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The Ravens’ offseason was barely 24 hours old when the first domino fell. The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to hire Baltimore’s director of player personnel Joe Hortiz as their next general manager, according to multiple reports Monday. The news came on the same day that players cleaned out their lockers at the team’s Owings Mills facility after the Ravens fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in Sunday’s AFC championship game. The Chargers, who finished fourth in the AFC West after going 5-12, fired their previous general manager, Tom Telesco, along with coach Brandon Staley late in the regular season. In joining Los Angeles there is also a level of familiarity after the Chargers hired Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s brother Jim to be their coach, wooing him from the University of Michigan, where he won a national championship this season. Hortiz and the Ravens have yet to confirm the reports. Hortiz, 48, has been with the Ravens since 1998 and in his current position since 2019. Given the success of many of the Ravens’ draft picks and free agent signings, Hortiz has been a hot job candidate after helping oversee college and pro scouting and serving as general manager Eric DeCosta’s top personnel evaluator. Hortiz began his career with the Ravens as a scout and rose through the organization under former general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome and then DeCosta. During his tenure in Baltimore, the Ravens won two Super Bowls, during the 2000 and 2012 seasons, and have won seven AFC North titles since 2003. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | ‘It feels unfinished’: Ravens still numb after disappointing loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker on pregame interactions with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens kicker Justin Tucker says Travis Kelce throwing his helmet pregame was ‘just some gamesmanship’ Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game This year, the Ravens finished with the NFL’s best record at 13-4 and were the top seed in the AFC. Hortiz inherits a Chargers roster already stocked with talent, including quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Still, Hortiz’s work will be cut out for him with the Chargers having missed the playoffs eight of the past 10 years and four of the past five. The Chargers also finished 28th in total defense this season, something Hortiz should be able to help remedy given his success in Baltimore, where the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game this season. This story might be updated. View the full article

As the Ravens sorted through their lockers Monday in Owings Mills, packing up shoes, athletic gear, books and souvenirs from the season, a game of Connect Four sat on a nearby coffee table. The locker room had been a hub of activity for the past five months and players expected that would be the case again this week, as they prepared for the season’s ultimate goal, the Super Bowl. The Connect Four game was nearly complete — in a few instances, there were three tokens in a row — but neither side had been able to place four in succession. It, like the Ravens’ season, sat unfinished. Baltimore was favored to beat the visiting Chiefs in the AFC championship game on Sunday and players, such as team leader and quarterback Lamar Jackson, set their sights all year on the Super Bowl. But after an uninspiring offensive performance, the Ravens fell, 17-10, to Kansas City, meaning players were left to prematurely pack up their lockers two weeks before they had hoped. The postseason comes to a crashing conclusion quickly. Last week, the locker room brimmed with energy as they readied for Kansas City; Monday, players solemnly threw their belongings in bags before parting from the practice facility once more. “It feels unfinished. Everything just feels unfinished,” right guard Kevin Zeitler said. “[It] feels like we should be practicing this week, keeping it going with this group and obviously that is not the case.” Players tossed old shoes into a donation box and took other belongings home with them, beginning their offseason earlier than anticipated. Safety Kyle Hamilton said he’s sore, and that his heart is sore, but he’ll move on. He’ll travel to Florida Tuesday for the Pro Bowl — an event he’s honored to be a part of, but one he’d hoped to miss because of Super Bowl plans. “It’s kind of just numb for me, honestly. It’s shocking,” Hamilton said. “It sucks to lose in that fashion at home, being that close to our goal.” “I didn’t really have it in my mind to come clean my locker out today,” said right tackle Morgan Moses, smiling in a sort of disbelief, “but obviously things happen.” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen takes a break from cleaning out his locker to talk with the media on Monday, a day after their season-ending 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) The Ravens won more games than any NFL team this year and appeared to be the one to beat entering the postseason. Some fans, who’d already purchased flights or hotel rooms in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, had to cancel them after Baltimore tied a season-low with 10 points, coming up short against the defending champion Chiefs. “Special group. The group, you won’t get it back again next year, but I felt like we had a squad to win it,” outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said. Baltimore won’t be the same next year. Several key contributors, such as inside linebacker Patrick Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., to name just a few, are set to be free agents. The inevitable roster turnover was apparent when outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy was asked about the Ravens’ future. Picked up on a one-year contract during the regular season, the 32-year-old Van Noy used the third-person “they,” rather than “we,” to describe the team’s future. “It’s going to be different. Every year is different,” the 10-year NFL veteran said. The Ravens simply won’t be able to retain the bulk of their players who are set to become free agents because of cap restrictions. Instead, they’ll likely sign other players and will welcome draft picks, too. They pick No. 30 in the NFL draft, which takes place April 25. Ravens wide receiver Devin Duverney cleans out his locker on Monday. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Safety Geno Stone is set to hit the open market, but he, like most players, wasn’t ready to forecast his future. “That’s something I’ll just wait and kind of see what happens. I’m not really trying to look into it right now,” he said. “I’m trying to really just get over this game and enjoy the time I have with my teammates right now.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker on pregame interactions with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens kicker Justin Tucker says Travis Kelce throwing his helmet pregame was ‘just some gamesmanship’ Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Crown Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever | COMMENTARY The 33-year-old Zeitler says he’s “ready to roll” and that he hopes he’ll be a Raven next year. “Hopefully that business side of football can be figured out nice and quick, and we can get that taken care of,” he said. The Ravens’ coaching and front office staff could change, too, in particular defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who is reportedly being considered for both the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders head coach openings. Much of Baltimore’s core will return, however. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, the presumptive NFL Most Valuable Player who has received criticism for coming up short again in the playoffs, will, of course, be back. So will defensive cornerstones Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith. Each of the team’s tight ends is expected to be back, as are receivers Rashod Bateman and rookie Zay Flowers, who fumbled on the goal line in Sunday’s loss, one of the game’s most pivotal plays. Center Tyler Linderbaum, another Pro Bowl selection, will still anchor the offensive line for years to come. As Flowers took a break from cleaning out his locker Monday, he was asked when he’ll turn the page in his mind toward next season. “I already did,” he said. View the full article

