Patrick Mahomes sparkles at Baltimore, proving his Chiefs are still NFL’s team to beat
“We got beat just about every way you can get beat, and we understand that,” Ravens Coach John Harbaugh said in a postgame video news conference. “We have a long way to go to get better, and this will be a beginning for us.”
Mahomes ran for a touchdown and threw for four more in a 31-for-42, 385-yard passing show. He provided his customary highlight-reel plays by eluding pass rushers and delivering throws from all angles. He underhanded a second-quarter touchdown toss to a fullback, and after the Ravens pulled within 27-20 in the fourth quarter, he flipped a two-yard touchdown pass to left tackle Eric Fisher, who had lined up as an eligible receiver on a gadget play.
“I thought we had a good game plan coming in,” Mahomes told ESPN after the game. “The guys were ready to go. We understood this would be a big game for later on in the season. So I’m proud of the guys for how they played tonight.”
Mahomes reached 10,000 career passing yards Monday and did so in fewer games (34) than anyone else in league history.
“You’ve got to take your hat off to Patrick Mahomes,” Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell told reporters in a video news conference. “He made big-time throws when he needed to and found a way to win the ballgame. Right now, they played like the best team in the league. But it’s Week 3. There’s a lot of football left to be played. I’m confident that we’re going to rebound, and hopefully we’ve got to earn the right to see them again.”
Mahomes improved his career record in September games to 10-0. Even though it was only Week 3, the victory had significance for the AFC postseason picture. Under the NFL’s expanded playoff format in effect this season, only the No. 1 seed in each conference receives a first-round bye, a distinct advantage for that team. Kansas City and Baltimore figure to be in the running for that spot.
Jackson had a touchdown pass but threw for only 97 yards on 15-for-28 accuracy. He rushed for 83 yards but lost a fumble on a sack. The Ravens had a kickoff return for a touchdown by Devin Duvernay, but a couple of promising drives ended in field goals, and the Ravens never got their customarily dynamic offense revved up.
“We just weren’t on point tonight,” Jackson said. “That’s all. We’ve got to get ready for practice and get better.”
Jackson is the reigning MVP. His predecessor in winning the award was Mahomes. It was the first quarterback matchup in league history between former MVPs age 25 or younger, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It also pitted the reigning regular season MVP against the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
On this night, it was no contest. The Ravens welcomed a modest crowd of 250 family members of players, coaches and staffers to M&T Bank Stadium. They watched Mahomes and the Chiefs all but put the game away by halftime.
Mahomes did Mahomes things. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. He threw that underhand toss to fullback Anthony Sherman for a five-yard touchdown. He dropped a perfectly placed lob to well-covered wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 20-yard score. He absorbed a jarring hit in the pocket to deliver an on-target throw to wideout Mecole Hardman for a 49-yard touchdown.
“I think we knew they were going to try to do some of that,” Campbell said. “They’re a team that does screens well, shovel passes and all that kind of stuff. We prepared for it. We just didn’t execute today. You’ve got to take your hat off to them. They played a great football game. We tried to make a run late. We just didn’t have enough to get it done today. But this team, we’re going to be just fine.”
Whenever the Ravens blitzed, it seemed, Mahomes and the Chiefs made them pay.
“We just worked on it all offseason,” Mahomes said in his ESPN interview. “I mean, going against our defense in training camp, they blitz a lot as well. We got presented those situations, and then we executed. I thought we did a great job. The guys sped up their routes, and the [offensive] line did a great job protecting me.”
The Chiefs stalled in the third quarter with a lost fumble and a failed fourth down. The Ravens got a third-quarter field goal and drew within 27-20 on Jackson’s five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nick Boyle on the opening play of the fourth quarter. But there was no late-game magic for Jackson.
“We’ve just got to tighten up and play better,” Jackson said. “That’s all.”
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Find highlights …
September 28, 2020 at 11:16 PM EDT
Patrick Mahomes outshines Lamar Jackson as Chiefs beat Ravens
By Mark Maske
(Final score: Chiefs 34, Ravens 20)
September 28, 2020 at 11:04 PM EDT
Ravens stall with two sacks, fourth-down incompletion
By Mark Maske
The Ravens couldn’t reply. They moved to the Kansas City 13-yard line. But Lamar Jackson was sacked on consecutive plays and threw incomplete on fourth and 24.
(Chiefs 34, Ravens 20 with 4:49 left in the 4th quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:56 PM EDT
Chiefs back in control after gadget-play TD pass to offensive tackle
By Mark Maske
The Chiefs used a trick play to reestablish control of the game. Mahomes flipped a two-yard touchdown pass to left tackle Eric Fisher, who lined up as an eligible receiver and was left uncovered by the Ravens. The Chiefs moved 75 yards on 13 plays.
(Chiefs 34, Ravens 20 with 8:14 left in the 4th quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:37 PM EDT
Lamar Jackson’s TD pass gets Ravens within seven points
By Mark Maske
The Ravens are right back in the game. Lamar Jackson used play action to connect with tight end Nick Boyle for a five-yard touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
Running back Gus Edwards provided a 24-yard run as the Ravens had to move only 49 yards following the fourth-down stop of the Chiefs. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 20 with 14:55 left in the 4th quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:27 PM EDT
Ravens stop Chiefs on fourth down
By Mark Maske
The Baltimore defense is doing its part. Now the offense needs to get moving. The Ravens stopped the Chiefs on a fourth-and-one try by tackling fullback Anthony Sherman for no gain. The Ravens take possession at the Kansas City 49-yard line, trailing by two touchdowns. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 13 with 3:01 left in the 3rd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:20 PM EDT
Ravens get field goal
By Mark Maske
The Ravens turned the fumble lost by the Chiefs into only a field goal. They were moving the ball. But tight end Mark Andrews could not hold onto the football on a would-be touchdown catch. The Ravens lined up for a fourth-and-two try from the Kansas City 19-yard line but committed a false start penalty. Enter kicker Justin Tucker, who connected from 42 yards. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 13 with 6:13 left in the 3rd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:13 PM EDT
Chiefs lose fumble
By Mark Maske
The Chiefs were on the move again on the opening possession of the second half but committed a turnover. Running back Darwin Thompson lost a fumble that the Ravens recovered at their 21-yard line.
