Ravens’ Offensive Struggles Doom Them in AFC Divisional Round Loss to Chiefs
Kansas City’s Defense Stifles Baltimore’s Attack, Sealing Playoff Exit
KANSAS CITY, MO – The Baltimore Ravens’ promising season concluded abruptly on Sunday afternoon, as they succumbed to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17 in the AFC Divisional Round. The Ravens, who secured the No. 4 seed in the AFC, failed to overcome a sluggish start and a series of turnovers, culminating in a meager 17-point output against the Chiefs’ formidable defense.
The Ravens initially sparked hope, swiftly responding to the Chiefs’ opening-drive touchdown with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive of their own. Wide receiver Demarcus Flowers hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson, knotting the score at 7-7. However, the Chiefs’ defense swiftly clamped down on the Ravens’ offense, forcing seven consecutive drives that resulted in punts.
The Ravens’ inability to sustain drives proved pivotal in their defeat. They held the ball for a mere 22 minutes and 30 seconds, a stark contrast to the Chiefs’ 37 minutes and 30 seconds of possession. Jackson endured four sacks and threw two interceptions, while the Ravens’ vaunted running game, which ranked first in the NFL during the regular season, was limited to a meager 81 yards on 23 carries.
“They played the game fundamentally sound and capitalized on scoring opportunities,” Jackson admitted post-game. “I felt if we had minimized turnovers, we would’ve had a shot at victory. But credit to them for not committing turnovers and scoring consistently.”
The Chiefs’ defense further tormented the Ravens, generating three takeaways, including two interceptions of Jackson and a fumble recovery. The fumble recovery occurred in the third quarter, moments after Flowers appeared to atone for a taunting penalty with a remarkable 54-yard reception. However, Flowers fumbled the ball at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line, resulting in a Kansas City recovery.
The Ravens’ defense, despite their valiant efforts, could only contain the Chiefs to 27 points and force two turnovers. However, they were unable to generate sufficient pressure on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’m immensely proud of my team,” Jackson expressed. “We faced adversity early in the season, and people questioned our identity. We persevered and made it to this point. I’m grateful for the journey.”
The loss marked a disappointing end to the Ravens’ season, who harbored aspirations of a deep playoff run after capturing the AFC North division with a 10-7 record. However, their offensive struggles proved insurmountable, leading to their elimination in the Divisional Round for the second consecutive season.
Flowers’ Fumble Proves Costly as Ravens Fall to Chiefs in AFC Divisional Round
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Demarcus Flowers’ frustration was palpable on the sidelines following his costly fumble. He flung his helmet in exasperation and appeared to suffer a cut on his finger in the process. The would-be touchdown reception seemed to redeem him after a taunting penalty earlier in the same drive, where he made a spectacular 54-yard catch. The Ravens managed to re-enter the red zone after his personal foul, but Flowers was inches away from transforming from zero to hero.
The fumble represented one of three takeaways by a Chiefs defense that relentlessly harassed Lamar Jackson and his offense. The Ravens’ quarterback accounted for the other two miscues, the first stemming from a strip-sack early in the second quarter and the second from a desperate throw into triple coverage on the Ravens’ ensuing possession following Flowers’ turnover.
Jackson pinpointed the Ravens’ turnovers as the game’s defining factor.
“They executed their game plan flawlessly and scored when they had the chance,” Jackson said. “If we had minimized turnovers, we would’ve had a shot at victory. But credit to them for not committing turnovers and consistently scoring.”
Baltimore initially appeared poised for an offensive shootout against the defending Super Bowl champions, responding to Kansas City’s opening-drive touchdown with a six-play, 75-yard possession culminating in a 30-yard touchdown catch by Flowers.
However, the Chiefs’ defense swiftly stifled the Ravens’ offense, forcing seven consecutive drives that yielded no points. Despite the defense’s valiant efforts to keep them in the game, Baltimore’s struggles to sustain drives resulted in a significant disparity in time of possession (K.C. 37:30; Baltimore 22:30).
Jackson acknowledged Kansas City’s effective game plan, which featured blitzes on 43.5% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the fourth-highest blitz rate on Jackson this season.
“That was unexpected,” said Jackson, who was sacked four times. “We had intermediate routes, but they were jumping them. I tried to make something happen, but they executed their game plan well.”
The Ravens’ inability to score points was particularly surprising considering their regular-season offensive prowess, averaging 28.4 points per game, ranking fourth in the league in 2023. Baltimore’s top-ranked rushing attack (156.5 YPG) was also held to a mere 81 yards on Sunday against the Chiefs.
“I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come,” Jackson said. “We faced adversity early in the season, and people questioned our identity. We persevered and made it to this point. I’m grateful for the journey.”
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