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As Ravens kicker Justin Tucker stretched on the M&T Bank Stadium field while Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warmed up more than an hour before Sunday’s AFC championship game, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce tossed Tucker’s footballs away and threw aside his helmet. The moment — shared on social media by NFL Network — went viral and prompted criticism of both Tucker and Kelce. On Monday, after the Ravens’ 17-10 loss, Tucker explained that he thought the move by Kelce was “just some gamesmanship.” Unlike other NFL players, kickers warm up on both sides of the field to practice field goals against each direction’s wind. Tucker said he’s done the same thing during his 12-year career and “never really had a problem with anybody.” Tucker said that Mahomes asked him to move his helmet, and Tucker “happily got up” and moved it out of the way. “At least I thought it was enough out of the way. And then Travis comes over and he just kicks my stuff and he throws my helmet,” Tucker said. “I just thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but they seem to be taking it a little bit more seriously and I’m totally willing to let it all go.” Tucker said that, later, at the pregame coin toss, he and the Chiefs players were “all dapping each other up and then we just get on with the football game.” View the full article

The Ravens’ Super Bowl dreams ended with a flustered, flat performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, who beat them, 17-10, before a deflated home crowd that had hoped to celebrate an ascendant Lamar Jackson. Here are five things we learned from the game. Lamar Jackson is in for another year of difficult questions after he failed to perform like an MVP in the biggest game There’s no such thing as fair when it comes to the most scrutinized position in the most scrutinized sport. So the lasting image of Jackson’s season will not be the Most Valuable Player Award he claims in two weeks but the interception he threw into triple coverage, costing his team its last, best chance to score a touchdown in the most important game of the year. Jackson spiked his helmet, recognizing that for all the Ravens’ brilliant work over the past four months, their chance to keep playing, to reach the Super Bowl he has long coveted, was slipping away. Jackson’s passing line — 20 of 37 for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception — was neither tragically poor nor reflective of his wondrous efficiency in recent games. But the blame for this defeat will fall disproportionately on his shoulders, because he’s the best player, the highest paid, the one who headlines debate segments on the morning sports shows. A week earlier, after Jackson had rallied the Ravens from a flat first half to resounding triumph over the Houston Texans, teammates spoke in awe of their asserted, assured offensive master, who possessed answers that eluded him at stressful moments earlier in his career. He seemed finally ready to go blow for blow with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the reigning alpha at the most celebrated, scrutinized position in American sports. We did not see that Jackson on Sunday, when it was time to win the highest-stakes home game in franchise history. He performed his best Houdini routine in the first quarter, vanishing from a defender’s grasp and lofting a 30-yard scoring pass to Zay Flowers in the end zone. In the second quarter, he completed a pass to himself, racing to snag the deflected ball and advance 13 yards before the defense knew what was happening. But those bedazzlements belied a shaky first half in which he frequently threw to the wrong target or overshot in the face of pressure. His play looked even more skittish when contrasted with Mahomes’ cool efficiency under fire. If these were the two best quarterbacks in the world, as Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey suggested three days before the game, one still operated in a higher realm. Jackson moved the Ravens more freely in the second half but could not come up with the plays to translate those drives into points. Was this all his fault? Of course not. Flowers lost a fumble at the goal line. Wide receivers struggled to separate from Kansas City’s excellent cornerbacks. Jackson’s blockers did not give him a reliable pocket. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as referee Shawn Smith calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Offensive coordinator Todd Monken never found his rhythm as a play caller, failing to leverage a running game (81 yards on just 16 carries) that seemed to be the Ravens’ greatest advantage going into the matchup. But Jackson was the one who fired too ambitiously when he saw a pair of defenders trailing tight end Isaiah Likely in Tampa 2 zone coverage, only for safety Deon Bush to swoop in for that decisive interception. Jackson thought there was enough contact on Likely to merit a pass interference penalty, but none appeared. He was calm when it was all over. “I’m not frustrated. I’m angry about losing,” Jackson said. “But I feel our team, we’re going to build.” “I told him to stand up tall,” coach John Harbaugh said. “His performance today was all heart.” But it was not all efficiency or sound judgment. Jackson needed to be closer to his best to unseat the AFC’s reigning boss, and he’s going to spend the next year hearing all the ways he fell short. He has wanted to be a championship quarterback since childhood, and this is the downside of the life he chose. This might have been the best team in Ravens history, but it won’t be remembered as such After the Ravens trounced the Miami Dolphins on New Year’s Eve to clinch the AFC’s top playoff seed, Harbaugh said: “I’m not sure I’ve seen a more impressive performance in a season to date.” He’s not given to such sweeping, comparative statements, but his team’s performance backed his words. The Ravens outmaneuvered, out-schemed and outhit a parade of the league’s best. Their balance was extraordinary. They could beat you with the sport’s most prolific running attack, with Jackson’s magical arm and legs, with a chameleonic defense that demonstrated extraordinary discipline at the same time it led the league in sacks and takeaways. Aaron Schatz’s defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), which measures team efficiency, tabbed the Ravens as the hottest team of the past four decades coming off their divisional round thumping of the Texans. But they were not that team against the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and in our ring-obsessed sports culture, that means the 2023 Ravens will go down as just another very good playoff entry for a franchise that produces those routinely. The players knew a rare chance had passed them by when it was over, knew how hard it was for them to become this good and how hard it will be to get back next year. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., signed for one season to help them get over the top, said he’d never played for a better team. “These moments don’t come by often,” he said. “That’s why the stakes are so high. Why these players feel the way they feel.” Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. consoles quarterback Lamar Jackson on the bench late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Tears welled in linebacker Roquan Smith’s eyes as he spoke from the postgame podium. He had become the most outspoken projector of this group’s soaring confidence. “It’s definitely tough,” he said, voice cracking. “You just think about how hard it is to get back to this position. There’s a lot of things that have to go your way.” Harbaugh said he was proud of them, noting the challenges they had overcome and the preseason predictions they had exceeded. But after 16 years of doing this, he knows you only get so many teams that really could win the Super Bowl, a realistic ambition that will go unfulfilled. Fans had believed just as fervently and felt the emptiness just as acutely, filing out of M&T Bank Stadium quietly as the Chiefs prepared to accept their trophy on the field. “Low,” linebacker Patrick Queen said, describing the collective mood. “We put so much work into it, every day, every practice, the grind, OTAs, training camp, and going through the season. Every single guy in this locker room has put everything he has into it, and we’ve developed bonds, and it’s just really tough to see this outcome. All this that we’ve been working for, and now it comes to an end.” The result should not obscure a great performance by a great defense Mahomes and his brilliant tight end, Travis Kelce, did what we expect of them as all-time great players. Facing fourth-and-2 on Kansas City’s first drive, the best quarterback in football rolled to his right and found a leaping Kelce over the middle for 13 yards. Three plays later, he trusted Kelce to snare a 19-yard pass in the end zone through cling-wrap coverage from All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. World-class stuff. Mahomes was just as surgical on the Chiefs’ next drive, a 16-play, 75-yard touchdown to answer Jackson’s touchdown strike to Flowers. At that point, it seemed we might be in for both an epic showdown between the sport’s most thrilling quarterbacks and another coronation for the great Mahomes. What we got instead was a ferocious defensive struggle, with a total of six points scored after the 10:56 mark of the second quarter. Mahomes’ next eight drives resulted in three points. The Chiefs averaged 4.4 yards per play for the game, a rate that would have ranked 30th in the league in the regular season. We’ll sweep forward with the narrative that Mahomes cannot be stopped come playoff time, and that’s true, but it’s also true he met his match in the Ravens’ defense, which took away his downfield looks, attacked his pocket and stonewalled his power running threat, Isiah Pacheco (24 carries, 68 yards). “The defense did a wonderful job and held a great offense to 17 points,” Jackson said. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It’s what we had come to expect from coordinator Mike Macdonald’s crew, which led the league in sacks, takeaways and fewest points allowed while never giving opponents a fixed look to attack. The Ravens’ capacity to adjust during a game set them apart from the outstanding, attacking units coordinated by Macdonald’s predecessor, Don “Wink” Martindale. They lined up All-Pros at all three levels and complemented them with tough, smart veterans beautifully suited to their roles. To its last day, this defense played well enough to bring a championship to Baltimore. “Just having a group of truly unselfish dudes [who] don’t really care who gets the credit, all celebrate one another, it’s hard to find that in football, let alone in life,” said Smith, the leader. Zay Flowers and Kyle Hamilton reminded us how much the Ravens have to be excited about Flowers was the Ravens’ offensive star, right up until the moment he reached for a touchdown that would have cut Kansas City’s lead to three and instead saw the ball punched from his grasp by cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. It was a tantalizing, ultimately hellish moment that epitomized a tantalizing, ultimately hellish afternoon for the Ravens’ offense. “I thought I did, honestly,” Flowers said when asked if he believed he had broken the plane of the goal line (replays showed he did not). “But I’ll learn from my mistakes.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Crown Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions, 34-31, to advance to Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | After costly fumble, Ravens embrace WR Zay Flowers and look toward rookie’s bright future Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson did it all for the Ravens this season. In the biggest game, he fell short. Harbaugh declined to blame the rookie, saying the Ravens teach their players to keep two hands on the ball when they reach for the goal line, which Flowers did. It was an unfitting way to conclude a game in which Flowers proved, again, that he’s not destined to join the Ravens’ lineage of underwhelming first-round wide receivers. He saved three of his best games for the Ravens’ late victories over the Dolphins and 49ers and for their loss to the Chiefs. The team will need to create more chances for him as a downfield threat, but there’s no questioning his gift for springing free from the slot, his reliable hands or his ferocious thirst to reach the end zone. No less an authority than Beckham said “he’s going to be a special player.” Hamilton already is that, an All-Pro hailed by some as the game’s finest safety in his second season. We knew he would be essential against the Chiefs, whether by covering Kelce, blitzing Mahomes or darting in to hammer Pacheco. As it turned out, he did all three and was the Ravens’ best open-field tackler to boot, finishing with a team-high nine solo stops. A few doubters wondered why the Ravens used the No. 14 pick in the 2022 draft on a safety when they had pressing needs at more premium positions. Well, when that safety is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 220 pounds and makes himself felt on almost every play, conventional rules don’t apply. The Ravens will have plenty of work to do on their defense this offseason, but Smith and Hamilton are elite building blocks, much as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were once upon a time. Throw in Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, and Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is three-for-three on his most recent first-round picks. The Ravens might want another shot with this team, but they won’t be the same in 2024 The window just closed on this specific group; that’s reality when more than 20 players — including heart-and-soul stalwarts such as Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and guard Kevin Zeitler — are headed for free agency. The Ravens will hold on to some. Perhaps they’ll use the franchise tag to keep Madubuike, who led the team with 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hits, off the open market, where he might command a $100 million deal. But Queen, who made the Pro Bowl in his fourth season playing through myriad injuries, might be too pricey given the hefty commitment the Ravens have already made to Smith. A dejected Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, one of the great one-year bargains in team history, will surely cost more next time around. He and Beckham adored their time in Baltimore, but they’ll survey their options. The Ravens will have many questions to answer on their offensive line, where guards Zeitler and John Simpson are both headed for free agency and tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses battled injuries for much of the season. Linderbaum is the only sure thing. Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele did well rotating in to help Stanley and Moses reach the finish line. Might one of them compete for a starting job next summer? Harbaugh’s staff could lose Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Commanders, both of which still need to hire a head coach. Defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson could become a coordinator in another city. There will be plenty of time over the next two months to assess the choices confronting DeCosta and Harbaugh. Some fans will call for changes at the top after this loss, but that’s far-fetched. Players still respond to Harbaugh throughout every season, and he morphs with the times, as he did in hiring Macdonald and Monken the past two offseasons. The Ravens will remain a contender to be reckoned with as long as Jackson is playing quarterback and Smith and Hamilton are around to maintain the franchise’s defensive standard. But this was farewell to an exceptional version of the team. “Nobody thought we were going to be in this position — new system, new guys, a whole new team,” Jackson said. “People didn’t think we were going to be in this position, but we were. Next time, we’ve just got to finish.” Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of the game as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds up the championship trophy as Chiefs tightend Travis Kelce, right, celebrates.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A dejected Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench late in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fans react to a penalty against Baltimore late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton during Sunday's AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #4 Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter as Chiefs #32 Nick Bolton was late on the coverage. Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in Sunday's AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

This was the stage fans had yearned for: an AFC championship game in Baltimore. The world watched as the Ravens, for the first time, played for a spot in the Super Bowl on their home field. But with the grandest of stages can come the most disappointing of outcomes, and that was the result Sunday. After four quarters of making the Ravens offense look pedestrian and the Patrick Mahomes-to-Travis Kelce connection clicking on all cylinders, it was the Chiefs who milled about afterward, celebrating another AFC title with a 17-10 victory. It was Kansas City staffers who ran and hollered down stadium stairwells and hallways, out onto the field that had quickly been converted into the site of a trophy presentation. The 71,430 gathered at M&T Bank Stadium, and the millions more watching all over the globe, were left just as Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was, watching the Chiefs collect more hardware in Baltimore. Sunday marked the biggest football game Baltimore had hosted in more than 50 years and, with American sports’ biggest prize — a Super Bowl berth — waiting at the end of it, Ravens fans from both near and far tuned in. The disappointment didn’t discriminate; regardless of fans’ origin, Sunday’s loss stung. Jack Rennison, who lives in England, became an NFL fan years ago and used several criteria, including his familiarity with HBO’s “The Wire,” to select a favorite team. Watching with 120 Ravens fans at a London pub, he called Sunday’s game, “a massive anticlimax.” “It’s amazing how a room of 100 or so people can just clear out quickly,” he wrote in a text message to The Baltimore Sun. Paraphrasing “The Wire,” he added, “We wanted it to be one way, but it’s that other way.” Sunday’s stage was storybook-perfect. Lamar Jackson, who has often been criticized in his career for what he’s not, sought to knock off the mighty Chiefs, who are in the midst of a dynastic run, and Mahomes, the sport’s best. It was the Chiefs’ sixth straight AFC title game appearance, while Jackson, lambasted by pundits for his lack of playoff wins despite his electrifying play, focused all year on winning his first Super Bowl. What’s more, this Ravens team, with its dominant season and questions about its future roster and coaching staff, was seemingly built to win this year. Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs marked a pivotal moment for fans near and far. “I’m stressed,” Katy Coulman admitted a couple of hours before kickoff. One of seven Ravens fans who flew in from the United Kingdom for the game, Coulman became a Ravens fan years ago, in part because of her love for Towson-originated band All Time Low. Others gravitated toward the Ravens because of Edgar Allan Poe or, simply, for their reputation as a gritty defensive team. A few of them drank National Bohemians Sunday as they tailgated, like any Baltimorean. A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) “Once you’ve got the bug, you’ve got the bug,” Coulman, a member of the United Kingdom Ravens Flock, explained of her long-distance fandom. She saved money for five years to attend the game. There were glimpses of what many, from Linthicum Heights to London, hoped would be a joyous day. When Jackson eluded a sack and connected with Zay Flowers, pulling a rabbit out of a hat for a first-half touchdown, fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil, jumped up and down, hugging one another, and chanting, “MVP!” Guilherme Foster, a Brazil native who attended the University of Delaware and then lived in Baltimore for several years, was among them, wearing a Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas jersey. He praised the Ravens’ second-half performance as being “Ravens football,” but told The Sun, “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the storybook ending that we’d hoped for.” In Austria, Kate Pinter called it “the worst outcome possible.” A Vienna native, she started watching the NFL in 2011, and when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013, she was struck by the team’s colors. She and her husband, Benjamin Deppisch-Pinter, a native of Germany, operate a German-language fan website and spend their Sundays — including late into Monday mornings sometimes, given the six-hour time difference — watching their Ravens. They traveled to Baltimore this year for two games and also watched the Ravens in London. Sunday, they were in their living room, eating loaded nachos and surrounded by posters from games they’ve attended, disappointed by the Ravens’ offense. “The breaking point was the fumble at the 1-yard line,” Pinter wrote in a text message to The Sun, referencing one of the Ravens’ two fourth-quarter turnovers. Benjamin Deppisch-Pinter and Kate Pinter were born in Germany and Austria, respectively, but have been Ravens fans for over a decade. In November, they visited Baltimore for the first time and attended two games at M&T Bank Stadium. (Courtesy photo) Like in Mexico City — where dozens of Ravens fans gathered Friday — vibes were high in Baltimore before the game. Alan and Kim Moore, of Anne Arundel County, both dyed their hair purple for the occasion. (“Why not?” Alan explained outside the stadium. “It’s the Ravens, man.”) Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Crown Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions, 34-31, to advance to Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | After costly fumble, Ravens embrace WR Zay Flowers and look toward rookie’s bright future Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson did it all for the Ravens this season. In the biggest game, he fell short. The tone of the evening shifted, however, as the Ravens’ loss came into view. As the referees walked off the field, fans in Baltimore hollered at them, and outside Fells Point bars, cigarette smoke and curse words filled the air. “Damn. The AFC championship at home, losing that hurts more than losing the Super Bowl, yo,” Jacob Miller, of Arbutus, said. While some fans cried foul about missed calls, the performance from Jackson, or pop star Taylor Swift, who attended the game to watch her boyfriend, Kelce, others felt the Ravens were simply outdueled by one of the greats, Mahomes. Çağman Şeker, who’s from Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to Baltimore last month, recently embraced the Ravens and just wanted to see the city celebrate after a win. “That was bad,” he said, “but Baltimore is going to be OK.” Baltimore Sun reporter Dillon Mullan contributed to this article. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of the game as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds up the championship trophy as Chiefs tightend Travis Kelce, right, celebrates.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans react to a penalty against the Ravens late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's AFC championship game against the Chiefs. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #4 Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter as Chiefs #32 Nick Bolton was late on the coverage. Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom pose together at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party before Sunday's AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

