You’ve bought at hand it to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. They knew precisely what everybody most wished to see Thursday night time as they ushered in a brand new NFL season at residence towards the Baltimore Ravens. And of their first drive of the sport, Andy Reid wasted no time dialing up the play to quench our collective curiosity after an low season of questioning, Simply how briskly is that new man, anyway?
That new man, after all, is rookie vast receiver Xavier Worthy, Kansas Metropolis’s 28th general decide final April and — as Thursday night time’s electrical debut suggests — the important thing to opening up a complete new chapter of the Reid-Mahomes playbook this fall.
Worthy, who wowed on the scouting mix along with his historic 40-yard sprint time and has understandably earned loads of Tyreek Hill comparisons since becoming a member of the Chiefs, showcased his unimaginable pace on his first profession NFL contact. Early in Kansas Metropolis’s opening drive, Worthy caught a fast flip from Patrick Mahomes within the backfield and sprinted 21-yards into the endzone to even up the rating 7-7.
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And he didn’t decelerate all recreation, usually serving as a speedy diversion to attract defenders away from the place Mahomes was concentrating on different weapons like Rashee Rice or to provide star operating again Isiah Pacheco somewhat extra room to roam. Worthy did his greatest work within the largest moments, additionally catching two passes on three targets for 47 yards and the Chiefs’ closing landing to seal the back-to-back champions’ season-opening victory by a rating of 27-20.
And whereas the Ravens fought again in what was a back-and-forth affair that got here proper right down to the wire — or, slightly, an enormous toe — Baltimore might by no means fairly catch as much as Kansas Metropolis.
Defences, you’ve been warned. The Chiefs’ offence is so again.
Right here’s a group of our high takeaways from Thursday’s thrilling season-opener.
Ravens’ late rally foiled by a toe
Yeah, it’s a cliché, however soccer actually is a recreation of inches. Ravens tight finish Isaiah Doubtless realized that the exhausting manner Thursday night time when his exceptional landing seize with zeroes on the clock was overturned after video overview revealed the tip of his proper cleat landed simply out of bounds. An excellent catch would’ve introduced the rating to 27-26. The digital camera panned to go coach John Harbaugh holding up two fingers to point they’d forgo the shot at time beyond regulation and go for a two-point conversion for the win. We’ll by no means know if that gamble paid off, because the overturned catch noticed the Chiefs clinch the victory.
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“I believed Isaiah performed an incredible soccer recreation I used to be happy with him and lot of others guys too,” Harbaugh instructed reporters after the sport.
In all equity to Doubtless, his overturned catch got here after just a few different missed alternatives within the closing sequence, together with Jackson lacking a wide-open Zay Flowers in the midst of the endzone with simply 10 seconds left — one other ‘what if’ to ruminate on for Baltimore devoted trying to find options about find out how to beat the Chiefs.
“Gotta put on white cleats subsequent time,” Mahomes stated of Doubtless’s misstep. “That’s my recommendation for him.”
Does Jackson have a brand new favorite weapon?
Like Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the bond between Lamar Jackson and Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews has been fairly particular. So, when Andrews went down with a leg damage final 12 months, it took somewhat time for the Ravens offence to regulate to life with out their TE1. That’s when Doubtless stepped in, and critically stepped up, in his place and loved some breakout success. However with Andrews totally wholesome to begin this season, many anticipated Prone to take a step again.
That’s not what occurred Thursday night time, although, with Doubtless main all Ravens pass-catchers in targets (12), receptions (9), and receiving yards (111) with a landing, besides. Is that this an indication of a good higher connection to return?
Jackson’s on a mission to run
After final 12 months’s offensive playbook prioritized Jackson’s arm over his legs in an try to open up Baltimore’s offence, Thursday’s season opener noticed a way more run-heavy recreation from the dual-threat quarterback.
Jackson appeared extra empowered to name his personal photographs at many instances throughout the recreation, and used his legs greater than in any contest final season. The 2-time MVP ran 16 instances towards the Chiefs, racking up 122 yards. And he wasn’t the one Raven who thrived within the run recreation…
King Henry appears to be like proper at residence with Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens’ game-opening possession began out somewhat messy with flags flying in all instructions — please, no extra unlawful formation calls! — however it led to maybe probably the most becoming manner attainable: With a pair of runs from Jackson to get Baltimore into the redzone and a signature Derrick Henry surge down the center to safe the primary rating of the 2024 NFL season.
The landing was the proper exclamation level to conclude what was a statement-making opening drive — a 75-yard marathon that ate up practically half of the primary quarter. The drive featured Henry prominently, with Jackson additionally operating early and sometimes to set the tone for what was a wild recreation.
When Henry signed his two-year take care of Baltimore within the early days of free company, it seemed like a match made in heaven. And it was clear proper from kick-off Thursday night time that Henry was feeling proper at residence in his new offence.
Drops nonetheless hang-out Chiefs
As enjoyable as this season kickoff was, it wasn’t at all times fairly. As a result of whereas Worthy’s arrival ushers in a Chiefs offence that extra intently resembles the one from three seasons in the past, there’s nonetheless some indicators of final 12 months’s struggles — together with a case of the drops. The Chiefs led the league in dropped passes final season, and Thursday noticed them rack up just a few to begin off the brand new marketing campaign — together with one by an open Pacheco, one by the ever-reliable Kelce, and one that might’ve been a rating had Juju Smith-Schuster simply been capable of safe it. Mahomes, who completed the sport with 291 passing yards, additionally threw an uncharacteristic decide in the midst of the sphere, snatched up by Ravens star Roquan Smith. Rust, possibly, however the drops may very well be one thing to observe.