
So that doesn’t assist the Ravens and both does this roughing the passer penalty by Jones! He principally punches Mahomes in his grill, and all of a sudden, the Chiefs are near midfield after 30 yards of silly penalties.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 1:46 2nd quarter
Jackson is on the lookout for Hill and a primary down however it’s incomplete! It forces a punt, 42 yards all the way down to the KC 11. Can we speak about what KC’s protection has executed to mute this excessive flying Ravens offense, on the street? Pretty particular efficiency to date.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 1:56 2nd quarter
Jackson floats a go down the far sideline on the lookout for Agholor, however it’s incomplete.
It’s third & 4 and Ravens HC John Harbaugh desires to speak it over. They have two timeouts left.
Two minute warning
Jackson connects with Likely for a six yard completion because the clock rolls all the way 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.”
Lamar Jackson: “rip to your ex but im different.” @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 28, 2024
That was a neat celebration trick.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 2:47 2nd quarter
Mahomes throws deep to Rice however Hamilton has him nicely coated – incomplete.
It’s raining in Baltimore, and now it’s third & 10.
Mahomes, within the shotgun – Hamilton is blitzing from the nook place, and Mahomes has to throw it away! The Ravens protection lastly exhibits it’s pointy beak, forcing KC’s first punt! And the timing is great.
The kick is brief, simply 31 yards, and the Ravens may have an opportunity to tie this factor up with fairly good area place, beginning on their very own 41.
Remember, the Chiefs get the ball after halftime, so Baltimore actually need some factors right here.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 3:49 2nd quarter
The Chiefs are making use of stress and Jackson barely will get the ball away, in order that’s an incompletion organising third & 9 as a substitute of a lot worse.
But then Chris Jones slaps away Jackson’s go and now Stout has to come back 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 may have an opportunity to place a stamp on this primary half.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 4:42 2nd quarter
Jackson runs proper and picks up 4 yards.
Now Jackson throws and the ball is batted into the air. The ball is excessive within the air! It’s approach approach up there! It lastly comes down and Jackson has it! He caught his personal go! A 13-yard acquire to the Ravens 31. Wow!
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 6:18 2nd quarter
Another Kelce catch – he’s the playoff report holder for receptions – however he’s in need of the primary down.
On 4th & quick, Pacheco is operating into the pack – did he get it? It doesn’t appear to be it!
That’s an enormous play for the Ravens! Andy Reid elects to go for it as a substitute of a simple kick for 3, and he pays the worth.
That was actually foolish. KC simply gave life to the Ravens. What’s flawed with a 10-point AFC Championship lead?
Gordon Gecko mentioned greed is sweet. Not within the NFL.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 7:01 2nd quarter
Mahomes is within the shotgun on 2nd & 9. He has quite a lot of time, actually strategy to a lot. He strikes proper earlier than throwing the soccer away.
That means we’ve a giant third & 9.
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 7:56 2nd quarter
Pacheco begins the drive with a 3 yard run up the center. The Baltimore crowd is making an attempt to prop up this beleaguered protection. No luck – Kelce passes Jerry Rice together with his 151st catch, one for 5 yards.
On third & 1, Pacheco powers for the primary down, whereas cornerback Arthur Maulet is shaken up on the play. He exits underneath his personal energy, and we resume on the Baltimore 24.
FUMBLE! Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 9:26 2nd quarter
Hill runs laborious up the center and nearly picks up the primary down.
Now Jackson is patiently ready within the pocket for one thing to occur, however this isn’t what he’s ready for! Omenihu swipes on the arm of Jackson and the ball is free! Who has it? Kansas City! Karlaftis has the restoration, and it is a whole; disaser for Baltimore!
Their exhausted protection should maintain KC, who’ve it on the Baltimore 36!
Chiefs 14-7 Ravens, 10:12 2nd quarter
Well, the Ravens offense is nicely rested, and Flowers return with a flash – a 9 yard seize over the center.
Now Jackson is on the lookout for Flowers once more, however the display screen pas is incomplete, so it’s third & 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 unimaginable on offense so far. How about 16 performs in 9:02.
Baltimore want a protracted drive themselves to offer their gassed protection, on the sector for many of this sport, a breather.
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 11:36 2nd quarter
It’s third & 3 on the 13. Mahomes within the shotgun, he’s going to run, and he’s received the house, tackled lastly after one other first down! It’s first and aim to go!
