The Ravens have had roughly seven months to lament their 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game, the way they abandoned the running game, committed costly turnovers, and at times were goaded by the Chiefs into uncharacteristic penalties.
As they prepare to open the 2024 season against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in a nationally televised game on Thursday, Sept. 5 — with the Chiefs coming off their second straight Super Bowl title — the Ravens insist they have turned the page and will start fresh.
“Last year was last year,” cornerback Brandon Stephens said. “Our focus is now this first game of the season. It’s the most important game because it’s our next game. That’s my mentality.”
But, as linebacker Roquan Smith and others pointed out, it will be hard, if not impossible, to completely forget how the Chiefs snuffed out the Ravens Super Bowl hopes at M&T Bank Stadium.
“Obviously, the guys that were here last year are definitely going to carry that over into the season,” Smith said, “so it’s about having that and putting that in your back pocket and just using that as motivation.”
Smith and the Ravens’ defense did all it could in that AFC title game, holding the high-powered Chiefs scoreless in the second half, but any Ravens hopes to rally from a 17-7 halftime deficit ended with two fourth-quarter turnovers.
Zay Flowers fumbled as he lunged for the goal line on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the Chiefs recovered for a touchback. On the Ravens’ next drive, Lamar Jackson threw a pass into triple coverage in the end zone that was intercepted.
This all came after the Ravens abandoned their league-leading running game. Ravens running backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill totaled six carries in the game, just two after halftime, against a Chiefs defense that had ranked 18th in the league against the run.
It’s a criticism that has followed offensive coordinator Todd Monken all offseason, but as he met with the media a couple of days before the rematch, Monken said he, too, has moved past last year.
“I’ve tried to let that go a little bit,” Monken said. “This is this year, and we’re going to run the football. We did run the football during the season. … We’re going to try to do the best thing we can do for us to move the football and score points.”
Unlike last year, Monken this season has All-Pro Derrick Henry to anchor the ground game, but Henry will be making his Ravens debut behind three new starters on the offensive line. Andrew Vorhees is expected to start at left guard in his NFL regular-season debut, and Daniel Faalele is expected to be at right guard for the first time in his career. Super-sub Patrick Mekari or second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten will start at right tackle.
Of course, it will all come down to Jackson, and how the reigning league Most Valuable Player can fare against his counterpart and reigning Super Bowl MVP in Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Jackson emphasizes that he plays against the opposing defense, not the opposing quarterback, and that’s correct. It’s also correct that the Chiefs have had Jackson’s number.
As a starter in his career, including the postseason, Jackson is 60-23 overall, but 1-4 against the Chiefs. It’s his worst record against any team; Jackson has a winning record against every team but the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4).
In five games against the Chiefs, Jackson has completed 88 of 158 passes (55.7 pct) for 1,022 yards. He has thrown five touchdown passes and three interceptions and has lost three fumbles.
“I’m approaching every game the same way,” Jackson said. “I want to win regardless of win, lose or draw the previous time. Every game is motivation to me.”
Players and coaches know the stakes won’t be as high as the last time these teams met, but Arrowhead Stadium will be rocking as the Chiefs celebrate their second straight Super Bowl title and welcome a team expected to be among those best positioned to prevent them from winning a third straight.
“You know the environment is going to be loud. It’s going to be hostile,” Henry said, “but that’s what you want, especially on Opening Night with everybody watching the first game of the year to kick off the 2024 season. So I’m excited. It’s going to be fun.”
Head coach John Harbaugh stressed that the game against the Chiefs is only the first step, and, win or lose, his team can’t afford any emotional hangover.
“It’s the first game, but it’s not the only game,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to have another game after that, and we’re going to have 17 regular-season games and as many postseason games as we earn. We have to keep that in mind and keep it in perspective that way.”
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