Sunday’s AFC championship game was supposed to be a defining moment for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. It turned out to be a bigger one for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. With Kansas City beating Baltimore, 17-10, at M&T Bank Stadium, there is no doubt that Mahomes is the best quarterback in the modern era of pro football. The difference in styles alone puts him up there with some of the all-time greats such as Joe Montana, John Elway and Tom Brady, but he’s been nearly unbeatable in big games throughout his storied seven-year career. The road to the AFC title had to go through Baltimore, but the road to the Super Bowl still goes through Mahomes and the Chiefs. He has led Kansas City to six straight AFC championship games and two Super Bowl titles, winning the game’s Most Valuable Player honors in each victory. He was the NFL MVP in 2018 and 2022, and he added yet another impressive win to his resume Sunday. The elusive Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a passer rating of 100.5 while improving to 14-3 in his postseason career. He was hot in the first half, became ordinary in the second, yet still put the dagger in the heart of Baltimore. Up by a touchdown with 2:19 left and facing a third-and-9, Mahomes, under duress and falling backward, completed a 32-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It ended the Ravens’ season. “It’s tough. One of the top two quarterbacks in the league, him and Lamar [Jackson], whatever way you want to rank them,” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said. “It’s tough. He can make plays, he can throw, he can buy time. That’s what we try to limit him from doing. But there were times when he just did what he does. We had opportunities to capitalize, but we just didn’t get it done.” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away while Ravens outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, left, pressures him on Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Mahomes has been on a roll this postseason. He completed 23 of 41 passes for 262 yards in the Chiefs’ 26-7 wild-card-round win over the Miami Dolphins and then connected on 17 of 23 throws for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. He has been hampered by receivers dropping passes throughout the season. The Chiefs’ receiving corps outside of tight end Travis Kelce and rookie wideout Rashee Rice is nothing to call home about. Tyreek Hill is catching bombs in Miami now, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught 78 passes for 933 yards for Kansas City last season, now resides in New England. No matter. Some Ravens fans said they wanted to see Mahomes in the postseason because they wanted to face the best, but they might want to rethink that one. “Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce — they have great players,” Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce said. “You scheme yourself [and] try to put yourself in positions to stop those guys. We got it done. It’s just way too late, so credit to them. They played a great game, especially early. Our defense just got … we got started way too late.” Meanwhile, Jackson, the favorite to win the NFL MVP Award, struggled with the same issues that have plagued him throughout his career. He completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards but consistently overthrew and underthrew receivers because of sloppy fundamentals. The Ravens couldn’t match up on the outside with Kansas City cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed, and Jackson had problems throwing to the outside of the field. He easily could have had two other passes intercepted outside of the one that was picked off in the end zone when he tried to force a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, who was triple-covered, midway through the fourth quarter in a two-score game. Pocket awareness? He struggled with that as well. Jackson, of course, would prefer to win a Super Bowl than be league MVP. It’s reminiscent of watching former Ravens and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis run directly to the locker room after every playoff loss because he didn’t win a Lombardi Trophy. That type of spirit drives competitors. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions, 34-31, to advance to Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | After costly fumble, Ravens embrace WR Zay Flowers and look toward rookie’s bright future Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson did it all for the Ravens this season. In the biggest game, he fell short. “I’m very proud of my team. We had a new system, offensive coordinator [Todd Monken] different things,” Jackson said. “There were different things we saw like motions and stuff like that. We had adversity at the beginning of the season. We [weren’t] playing well. People didn’t know what the Ravens offense or defense was going to look like, and we made it all the way to this point. “Our goal was short. We made it here, but we’ve just got to finish next time, but I’m very proud of my team [on] all phases.” But Jackson can’t be blamed totally for this defeat. The defense allowed 319 yards, including 221 in the first half when the Chiefs scored all 17 of their points. Offensively, the Ravens weren’t able to sustain many long drives, something that had become their signature this season. It was one of the key differences in the game — Kansas City had long, controlled drives, especially in the first half, and won the time of possession battle, 37:30 to 22:30. That’s been the Ravens’ formula for success and part of the reason they couldn’t run the ball, which they gave up on early. They rushed just 16 times for 81 yards, and eight of those were by Jackson, who had 54 yards. Baltimore also struggled protecting Jackson, who was sacked four times. The frustration showed. It showed as Jackson kept trying to force passes to veteran Odell Beckham Jr., who couldn’t get separation, and it showed in the penalties, all eight of them for 95 yards. Queen and middle linebacker Roquan Smith looked especially frustrated as the game wore on. But many of the problems stem from the Ravens failing to contain Mahomes. He made and extended plays with his legs. He threw from various angles and looked very much in control of the Chiefs’ offense. It’s why when the game was over, Mahomes and Kelce, who had 11 catches on 11 targets for 116 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to cap the Chiefs’ opening drive, were up on the stage holding the Lamar Hunt Trophy. The road to the Super Bowl still goes through Kansas City, and ultimately, Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of the game as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, lifting the Lamar Hunt Trophy on Sunday after the Chiefs beat the Ravens, 17-10, improved to 14-3 in the postseason. