The Chiefs heard all the noise and responded upon entering M&T Bank Stadium, jumping out to an early lead on the Baltimore Ravens and taking a 17-7 lead into halftime.
Sunday is the 5th time the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens have trailed by double digits at halftime (0-4 in the first four games).
Three other times, it has been vs. the Chiefs (2019 and 2020).
Kansas City answered the questions about Baltimore’s physicality, attacking the Ravens in the trenches on both sides of the football.
With the second half underway, we’re looking at takeaways from the first half.
1
Kelce strikes first
Kelce’s matchup with Kyle Hamilton was key to the Ravens overall success on defense and the All-Pro struck first with a backshoulder fade for a touchdown in the redzone.
Patrick Mahomes is able to fit that throw to Travis Kelce for 19-yard TD despite Kyle Hamilton playing outstanding coverage.
Hamilton had allowed the most coverage snaps (207) without a TD among all safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 28, 2024
Kelce had 3 catches, for 36 yards and a touchdown on that first drive, and 9 catches for 96 yards in the first half.
2
Mahomes first drive
On that drive, Mahomes was 5-for-5 for 57 yards and a TD. Kelce had three catches for 36 yards, a TD, and a key fourth-down 13-yard catch.
l and go 86 yards on 10 plays for a 7-0 lead at the 7:41 mark of the first quarter.
3
Lamar Jackson the magician
Jackson somehow escaped a sacked, and connected with Zay Flowers for Baltimore’s first score of the game.
Lamar drew an 8 with his touchdown to Zay Flowers. 🤯😈 pic.twitter.com/m6yXCWs7Jf
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) January 28, 2024
Jackson was 5-of-12 for 67 yards, 1 TD; 4 rushes for 27 yards; 1 catch for 13 yds.
4
Mahomes carving the Ravens up
Patrick Mahomes’ first quarter: 10-for-10, 86 yards, one touchdown.
Mahomes was back there for almost 10 seconds before he threw it 😱
📺: #KCvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/IIZbdmhqNS pic.twitter.com/l8zHppOpaK— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2024
In the first half, Mahomes was 20-of-25 for 161 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries for 18 yards.
Patrick Mahomes held onto the ball for 9.78 seconds and scrambled 25.9 yards before finding Travis Kelce for a 10-yd reception & first down.
Mahomes & Kelce have combined for 17 receptions on 4+ sec dropbacks this season, 4 more than next closest duo.#KCvsBAL | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/P3FxDOytmR
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 28, 2024
5
Zay Flowers
Flowers had 2 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
LAMAR. ZAY. WHAT A PLAY.
📺: #KCvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/IIZbdmhqNS pic.twitter.com/GJqSOk5c4t— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2024
6
Ravens defense
After talking tough to the Chiefs offense, Baltimore’s defense was gashed in the first half on the ground and through the air.
The #Ravens defense has given up 156 yards and 2 TD on 2 possessions.
They gave up just 213 yards and 0 TD last week.#Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) January 28, 2024
The Ravens allowed 221 yards in the first half on 43 plays.
7
Chiefs defense gets the turnover
Lamar Jackson had been so careful with the football prior to this matchup, but a strip sack from Charles Omenihu and the Chiefs took over on the Ravens 33.
Omenihu got around Ronnie Stanley.
CHIEFS STRIP SACK.
📺: #KCvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/IIZbdmhqNS pic.twitter.com/oFH0mpU6xD— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2024
8
Chiefs near perfect on third downs
Kansas City was 5-9 on third downs, while Baltimore was 1-5.
KC is 4-of-5 on 3rd down
the 1 miss? they converted on 4th down
on 3rd/4th down Mahomes is 4-of-4 for 9.5 YPA
on fire right now
Mike Macdonald needs to find answers and make adjustments asap
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 28, 2024
9
Ravens rushing attack
Baltimore ran the football 9 times in the first half and Lamar Jackson had four of those carries for 27 yards.
Gus Edwards and Justice Hill combined for 4 carries and 18 yards in the first half.
10
Isiah Pacheco
The Chiefs running back had 14 carries, for 41 yards and one touchdown in the first half.
11
Random notes
Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce tied Jerry Rice for the most postseason catches in NFL history during the first half and then past him two plays later.
Time of possession: Chiefs have run 29 plays to Ravens’ 13, even though Baltimore got the ball first. Time of possession is a whopping 16:03 to 5:47, and Kansas City still has the ball.
The Chiefs out-gained the Ravens 221-111 in the first half. Possessed the ball for 20:39 compared to 9:21 for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson: 5-of-12 for 67 yards, 1 TD; 4 rushes for 27 yards; 1 catch for 13 yds