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 12:34 2nd quarter
It’s third & 5 and Mahomes has time! He sits, has some soup, a principal and dessert. Then lastly the Ravens come for him. He throws on the final second for Kelce who has it! Wow! Another first down for KC! Kelce has 5 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 again in second quarter motion with Mahomes hitting Rice for one more completion, this time on the far sideline. Rice was a pinball on the market taking some loud hits CBS’ sound people picked up nicely for the US broadcaster. Ouch!
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, finish of 1st quarter
First down no8 is within the palms of Kelce in the direction of the far sideline. he Chiefs have entered Baltimore territory.
Now Pachco pushes the pile for about 4 yards. 2nd & 6.
Mahomes is throwing to his left, a display screen for Edwards. No acquire!
Big third down right here: Mahomes drops again, has the time and finds Rice who was operating over the center in the direction of the close to sideline.
That’s 9 first downs, and the top of a dynamic first quarter of soccer. KC on the Baltimore 31 after we resume.
Can the Ravens cease Perfect Pat, who has but to throw an incompletion?
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 2:34, 1st quarter
Now Pacheco is wrapped up for a loss, organising 2nd & 12. The Chiefs are a primary down machine, seven to date within the first quarter!
Mahomes is operating, and operating, slightly in need of a primary down and midfield.
It’s third & 1.
Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 3:41, 1st quarter
So the Ravens drive was eight performs in 2:43 over 75 yards. A really good response, wouldn’t you say?
Meanwhile, Pacheco has a catch over the center for 10 yards to the KC 38. Here they arrive once more.
This sport is even higher than the pre-game…
And the pre-game hi-jinx was quite a lot of enjoyable, as you possibly can see under.
Justin Tucker arrange on the Chiefs facet of the sector. Kickers have been doing this on goal for years, making an attempt to annoy.
Kelce and Mahomes did the best factor tossing his gear… ought to have tossed it additional. Play silly video games, earn silly prizes.pic.twitter.com/NJuFCqeLhh
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 28, 2024
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs 7-7 Ravens, 4:58, 1st quarter
Jackson is chased, survives a close to deal with, buys some extra time, and throws all the best way down area! He’s received Flowers within the endzone for the landing! Wow! That is unimaginable work by Jackson to increase that play lengthy sufficient for Flowers to interrupt free. We’re tied!
Hunter communicate! And he’s proper as at all times!
Mahomes was throwing there on 4th and a couple of and I used to be actually like there’s zero probability he is not going to seek out somebody right here. I do not assume I’ve ever trusted a passer extra in these conditions. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 28, 2024
Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 6:01, 1st quarter
Jackson is pushed all the best way again, some 20 yards, in the direction of his personal endzone by the Chiefs rush earlier than he throws the soccer away.
This is best – a nine-yard reception from tight finish Andrews, over the center, marking his return from harm.
Except the third & 1 run by Hill is stuffed organising 4th & quick. Baltimore are going for it. In their very own territory! Whoa!
Jackson is retaining it, and he’s operating by way of the road with a great deal of house! It’s a 21-yard run! That will wake them up in Baltimore.
Now there’s an administrative timeout, and I do not know what that’s. But play has stopped with the Ravens respiratory simpler after surviving a key fourth down conversion.
Ball on the KC 45.
Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 7:41, 1st quarter
Wow, in order that was fairly typical stuff by the Chiefs, in opposition to a Ravens protection that’s something however typical. It’s 10 performs, 5:41 over 81 yards, and so now let’s see how Jackson and the Ravens reply. This is a big drive for Baltimore arising.
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs 7-0 Ravens, 7:41, 1st quarter
Mahomes goes proper at stellar Ravens nook Kyle Hamilton, however Kelce beats him and has the soccer within the close to nook of the endzone! Nobody has executed that to Hamilton all season and the Chiefs have come out with a tough hook to the Ravens, on the street within the AFC Championship!
Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 8:00, 1st quarter
Mahomes rolls proper, fires and finds Kelce – that massive, pleasant goal. That’s a key fourth down conversion proper 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 proper for seven yards organising third &2.
The crowd is loud on this huge 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, operating offended by way of the guards up the center for one more Chiefs first down! KC are shifting nicely within the air and on the bottom, simply shy of midfield.
Chiefs 0-0 Ravens, 11:46 1st quarter
The Ravens first drive encompasses a Jackson scamper for six yards however little else. It’s three and out for the Ravens. A 66-yard punt places the Chiefs on their very own 14. Here comes Mahomes, who shortly has a primary down after a completion to Pacheco. Then there’s a toss proper to Rice for 11 yards and one other first down. The Chiefs are on the transfer 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 begin at their 25.
National Anthem
The anthem is completed extraordinarily nicely by the Morgan State Choir, I give it 8/10. Ray Lewis makes an look to fireside up the group. It’s 47 levels, about three levels Celsius, an opportunity of rain and a wee little bit of wind. Here comes kickoff!