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fans react to a penalty against Baltimore late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away while Ravens outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, left, pressures him on Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #4 Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter as Chiefs #32 Nick Bolton was late on the coverage. Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, and the San Francisco 49ers rallied from 17 points down at halftime to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl. The 49ers (14-5) scored 17 points in an eight-minute span of the third quarter to tie the NFC championship game and then pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a rematch against Kansas City after losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl four years ago. San Francisco mounted the fourth comeback ever from 17 points down or more in a conference title game thanks to some big plays by Purdy and bad mistakes from the Lions (14-6), including two failed fourth downs in field-goal range. Detroit fell short of reaching the first Super Bowl in franchise history. “We played as bad of a first half as we could, but we were still within 17. There’s plenty of points there you can make up,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “The D shut them out there in the second half and this dude right next to me (Purdy) made it happen.” After being questioned about whether he could lead a comeback, Purdy has now done it twice in as many weeks. He engineered a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter to beat Green Bay last week and then had an even bigger comeback against the Lions. Christian McCaffrey had two TD runs and little-used backup Elijah Mitchell scored on a 3-yard run to make it 34-24 with 3:02 to play as the Niners got over the conference title game hump after losing the past two seasons. “There’s been unfinished business for a while, man. Our team was set out for this for a long time,” Shanahan said. “It’s been a long year to get to this point, and we got it done today. It was hard at the beginning, but the character we have in our team, the type of guys we have, we can’t wait to get to Vegas, man.” The Niners blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams two years ago and then were forced to play much of last year’s title game loss at Philadelphia without a functioning quarterback after Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive and fourth-stringer Josh Johnson left with a concussion early in the third quarter. But San Francisco managed to make the long journey back to this stage and now is in position to deliver the franchise its record-tying sixth Super Bowl title and first since the 1994 season. A magical season for the Lions ended in heartbreak. Detroit remains the only team to play every season of the Super Bowl era without reaching the ultimate game. This looked like it could be the year to end that drought when Detroit won back-to-back playoff games after winning just one in the previous 56 seasons. But the Lions couldn’t finish the job despite holding a 24-7 halftime lead. San Francisco settled for a field goal on the opening drive of the second half before the game completely flipped in a four-minute span. Detroit coach Dan Campbell opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the San Francisco 28, but Josh Reynolds couldn’t hold onto a pass from Jared Goff, leading to a turnover on downs. The Lions then seemed to have a potential interception when Purdy’s deep pass bit Kindle Vildor in the face mask, but the ball popped up and was caught for a spectacular 51-yard gain by Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy found Aiyuk three plays later for a 6-yard score. “Before the game, a ladybug landed on my shoe. And you all know what that means,” Aiyuk said. “That’s all I can say. Other than that, I don’t know.” Jahmyr Gibbs then fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a 1-yard run by McCaffrey to tie the game at 24. It only got worse from there for the Lions with Reynolds dropping another pass on third down, leading to a punt that Detroit had a chance to down at the 1 but botched. Purdy then drove the Niners to a 33-yard field goal by Jake Moody and their first lead of the game. Campbell bypassed a chance at a game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Niners 30 midway through the fourth quarter. Goff threw an incomplete pass and the Niners drove to the insurance touchdown. Goff added a TD pass to Jameson Williams with 56 seconds to play, but the 49ers recovered the onside kick to seal the win. Goff finished 25 for 41 for 273 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco’s heralded front seven had no answer in the first half for Detroit’s offensive line, which repeatedly opened up big holes, giving the backs several yards even before first contact. The Lions ran for 148 yards in the first half, getting TD runs from Williams, David Montgomery and Gibbs. Michael Badgley added a late field goal to give Detroit a 24-7 lead at the half, tied for the second-biggest scoring output for a road team in the first half of a conference title game since the NFL-AFL merger. View the full article

Zay Flowers flipped a towel over his head. He shielded his eyes from the final Kansas City Chiefs drive that would milk the clock and officially end the Ravens’ season, one stop from Super Bowl 58. After his fumble at the goal line cost the Ravens a golden opportunity to get back in the game in the fourth quarter, he turned up the sideline, his back to the action. That’s where he met Odell Beckham Jr. The veteran receiver, who signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in the spring, pulled in the rookie for an embrace. This wasn’t a quick hug. It wasn’t performative outreach. This was Beckham, fully embracing Flowers, in his ear doing most of the talking, sharing a lengthy human moment during the curtain call of their season, a 17-10 home loss in the AFC championship game. “He just told me to keep my head up, you know,” Flowers told The Baltimore Sun. He paused, tears welling in his eyes that pointed at his shoes. Flowers wore his black jacket like a cloak over his head. He tried to keep going. His mouth opened the slightest bit but any follow-up stuck, like sap between his lips incapable of pouring out. “I wanted to win,” was all Flowers could muster in an emotional postgame scene. “That’s it.” Beckham could offer a bit more from their sideline heart-to-heart: “Just letting Zay know he’s gonna be a special player. This is a moment in your career that’s never gon’ break you. It’s always gonna make you. Just being able to be there for him however I can. I feel the same way they do. I wanted to win. … I was just sharing that, you know, it’s going to be all right. It’s just unfortunate the way it ended.” Despite that game-changing fumble and another costly penalty, Flowers was one of the lone bright spots for a Ravens offense that struggled Sunday after dominating much of the season. The rookie caught five passes for a team-high 115 yards, the third-most in Ravens playoff history, and scored the team’s only touchdown, a 30-yard grab tied for the longest touchdown catch by a rookie in franchise postseason history. No other Ravens receiver had more than 39 yards. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter after getting behind Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Even when he was flagged for taunting after a 54-yard catch late in the third quarter, pushing the ball back to the Chiefs’ 25-yard line, Flowers got 14 yards back with a catch-and-run. But the need for a consoling veteran came later, with the Ravens still within striking distance. Baltimore opened the fourth quarter at the Chiefs’ 10. Quarterback Lamar Jackson found Flowers over the middle, and the rookie split three defenders as he dove toward the goal line. