Kansas City Chiefs win against Baltimore Ravens

Eine Fußspitze, eigentlich nur der große Zeh, mehr berührte die weiße Linie hinter der Endzone nicht. Doch das Standbild war eindeutig. Die Chance auf den Sieg für die Baltimore Ravens und Pechvogel Isaiah Likely zerplatzte beim Videostudium. Am Ende jubelte im packenden Eröffnungsspiel der National Football League NFL abermals Dauersieger Kansas City Chiefs.

„Es war nervenaufreibend“, sagte Starspieler Patrick Mahomes nach dem 27:20 im eigenen Arrowhead Stadium zur Überprüfung der letzten, der entscheidenden Szene. Der Quarterback hatte mit seinen Chiefs zittern müssen – und war kurz darauf ziemlich erleichtert. „Es ist ein Spiel der Zentimeter. So sagt man das.“

Kansas City führte vor dem letzten Drive mit sieben Punkten Vorsprung, Tight End Likely fing einen Pass seines Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson mit Ablauf der Uhr. Touchdown zeigten die Referees an, mussten ihre Entscheidung aber revidieren. Es wäre das 26:27 gewesen, mit einer Two-Point-Conversion hätten die Ravens das Spiel gewinnen können.

Last year, Kansas City lost the opening game against the Detroit Lions (20:21), this time they saved the 2023 and 2024 Super Bowl champions. A first (small) step towards the “three-peat” has been taken – the Chiefs have the chance to be the first team to win the title in the US professional league three times in a row.

Before the 105th season could begin, the first thing to do was wait. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed over Missouri, and the kickoff was delayed by 20 minutes from 8:20 p.m. (local time) to 8:40 p.m. because of the storm. Superstar Taylor Swift, girlfriend of Chiefs pro Travis Kelce, also had to hide in her box.

In their first reunion since late January, when the Chiefs eliminated the Ravens in the playoff semifinals on the way to their third Super Bowl triumph, the two title contenders fought a completely open duel.

New signing Derrick Henry scored the first touchdown of the season in his Ravens debut, the running back ran five yards into the end zone. Kansas City responded through Xavier Worthy, the speedy rookie scoring the first of two touchdowns in the first quarter after a long sprint.

“Nervousness is not an issue for me,” Worthy said. “I feel like when I come in, it’s like I’m a kid again playing in the backyard.”

With his second, after a 35-yard pass from Mahomes, the 21-year-old made it 26:17 with a good ten minutes to go. The Ravens shortened the lead with a field goal, then Likely grabbed it – and landed an inch too far in front.

“It’s my mistake. I have to get both feet in,” Likely told the Baltimore Sun newspaper. “So I take responsibility. Next time I’ll be in with both feet.”