Kadarius Toney
The Chiefs wideout shouldn’t be taking part in immediately with a hip harm, however he has prompt KC brass will not be telling the reality about their butterfingered wideout on Instagram. I’m imagining this won’t go over so nicely within the coaches room. Caution, there’s some extraordinarily vulgar language right here.
It’s virtually time!
Which AFC workforce will advance to Super Bowl LVII (I believe that’s 58) in Las Vegas? Baltimore? Kansas City? We’re about to seek out out: kickoff is quickly – stand by!
And some extra pre-game hype
I don’t know what Roquon Smith is saying, however he appears to have their consideration.
Pre-game hype
It’s not fairly Any Given Sunday, however it’ll do.
Crab truffles vs ribs
I’ve usually thought to myself, what do I want, crab truffles or ribs? You know, I used to be driving dwelling from Washington DC just a few weeks again, and I finished at this again street seafood gap within the wall joint in Maryland and had a crab cake. And it was fairly good. Simple, however good. But I really feel like there’s a ceiling on crab truffles, like there’s a ceiling on hamburgers. How good can a burger actually get? How good can a crab cake actually be? You can solely be blown away a lot. But after I was in KC, the ribs. Oh the ribs. I used to be there for underneath 24 hours, on a visit that additionally included a visit to the ER – I used to be okay, thanks to your concern. But I received KC ribs in, and man, there’s no ceiling on something with a thick sticky candy sauce. So BBQ ribs v Baltimore/Maryland crab truffles, it’s ribs in a rout.
Does this imply I ought to take the factors?
Experience issue
Who has the quarterback edge? Patrick Mahomes is 13-3 within the playoffs. Jackson? He’s 2-3. That mentioned, Jackson has by no means had a workforce round him like he does now. You might see that Lamar had a glance of concern on his face when his workforce was tied 10-10 with the Texans, however he turned it round and piled on Houston within the second half. It received’t be as simple in opposition to KC after all. And Mahomes does have the expertise. He confronted the hardest street matchup of his profession final week, serving to his workforce dispatch a QB on his degree in Josh Allen. I doubt he’ll be phased by one other street take a look at in Baltimore, although the Ravens protection is ferocious.
So, who has the sting? The future MVP or a man who has received two Super Bowls? Until somebody takes down KC, I’m considering it needs to be Mahomes.
Chris Jones’ cash
How efficient Chris Jones is immediately may have loads to say about how the KC protection holds again Baltimore’s juggernaut offense. Not {that a} participant like Jones wants a lot motivation, however ought to his Chiefs discover a well beyond B’extra, he’s in line for a tasty $1m test, due to an incentive that pays him to succeed in the Super Bowl. Jones has been step by step clawing again the million bucks in money he misplaced after holding out at first of the season, reaching incentives for enjoying time and sacks, after begging coach Andy Reid to remain on the sector in week 18 to succeed in his sack aim.
Money apart, Jones is aware of he’s in for a probably robust day.
They’ve confirmed that all year long, how aggressive they’re in opposition to the higher groups within the league. Look at a workforce just like the 49ers, take a look at what they did in opposition to Miami. They’ve been displaying that kind of dominance all through this yr, so it’s going to be robust, it’s a problem, however I’m excited for it.
Jones isn’t flawed – Baltimore has been terrific in opposition to the leagues greatest. They’ve received 14 video games this season – 11 of these have come in opposition to groups with profitable data. So the Ravens didn’t get to the AFC title sport by beating up on have nots.
Let’s go!
Hello and welcome to our protection of the AFC Championship sport! It’s good that you simply turned up, as a result of it’s laborious to think about this matchup not residing as much as the hype. We’ve lined up the Chiefs, seasoned Super Bowl winners, who’ve lived on this title sport for six years operating. And the Ravens, who’ve the very best report soccer, a future MVP at quarterback and the very best level differential within the NFL. We did this all, only for you. You’re welcome.
It’s going to be nice to look at and observe alongside, however making an attempt to determine who has the sting has been difficult. Let’s attempt to break it down some.
The Ravens are at dwelling, at all times useful. They’re getting their stellar tight finish Mark Andrews again. Lamar Jackson is an elite, do all of it quarterback seeking to lastly break into the massive present. Baltimore has a monster protection, among the finest kickers of all-time and a head coach with a Super Bowl ring. While the upstart Texans gave them a run within the divisional spherical for a half of soccer, Baltimore ran wild within the second half, cementing a blowout.