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Crown Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions, 34-31, to advance to Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson did it all for the Ravens this season. In the biggest game, he fell short. Flowers thought he broke the plane, as did the 71,430 screaming fans filling M&T Bank Stadium for the biggest home game in Ravens history. But cornerback L’Jarius Sneed poked the ball loose, and the Chiefs recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback. The 23-year-old Flowers could only walk back to the sideline in a pit of frustration. Flowers slammed his hand against the bench after the fumble. Television cameras revealed the ensuing cut on his left middle finger. A nearby trainer quickly tended to the bloody cut, which Flowers said was already there but “opened up again.” “We coach two hands when you reach for the end zone,” coach John Harbaugh said. “[Flowers] had two hands on the ball.” The turnover was the turning point of the game, a chance to flip the script on an otherwise underwhelming offensive performance. But that mistake will be the lasting memory of this game, just like the goal line fumble by Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley that was returned 98 yards for the decisive touchdown in last season’s wild-card-round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. “We gon’ get it back next time. We not worried about that,” Jackson said of Flowers’ fumble. “We all make mistakes. It’s his first season. It’s my first time in this situation. It’s his first time in this situation. We gon’ bounce back. Nobody played the game perfect.” Flowers, drafted 22nd overall in April, finished his first season leading the Ravens in receiving yards with 858 (293 more than Beckham) and receptions with 77 (32 more than tight end Mark Andrews). For a franchise that has struggled throughout its history to draft and develop wide receivers, Flowers provides plenty of hope. But for the rookie who saw so much success, in those tough moments, it helps to have a veteran. “Zay is forever little bro to me,” Beckham said. “Regardless of the outcome today, just being able to share that moment with him like, ‘Bro, you gon’ be straight. It’s tough. Yeah, you may hear something about this. That’s just the way the world is.’ Just keep his head, just like everybody else in here. “There’s no one play that defines a game. There’s still a lot of football that was left in the game. But these moments, he’ll be able to learn from and become a better player.” Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds up the championship trophy as Chiefs tightend Travis Kelce, right, celebrates.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fans react to a penalty against Baltimore late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter after getting behind Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens were, once again, mounting the comeback that fans anticipated. Rookie receiver Zay Flowers had fumbled at the goal line on the previous possession, but Jackson — long lambasted for his lack of playoff success — marched the Ravens back into Chiefs territory. The dream season had hope. Baltimore, the AFC’s top seed after a special 13-4 regular season, threatened to cut Kansas City’s lead to a single score on a night when the Ravens’ defense had more than held serve against Patrick Mahomes and company. A trip to the Super Bowl was still in sight. Jackson could weave together a brilliant comeback, flipping the narrative about his postseason success and sending the Ravens to the destination he’d long envisioned. But on a second-down look, Jackson floated a ball, seemingly up for grabs, to the back of the end zone. Hidden behind three white jerseys was Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely. He never had a chance. Deon Bush intercepted the pass and, despite a last-minute push by the Ravens, that proved to be a critical blow in Baltimore’s 17-10 loss. Mahomes and the Chiefs — whose AFC title game passport is stamped full of appearances — will once again play into February, a month they’re all too familiar with. Jackson and the Ravens, despite their dominant season, will not. In answering postgame news conference questions, Jackson stressed the importance of turnovers. Two fumbles and the interception were a key culprit in Sunday’s loss, a lesson learned from the Chiefs, who did not cough the ball up once. The Ravens twice had threatened to score in the fourth quarter only to turn the ball over. “Next time, we gotta finish,” Jackson explained. Ravens fans hope that next time comes sooner than the last one did. It had been over a decade since Baltimore last played in the AFC championship game and this year’s team looked poised to hoist a trophy. They won more games than any team in the NFL and did so in convincing fashion; they’d knocked off the NFC’s best, the San Fransisco 49ers, on Christmas Day, decimated the high-powered Miami Dolphins in Week 17, taken care of the up-and-coming Houston Texans in the postseason. But the Ravens matched a season-low with just 10 points. And for many, one of the most memorable moments of Lamar Jackson’s 2023 campaign, one in which he’ll likely win his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award, will be that play: a forced throw into triple coverage. Afterward, a few fans, disgruntled and likely full of liquid ire, threw beer cans onto the field. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship game against the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jackson threw for 272 yards but also was responsible for two turnovers — the interception and a first-half strip-sack after Chiefs rusher Charles Omenihu slipped past left tackle Ronnie Stanley. More importantly, the Ravens now have a 2-4 playoff record when Jackson starts and, unfairly or not, the quarterback will be blamed by many for this loss. Baltimore’s defense, for its part, did what it has all year. The Ravens made open-field tackles, they pressured the quarterback, and they stood tall, allowing only 17 points. The defense, the NFL’s best all season, played well enough to win, despite a slow start. Even still, Mahomes racked up 241 yards — often finding his favorite option, tight end Travis Kelce, to escape trouble — and once again, it’ll be him, not Jackson, as the quarterback representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. Linebacker Patrick Queen said he considers Mahomes and Jackson to be the league’s best two quarterbacks, in “whatever way you want to rank them,” and he’d hoped that a win Sunday would grant Jackson “the recognition that he deserves” and end the narrative about him that he can’t win the big one. “So much stuff he gets that he doesn’t deserve,” Queen said of Jackson. “This was his opportunity to be able to write some of that stuff off and move on to the next thing.