A Game of Inches: How Kansas City’s Defensive Shell Stifled Baltimore’s Final Push
KANSAS CITY — The NFL season started exactly where it left off: with the Baltimore Ravens staring at the turf in disbelief and the Kansas City Chiefs escaping by the width of a cleat. When Isaiah Likely hauled in what looked like a last-second touchdown, the Arrowhead crowd went silent. But the replay booth confirmed what the officials on the field suspected—Likely’s toe was out of bounds by a fraction of an inch, securing a 27-20 victory for the defending champs.
“This is what we do.”
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski connected for 2 TDs to lead the @Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory 🤝 (Super Bowl LV)@insidethenfl‘s Top 60 SB Mic’d Up Moments on X pic.twitter.com/FgHyxtrwJN
— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2026
Scheming Speed: The Xavier Worthy Gravity Effect
The tactical story of this game wasn’t just the final play; it was how Andy Reid used rookie Xavier Worthy to break Baltimore’s secondary. Worthy only needed three touches to change the game, scoring on a 21-yard end-around and a 35-yard vertical route. Strategically, his presence forced the Ravens into a deeper nickel coverage, which opened up the intermediate middle for Rashee Rice. Rice feasted on the soft spots, racking up 103 yards on seven catches.
Baltimore’s defensive coordinator, Zach Orr, tried to counter with a heavy dose of man-free coverage, but Mahomes’ release time was too quick. The Chiefs’ offensive line, despite some struggles at left tackle, utilized a “quick-game” passing attack that neutralized the Ravens’ pass rush for three quarters. By the time Baltimore adjusted their safeties to account for Worthy’s 4.21 speed, the damage in the run-fit was already done.
- Chiefs EPA per Play: 0.14 (Highly Efficient)
- Ravens Red-Zone Conversion: 1-of-4
- Xavier Worthy Top Speed: 22.7 MPH on TD run
- Lamar Jackson Rushing: 122 yards (Career high for season opener)
Inside the Huddle
“We knew they’d try to bracket Travis [Kelce] all night. That was the plan. We told the young guys that the outside would be wide open if they just ran their tracks with discipline. It came down to a toe, but we’ll take the win every time.” — Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Quarterback
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
This result has massive implications for the AFC playoff seeding. Since 2020, the team that wins the head-to-head matchup between these two has held the tiebreaker for home-field advantage. Baltimore dominated the time of possession and outgained the Chiefs 452 to 353, yet they failed to execute in the high-leverage moments. Their 12-personnel packages (two tight ends) looked dangerous with Likely and Mark Andrews, but they lacked a consistent “X” receiver to win on the perimeter when it mattered most.
Looking ahead, the Ravens must fix their offensive line continuity before a Week 2 date with the Raiders. For Kansas City, the focus is on the health of the backfield. If they can keep Mahomes protected in this “quick-strike” system, the rest of the AFC is chasing a ghost. Expect the Chiefs to lean even harder into the pre-snap motion that confused Baltimore’s linebackers all night.