The Chiefs want much less of an introduction. After an everyday season that was lower than stellar by their requirements, Kansas City is approaching Kansas City ranges. Mahomes, who let’s face it, hasn’t been working on his degree, is coming round, having pulled out all of the stops on the street in Buffalo final week. That’s some due to Rashee Rice, who has turn into the go-to receiver they lacked earlier within the season. Loved up Travis Kelce additionally regarded much more like himself within the final spherical. the offensive line play has been exceptionally robust. And regardless of having some banged up key gamers, Willie Gay, Mike Edwards, por ejemplo, the youngsters behind them lacking have performed extraordinarily nicely.
You know what else is loopy? The Chiefs are getting factors, 4.5 of them. We’re speaking a couple of workforce led by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, being handed a really respectable chunk of factors by the oddsmakers. They got 2.5 on the street final week in Buffalo and look how that turned out. So from a playing perspective, it appears robust to show down the factors, which looks as if a Vegas lure! As to who’s going to win the true world match-up, I’m nonetheless spinning my wheels.
But what do you assume? Why not let me know? Join the present, ship me your ideas and emotions to X at @LengelDavid, or by way of electronic mail. Do it, and I’ll make you well-known.
More to come back quickly. Stick with us!
David might be right here shortly. In the meantime, right here’s a fast preview of immediately’s sport:
Story of the season: A brand new hierarchy has been established within the AFC. The Ravens dethroned the Chiefs within the common season by cooking up a 13-4 report that’s even higher than it appears when an excusable loss from Tyler Huntley and the backups to Pittsburgh in Week 18 is taken into consideration. The Chiefs will care little for all that although. Their scratchy run to January nonetheless delivered victory within the AFC West as they scraped by thanks largely to their protection selecting up the appreciable slack from Patrick Mahomes’ down yr. The grasp quarterback can flip it on like a faucet although, and he was near his greatest when the Chiefs knocked off the Bills final weekend. He should do it another time if he desires to indicate the Ravens who the kings of the AFC actually are.
What the Chiefs must do to win: Andy Reid wants to determine the best way to preserve offensive effectivity within the face of the NFL’s greatest protection. Mahomes helped Travis Kelce pop off the stat sheet final week: he scored for the primary time in eight video games. But Mahomes’ job was made simpler as a result of he was concentrating on the Bills’ depleted linebackers. He may have no such luxurious on Sunday. Reid needs to be artistic in his play calling whereas leaning on the explosive Isiah Pacheco to maintain Mahomes from having to win the sport on his personal. If the quarterback is improvising to beat the Ravens from the get-go then Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme, primarily based on complicated the opposition by way of displaying blitz however dropping into protection and vice versa, might nicely thrive.
What the Ravens must do to win: Baltimore have to take care of their defensive ferocity. They smothered CJ Stroud final week, pressuring the quarterback on 51.4% of his dropbacks as he accomplished 7 of 17 passes for 62 yards underneath duress. Yes, they recorded zero sacks however the depth was sufficient to maintain Stroud underneath lock and key. Even the defensive backs were shutting down trick plays behind the road of scrimmage. Mahomes is unlikely to be as fazed as a rookie like Stroud but when the Ravens direct warmth at Kelce then the quarterback should go on the lookout for considerably much less harmful receivers. The man who can lead the struggle for the Ravens is security Kyle Hamilton. He has the dimensions at 6ft 4in and 220lbs to face as much as Kelce whereas positionally he excels on the line of scrimmage. Perfect for masking the tight finish’s looking floor in the course of the sector.
Key participant for the Chiefs: Jason Kelce, beer drinker. Forget Taylor Swift, the Chiefs have a brand new mascot. Travis balled out with huge bro within the stands, 40 beers deep, sticking it to Bills followers. Give this man a megaphone, 5 well-stocked fridges and let him go to work in Baltimore. Kelce, Kelce, KELCE.
Key participant 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,” mentioned Jackson to his quarterback coach Tee Martin at half-time after Houston rocked him with two sacks earlier than the break. An common time to throw in opposition to the blitz of three.44sec dropped to 2.02sec within the second half whereas he pitched a 24-0 shutout. Running, passing, elite studying of the sport. MVP.
Prediction: Ravens over Chiefs. The Ravens really feel like a workforce that also haven’t needed to push to the extremes Kansas City needed to discover to beat Buffalo, so they need to have loads within the tank to match a Mahomes-led onslaught. Tight finish Mark Andrews’ return might be the tipping level. Jackson will reportedly have his red-zone monster again to additional break up the Chiefs’ defensive priorities, a giant enhance if the Ravens are pushed right into a shootout.
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