Since coming to the NFL in 2018 a heavy slab resided on the shoulders of Lamar Jackson: He did not win against the Chiefs of Patrick Mahomes. Finally came the win for the Louisville product, who led the Ravens to glory 36-35 in SNF Week 2.
However, no one anticipated that Baltimore would win after Lamar’s troubled start to engagement. On the third play of the match, Tyrann Mathieu intercepted a shipment and returned it to the diagonals.
After the handover, both organizations engaged in a touchdown exchange (Devin Duvernay for the Ravens and Demarcus Robinson for the Chiefs) which was interrupted by Jackson’s second delivery in the first quarter – again Mathieu got the ball.
For the second period the offensives recovered vigor and there was a second assault with blows by each side. The hostilities were inaugurated with a carry by Latavius Murray, the answer came through the same channel (Damien Williams’ career) and the last word was left to the Ravens, who took advantage of the 52 seconds remaining on the clock for Justin Tucker to connect a goal from 43 yard field.
Second half
If Lamar’s victory seemed difficult after two early turnovers, the third quarter showed a very dark outlook at M&T Bank Stadium. Kansas City added 14 more units on the scoreboard courtesy of long-yardage passing scores (Byron Pringle of 40 yards and Travis Kelce of 46). The Ravens only added one touchdown to their account (Marquise Brown’s 42-yard catch) on the board that left them 11 units apart.
The element that made the difference in the game was the defense of the Ravens. In the final period, said unit achieved two exchanges of the ball that led to the commitment.
Tavon Young intercepted Mahomes in the twilight of the third quarter and for the beginning of the last quarter Lamar capitalized the pick on their own (they missed the conversion of two points that at that time put them three units behind Kansas City).
Baltimore’s defense signaled those units that gave them two Super Bowl titles and after limiting the Chiefs to just 13 yards on their next offense, they left the door open for Jackson shook off Mahomes off the head with a 68-yard offensive drive that Lamar capped (another wrong conversion).
However, three minutes is a universe in the NFL and the Chiefs were ready to win. That company stayed alive for almost two minutes, but Odafe Oweh ended that hope of a claw by snatching the ball from Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
What’s next
After getting their first win against the Chiefs (which also coincides with their first win of the year), Lamar Jackson will play the Lions in Detroit. For its part, Mahomes will host the Chargers en el Arrowhead Stadium.
