Ravens vs. Chiefs: 10 takeaways from first half of AFC ...

29 Jan 2024

Yahoo Sports

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Ravens vs Chiefs 10 takeaways from first half of AFC

We're looking at ten takeaways from the first half as the Kansas City Chiefs hold a 17-7 lead over the Baltimore Ravens

The Chiefs heard all the noise and responded upon entering M&T Bank Stadium, jumping out to an early lead on the Baltimore Ravens and taking a 17-7 lead into halftime.

Sunday is the 5th time the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens have trailed by double digits at halftime (0-4 in the first four games).

Three other times, it has been vs. the Chiefs (2019 and 2020).

Kansas City answered the questions about Baltimore’s physicality, attacking the Ravens in the trenches on both sides of the football.

With the second half underway, we’re looking at takeaways from the first half.

Kelce strikes first

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports" data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/F6ck_vbEp9ao97Wj8QkGGw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/baltimore_ravens_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_532/96fdfac98358f663e2e6d2f8e5a0fcb9">Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/F6ck_vbEp9ao97Wj8QkGGw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/baltimore_ravens_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_532/96fdfac98358f663e2e6d2f8e5a0fcb9" class="caas-img">

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Kelce’s matchup with Kyle Hamilton was key to the Ravens overall success on defense and the All-Pro struck first with a backshoulder fade for a touchdown in the redzone.

Patrick Mahomes is able to fit that throw to Travis Kelce for 19-yard TD despite Kyle Hamilton playing outstanding coverage.

Hamilton had allowed the most coverage snaps (207) without a TD among all safeties, per Pro Football Focus.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 28, 2024

Kelce had 3 catches, for 36 yards and a touchdown on that first drive, and 9 catches for 96 yards in the first half.

Mahomes first drive

On that drive, Mahomes was 5-for-5 for 57 yards and a TD. Kelce had three catches for 36 yards, a TD, and a key fourth-down 13-yard catch.

l and go 86 yards on 10 plays for a 7-0 lead at the 7:41 mark of the first quarter.

Drue Tranquill (23) defends during the first half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports" data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/J8rq3sqkxJ3ObEHTxo7yqQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/baltimore_ravens_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_532/8be7b31c008be8994c2956ca7bfbead1">Drue Tranquill (23) defends during the first half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/J8rq3sqkxJ3ObEHTxo7yqQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/baltimore_ravens_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_532/8be7b31c008be8994c2956ca7bfbead1" class="caas-img">

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) prepares to throw the ball as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) defends during the first half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson somehow escaped a sacked, and connected with Zay Flowers for Baltimore’s first score of the game.

Jackson was 5-of-12 for 67 yards, 1 TD; 4 rushes for 27 yards; 1 catch for 13 yds.

Mahomes carving the Ravens up

Patrick Mahomes’ first quarter: 10-for-10, 86 yards, one touchdown.

In the first half, Mahomes was 20-of-25 for 161 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries for 18 yards.

Patrick Mahomes held onto the ball for 9.78 seconds and scrambled 25.9 yards before finding Travis Kelce for a 10-yd reception & first down.

Mahomes & Kelce have combined for 17 receptions on 4+ sec dropbacks this season, 4 more than next closest duo.#KCvsBAL | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/P3FxDOytmR

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 28, 2024

Zay Flowers

Flowers had 2 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

Ravens defense

After talking tough to the Chiefs offense, Baltimore’s defense was gashed in the first half on the ground and through the air.

The Ravens allowed 221 yards in the first half on 43 plays.

Chiefs defense gets the turnover

Lamar Jackson had been so careful with the football prior to this matchup, but a strip sack from Charles Omenihu and the Chiefs took over on the Ravens 33.

Omenihu got around Ronnie Stanley.

Chiefs near perfect on third downs

Kansas City was 5-9 on third downs, while Baltimore was 1-5.

KC is 4-of-5 on 3rd down

the 1 miss? they converted on 4th down

on 3rd/4th down Mahomes is 4-of-4 for 9.5 YPA

on fire right now

Mike Macdonald needs to find answers and make adjustments asap

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 28, 2024

Ravens rushing attack

Baltimore ran the football 9 times in the first half and Lamar Jackson had four of those carries for 27 yards.

Gus Edwards and Justice Hill combined for 4 carries and 18 yards in the first half.

Isiah Pacheco

The Chiefs running back had 14 carries, for 41 yards and one touchdown in the first half.

Random notes

Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce tied Jerry Rice for the most postseason catches in NFL history during the first half and then past him two plays later.

Time of possession: Chiefs have run 29 plays to Ravens’ 13, even though Baltimore got the ball first. Time of possession is a whopping 16:03 to 5:47, and Kansas City still has the ball.

The Chiefs out-gained the Ravens 221-111 in the first half. Possessed the ball for 20:39 compared to 9:21 for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson: 5-of-12 for 67 yards, 1 TD; 4 rushes for 27 yards; 1 catch for 13 yds

Story originally appeared on Ravens Wire