Turnovers, Disappearing Offense Doom Ravens in 17-10 Loss to Chiefs in AFC Championship Game
The Ravens lost to the Chiefs 24-7 on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore behind three turnovers and failed to earn a trip to Super Bowl LVIII against the winner of the NFC Championship game.
The Baltimore offense failed to make an impact in the first half while the defense played poorly at the same time. That allowed the Chiefs to jump out to a 17-7 lead at the break.
The Chiefs took advantage of a Ravens 3-and-out to start the game and marched down the field on their first possession to score the day's first points with a 10-play, 86-yard drive that took 5:45 off the clock and resulted in a 19-yard pass from Mahomes to star tight end Travis Kelce.
But Jackson and Baltimore would answer with a 30-yard touchdown pass to rookie wideout Zay Flowers that ended a six-play, 75-yard drive for Baltimore's second possession, tying the score at 7-7.
The Kansas City offense marched again in the ensuing possession and took 9:02 off the clock in a 16-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a two-yard run by Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco for a 14-7 Kansas City lead.
As the half was drawing to a close, two unsportsmanlike penalties on the Ravens defense - on linebacker Kyle Van Noy for a headbutt and one on Travis Jones for clotheslining Mahomes - set the Chiefs up with under a minute to play.
Harrison Butker made a 52-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a 17-7 lead as the teams entered the tunnel for halftime.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson completed just 5 of 12 passes for 67 yards for one touchdown and also lost a fumble in the first half while the Ravens' offense managed just 111 total yards. Kansas City also had 16 first downs to the Ravens' five. KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes went 20-of-25 for 161 yards and a touchdown pass as the Chiefs racked up 221 total yards of offense in the first 30 minutes.
The second half was just as brutal for the team from Charm City. While the defense held the Chiefs scoreless, the Ravens' offense could not overcome two end zone turnovers. Rookie wideout Zay Flowers fumbled away a touchdown when he got hit just before breaking the plane of the goal line when diving for a score. The Chiefs recovered in the end zone for a touchback.
Jackson committed his second turnover of the day with an interception in the end zone while throwing an ill-advised pass to Flowers with three Kansas City defenders draped on him.
The Ravens managed a 43-yard Justin Tucker field goal with just 2:34 left in the game to get within one score, but the Chiefs were able to keep the ball out of Jackson's hands until the final whistle.
Mahomes completed the game 30-of-39 for 241 yards and one touchdown, while the star of the show offensively was Travis Kelce with 11 catches on 11 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Kelce also broke Jerry Rice's career postseason receptions record.
Jackson finished the day 20-of-37 for 272 yards with one touchdown, one interception and one lost fumble. He was also sacked three times and carried the ball eight times for 54 yards.
Flowers led the way for the Ravens with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown along with a brutal goal line fumble. Odell Beckham Jr. caught just three balls for 22 yards.
The Ravens will regroup and get ready for 2024.