(Chiefs 27, Ravens 10 with 12:43 left in the 3rd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 10:01 PM EDT
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs dominate Ravens in first half
By Mark Maske
This was supposed to be a captivating matchup between the NFL’s top two teams and a quarterback duel for the ages between the two most recent league MVPs. Instead, the first half in Baltimore was a showcase for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs while devolving into a frustrating experience for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
The Chiefs have sprinted to a 27-10 lead that could have been 31-10 if not for a missed extra point and a missed field goal by usually reliable kicker Harrison Butker. The Chiefs failed to cash in on a fumble lost by Jackson in the final minute of the half when Butker pulled a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left five seconds before the break.
Mahomes, trying to extend his career record in September games to 10-0, did plenty of Mahomes-like things in the half. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for a touchdown after the Ravens had opened the game with a field goal.
Mahomes threw an underhand toss to fullback Anthony Sherman for a five-yard touchdown. He dropped a perfectly placed lob to well-covered wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 20-yard touchdown. He absorbed a jarring hit in the pocket to deliver an on-target throw to wideout Mecole Hardman for a 49-yard touchdown.
Jackson and the Ravens couldn’t keep pace. They settled for a field goal after a promising opening drive. Their lone first-half touchdown came on a 93-yard kickoff return by rookie Devin Duvernay. The Ravens managed only five first downs and were outgained, 333 total yards to 97. Jackson ran for 41 yards but managed only 35 passing yards. The Ravens aren’t known as a come-from-behind team. They’ll have to be one on this night. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 10 at halftime)
September 28, 2020 at 9:44 PM EDT
Lamar Jackson loses fumble
By Mark Maske
It has been a rough first half for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense. Jackson lost a fumble on a sack by Kansas City’s Chris Jones, who knocked the football from Jackson’s hand before Jackson’s arm began moving forward on a passing attempt.
The Chiefs recovered at their own 49-yard line. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 10 with 45 seconds left in the 2nd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 9:40 PM EDT
Another Mahomes TD pass puts Chiefs firmly in control
By Mark Maske
The Chiefs are pouring it on. Patrick Mahomes found wide receiver Mecole Hardman for a 49-yard touchdown on a third-and-14 play.
Hardman got open on a double move, faking toward the sideline and then cutting straight up the field. Mahomes absorbed a heavy hit from blitzing cornerback Marlon Humphrey and delivered an on-target throw. (Chiefs 27, Ravens 10 with 1:48 left in the 2nd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 9:25 PM EDT
Mahomes-to-Hill touchdown pushes Chiefs ahead 20-10
By Mark Maske
Patrick Mahomes is doing Patrick Mahomes things.
He lofted a perfectly placed 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was being blanketed by Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters. No matter. Mahomes put it where only Hill could reach it.
Mahomes had a dart of a throw for a 29-yard completion to tight end Travis Kelce earlier on the drive, and he eluded the Ravens’ pass rush for an 18-yard connection to wideout Mecole Hardman on third and five.
(Chiefs 20, Ravens 10 with 6:40 left in the 2nd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 9:07 PM EDT
Devin Duvernay returns kickoff for TD for Ravens
By Mark Maske
It took the Ravens only 12 seconds to answer the Chiefs’ touchdown with one of their own as rookie Devin Duvernay returned the kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
The third-round draft pick from Texas started up the middle of the field, cut to his right, reached the sideline and eluded kicker Harrison Butker’s last-ditch attempt to force him out of bounds. (Chiefs 13, Ravens 10 with 12:40 left in the 2nd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 9:02 PM EDT
Chiefs get TD on underhand toss to fullback
By Mark Maske
You can cover Travis Kelce. You can cover Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins. And Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs still will find a way to beat you.
This time, it was fullback Anthony Sherman scoring a five-yard touchdown on an underhand forward pass by Mahomes, a clever play by the Chiefs on third and goal.
Earlier on the 13-play drive, rookie tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire picked up 15 yards on a third-and-five screen pass.
Mahomes connected with Kelce for completions of 11 and 13 yards. He moved around in the pocket to find Watkins for 15 yards on third and nine, giving the Chiefs a first down at the Baltimore 8-yard line. (Chiefs 13, Ravens 3 with 12:52 left in the 2nd quarter)
September 28, 2020 at 8:46 PM EDT
Ravens punt after busted third-and-long play
By Mark Maske
It was a bad second possession for the Ravens, who punted after Lamar Jackson was sacked and nearly lost a fumble on third and 15. Jackson dropped the football but, fortunately for the Ravens, it landed out of bounds after the quarterback was chased to the sideline by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones.
Earlier, Coach John Harbaugh yelled angrily at the officials, with his mask temporarily pulled down, about a tripping penalty. (Chiefs 6, Ravens 3 with 4:12 left in the 1st quarter)
