Chiefs Lead Ravens at Half: Thursday Night Football

On Thursday night, the Kansas City Chiefs embark on what they hope will be a historic season that ends with an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory. The run for three in a row begins as the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football to kick off the 2024 NFL regular season.

After a brief weather delay for lightning in the area, the Ravens started the first half with the ball. After a comedy of penalties on Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari for not being lined up properly on the line of scrimmage, Baltimore found legs during its first drive of the game.

That drive resulted in a Derrick Henry 5-yard touchdown run, capping off an 11-play, 70-yard series for an early 7-0 Ravens lead.  Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson carried twice for 19 yards while Henry gained 17 yards on five carries. Jackson went 3-for-4 on the drive for 39 yards through the air.

But the Ravens' lead didn't last long as it took Mahomes and the Chiefs exactly five plays to go 67 yards to tie it up. That drive ended with a 21-yard end around by rookie wideout Xavier Worthy for the touchdown.

The first quarter ended with a 7-7 tie. Kansas City had a chance to go a touchdown ahead a couple of times early in the second quarter after Jackson was sacked by Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and fumbled the ball at the Ravens 20-yard line.

Isiah Pacheco and JuJu Smith-Schuster both dropped passes at the goal line before Harrison Butker kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 10-7 Kansas City lead.

The Chiefs' defense came up big again on the Ravens' next possession with a 4th down stand at midfield. On 4th and 3, Jackson connected with wideout Zay Flowers in the right flat and he was met immediately by corner Trent McDuffie for just a yard.

The Mahomes-Kelce connection paid off during a 3rd and 12 conversion when Mahomes found Kelce for 23 yards to the Baltimore 18-yard line, setting the Chiefs up in the red zone. But the Ravens' defense held Butker to a 31-yard field goal for a 13-7 Kansas City field goal.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had a rare miss on a 53-yard attempt inside the two-minute warning that gave the ball back to the Chiffs with 1:50 left in the half.

But on the first play of the series, Mahomes was hit while throwing the ball, and a fluttering dead duck pass was intercepted by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith at the Kansas City 43-yard line.

With :12 on the clock, the Ravens took their final timeout of the half with a 1st and Goal from the Chiefs 6-yard line. But the Kansas City defense held to a couple of incompletions and Tucker knocked one through for a 25-yard field goal for a 13-10 Chiefs lead at the half.

Mahomes is 9-of-14 for 117 yards and an interception, while Jackson is 13-of-18 for 105 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Jackson also has eight carries for 63 yards and Worthy leads all Chiefs with 21 yards on one carry.

Flowers leads the Ravens with five catches for 39 yards and Rashee Rice has caught four balls for 47 yards.

The Chiefs get the ball first to start the second half.

Related: Chiefs vs. Ravens: How to Watch, Betting Odds

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