FINAL: Baltimore Ravens Self-Destruct in 17-10 AFC Championship Loss vs. Chiefs
The last time the city of Baltimore hosted a conference championship game, Richard Nixon was in the White House and the median family income in the United States was just $10,290.
Fast forward 50-plus years and Charm City gets another chance. This time it's the Ravens instead of the Colts - who just 13 years after that first-ever AFC Championship game bolted for Indy - playing for a conference title in M&T Bank Stadium instead of old Memorial Stadium.
The Chiefs are playing in their sixth straight championship game but the first of those six on the road. The Ravens will appear in their fifth overall conference title game, but first at home.
The Chiefs will play without wideout Kaderius Toney, who is listed as out due to a hip injury as well as undisclosed "personal reasons" by the team. Kansas City also has injury issues along the offensive line with left guard Joe Thuney missing with a strained pectoral muscle suffered in the Divisional Round matchup with Buffalo.
Running back Isiah Pacheco will need to have a big day against the Ravens' defense, and that could be hindered by Thuney's injury. Pacheco himself has been dealing with an ankle and toe injury.
The Ravens' final injury designations for Sunday include corner Marlon Humphrey, wideout Tylan Wallace and safety Rock Ya-Sin all as questionable while linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips is doubtful.
The team anticipates the return of tight end Mark Andrews for his first game action since an ankle injury suffered against the Bengals on Nov. 16 caused him to miss the final seven games of the regular season and the Divisional round matchup with the Houston Texans.
First Quarter
The Chiefs won the toss and elected to defer to the second-half.
The Ravens opened the game with a quick three-and-out as they picked up just three yards before a third-down pass from Jackson fell incomplete.
Change of Possession
The Chiefs picked up a first down quickly as Patrick Mahomes found his running back, Isiah Pacheco, for a gain of 10 yards. Then Mahomes found another first down as he hit Rashee Rice. Then, a few plays later, facing a fourth and one, Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a big 13-yard gain before he later found him again, this time for a 19-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS
Chiefs 7, Ravens 0
Change of Possession
After a quick three-and-out opened the game, the Ravens offense found a rhythm in their second drive. After opening this drive with an incompletion, Jackson would complete his next two passes for 39 yards and a touchdown, as he found Zay Flowers for a 30-yard score.
Jackson also broke free with a 21-yard run on fourth down to set the Ravens up deep inside Kansas City territory.
TOUCHDOWN RAVENS
Chiefs 7, Ravens 7
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
The Chiefs struck back with a 16-play drive that took over nine minutes off the clock. Mahomes completed eight of his nine passes to help move the Chiefs into scoring position, where Pacheco capped the drive off with a two-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS
Chiefs 14, Ravens 7
Change of Possession
The Ravens' next drive saw disaster strike as Jackson fumbled the ball and was sacked on first down after just four plays.
Change of Possession
The Chiefs' drive ended with a turnover on downs as they went for it on fourth and one but couldn't get it as the Ravens' defense held Pacheco's run for no gain.
Change of Possession
The Ravens couldn't take advantage of the defensive stop as they were forced to punt after this time after five plays.
Change of Possession
The Ravens defense managed to get yet another stop against the Chiefs, this time via a quick three-and-out.
Change of Possession
Jackson threw three straight incompletions as the Ravens went three-and-out again before another punt.
Change of Possession
The Chiefs' offense had a strong drive going as they reached the Ravens' 23-yard line before two straight offensive holding penalties knocked them out of field goal range. That was before a nine-yard pass from Mahomes to Kelce set up a 52-yard field goal from Harrison Butker.
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS
Chiefs 17, Ravens 7
Change of Possession
The Ravens took a knee to send the game to halftime
Third Quarter
The Ravens defense once again gets off the field on third-down as Marcus Williams breaks up Mahomes' pass intended for Travis Kelce.
Change of Possession
The Ravens couldn't do anything following up on the forced punt by their defense. The Baltimore offense also suffered a three-and-out before another punt.
Change of Possession
The Ravens defense forced the Chiefs to punt again after an eight-play drive that ended with Mahomes' pass to Pacheco was stopped for a loss of four yards.
Change of Possession
The Ravens drive lasted just seven plays before being forced to punt again as Jackson was sacked on third down.
Change of Possession
A six-man pressure from the Ravens' defense proved to be enough to get the Chiefs' offense off the field again on third down, as Mahomes was forced to throw the ball away.
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
A 54-yard completion to Flowers opened the drive, yet 15 yards were negated due to a taunting penalty. However, the Ravens wouldn't let that stop them as they reached the Kansas City nine-yard line, where Jackson found Flowers again for an eight-yard gain before he fumbled the ball for a touchback as he dove for the goal-line.
Change of Possession
The Ravens forced another punt despite another potentially controversial call that helped extend Kansas City's drive as Clowney was called for a roughing the passer penalty.
Change of Possession
A 12-play drive for the Ravens that reached the Kansas City red zone ended similarly to how their last one went... a turnover. Jackson, a ball into triple coverage intended for Isaiah Likely, and the Chiefs made him pay for it with an interception in the endzone.
Change of Possession
Keeping hope alive, the Ravens' defense forced a three-and-out punt as Mahomes' third-down pass to Pacheco was held three yards short of the first down.
Change of Possession
Needing at least a field goal, the Ravens get exactly that as Jackson led them 29 yards in nine plays, setting up a 43-yard field goal from Justin Tucker.
FIELD GOAL RAVENS
Chiefs 17, Ravens 10
Change of Possession
It came down to a third-and-nine, where Mahomes found Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a big 32-yard gain. The Chiefs kneel out the clock.
FINAL: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Ravens 10
