Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was delighted to get off to a “great start” by beating the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 in the NFL curtain-raiser.
It was a nervy finish for the reigning Super Bowl champions as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens looked to have scored a last-gasp touchdown and were going for the win with a two-point conversion.
But an official review showed Isaiah Likely’s toe was on the out-of-bounds line, meaning the score was chalked off, handing the Chiefs the win.
It was a great night for Mahomes, who threw for a touchdown and 291 yards.
Speaking after the match, he said: “It was nerve-wracking. It’s a game of inches, that’s what they say.
“That’s a great football team, to come out here and get a win at Arrowhead, that’s a way to start a season.
CONSIDER THE SEASON KICKED OFF. pic.twitter.com/1LN4ndKN6r
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 6, 2024
“I feel like the guys responded well, that’s a great start.”
Head coach Andy Reid agreed with his star QB, adding: “It was a fight down to the end.
“When they say it’s a game of inches, might be shorter than that.”
For the Ravens, it will be a night of reflection as they look to challenge the Chiefs in the post-season next year.
They came so close but lost out again to what is undoubtedly their bogey team.
Jackson said after the match: “I thought it was a touchdown, I still think it’s a touchdown.
Coach Harbaugh on Isaiah Likely, Lamar Jackson and the O-line: pic.twitter.com/hOXEp7qtAH
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 6, 2024
“We were just hoping. I saw 32 and 20 turning to pursue him when he realised where the ball was going, so I threw it so he could make a play on it.
“Great job, acrobatic catch, I believed it was two feet in.”
Head coach John Harbaugh added: “I thought our guys (overcame) setbacks at times, and fought like crazy to overcome.
“It looked like we had an opportunity there to tie the game up and try to win. Didn’t happen at the end, but our guys fought.”