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Hope, then disappointment: Ravens fans, in Baltimore and beyond, lament team’s loss to Chiefs in AFC title game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Crown Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions, 34-31, to advance to Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | After costly fumble, Ravens embrace WR Zay Flowers and look toward rookie’s bright future But the Ravens’ offense struggled throughout a pedestrian first half. Jackson was not only the team’s leading passer and rusher in the first 30 minutes but also second in receiving yards after he caught and ran with his own batted pass (a fortunate ending to what could have been another turnover). The Chiefs doubled the Ravens’ first-half yards (221 to 110) and tripled their first downs (16 to five), but after a defensive struggle in the third quarter, Baltimore’s offense suddenly looked like itself in the fourth. “To be a champion,” Jackson had told reporters last week in Owings Mills, at the Ravens training facility, “you gotta go through a champion.” Baltimore outgained the defending champion Chiefs in the fourth quarter and twice nearly scored, teasing a comeback. Both drives ended, however, in disaster, and it’s hard to decide which was more painful: Flowers fumbling as he reached for the goal line or Jackson, minutes later in the same end zone, forcing a throw into the end zone on second down. Jackson slammed his helmet down afterward and then, sitting on the sideline, placed his hands over his face, miming the helplessness of Ravens fans everywhere. As Likely had sprinted toward the end zone, he’d raised his right hand, calling for the ball. Jackson thought he could fit in a pass to the second-year standout tight end. “I just tried to let him turn around and make a play,” Jackson said. He thought there might be pass interference on the play — and Chamarri Conner made contact with Likely as the ball was in the air — but that doesn’t make the triple-coverage interception sting any less. Nor will it lessen the doubts about Jackson’s ability to win in the postseason. Of criticism Jackson faces, linebacker Roquan Smith said, “there’s always going to be questions, comments, opinions. That’s just what humans who can speak and have a mouth [do]. “It’s not pointing fingers at the end of the day. We didn’t get the job done as a team.” Jackson has four more years left on a lucrative contract and although questions linger about how this team will look next year — both from a coaching and player personnel standpoint — the Ravens will seek to be in this same spot next January. In the meantime, Mahomes might get his third Super Bowl ring. And the lasting image until then, for many, will be an ill-advised throw to the end zone. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of the game as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds up the championship trophy as Chiefs tightend Travis Kelce, right, celebrates.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench in the fourth quarter of Sunday's AFC championship game against the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fans react to a penalty against Baltimore late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #4 Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter as Chiefs #32 Nick Bolton was late on the coverage. Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. 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Here’s how the Ravens graded out at each position after a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. Quarterback Lamar Jackson never got into a rhythm with his offense. He had his moments, but he was off his game and several times underthrew and overthrew receivers and running backs out of the backfield. The Ravens’ best play, as it has been all season, was Jackson scrambling and improvising. This game should have been his defining moment in the NFL. Instead, he and the Ravens came up short. Jackson completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed eight times for 54 yards. He finished with a passer rating of 75.5. There were times when he showed the lack of breakaway speed he once had. Grade: C Running backs The Ravens had only 16 carries for 81 yards, and eight of those attempts were by Jackson. The big problem was that they abandoned the run too early. Didn’t they watch the tape of how the Buffalo Bills attacked the Chiefs last week? Kansas City came into the game with the No. 18 rushing defense in the league, allowing 113.2 yards per game, and the Ravens never tested the Chiefs. Gus Edwards had only three carries for 20 yards and Justice Hill had three for 3 yards. Grade: D Offensive line The Ravens got exposed. Tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley couldn’t handle Kansas City’s pass rush and the Ravens had problems picking up blitzes. They tried to counter with tight ends and running backs helping off the edge, but that took receivers out of the passing routes. The Ravens need to select some offensive linemen in the draft, and Morgan played the final quarter of the season with a leg injury. Kansas City had four sacks and hit Jackson three other times. Grade: C- Receivers The Ravens didn’t get this group into the offense for several reasons. First, they couldn’t contain Kansas City’s blitzes or pressure, and they didn’t shorten the routes until the second half. Rookie Zay Flowers had five catches for 115 yards, but his taunting penalty after a 54-yard catch and fumble at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line after an 8-yard reception on the first play of the fourth quarter were crucial mistakes. Jackson tried to force the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. several times in the second half, but the veteran couldn’t gain separation. Even when the receivers did get open, Jackson had trouble connecting on the long ball. Tight end Isaiah Likely, one of the team’s top weapons since starter Mark Andrews went out with an ankle injury in Week 11, had only two catches for 16 yards. Big mistake. The Ravens could have used him on the outside. Grade: C Defensive line Most of the Ravens’ problems came in the first half because Kansas City kept them off balance by coming out and throwing the ball. The Ravens seemed prepared to stop the run, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes came out throwing to tight end Travis Kelce and hitting other short, quick timing patterns. The Chiefs had only 73 rushing yards, but they were effective pounding the ball inside with tough runs. Justin Madubuike had six tackles, including a half-sack and a pressure. Reserve end Brent Urban also recorded three tackles, but the Ravens got very little pressure up the middle on Mahomes. Grade: C+ Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith had 16 tackles but Chiefs center Creed Humphrey did a nice job getting to him and cutting him off on several running plays. Weakside linebacker Patrick Queen had 11 tackles, but he seemed frustrated with the Chiefs and their tight ends. Both Smith and Queen delivered some unnecessary late shots in the fourth quarter. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney had two tackles and a sack and did a solid job of holding the edge, but neither fellow outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy nor Odafe Oweh had much success on the other side. Grade: C+ Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on the emotions he’s feeling after the loss | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson on the turnovers | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Zay Flowers: ‘I wanted to win, that’s it’ | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Lamar Jackson falter in mistake-filled 17-10 loss to Chiefs in AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-10 loss to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC championship game Secondary Mahomes finished with 241 passing yards, but 161 of those came in the first half. Safety Kyle Hamilton finished with 11 tackles but he had to guard All-World tight end Travis Kelce, who finished with 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. That’s a tough assignment. Cornerback Brandon Stephens (nine tackles) had a strong game and the Ravens kept pressure on Mahomes in the second half with rushes from the edge. But on the Chiefs’ last drive, the Ravens couldn’t stop a 32-yard pass over the middle to Marques Valdes-Scantling with 2:19 remaining that sealed the victory. Grade: C+ Special teams The Ravens wanted to get returner Devin Duvernay a couple of touches in hopes that he might deliver a big play, but he couldn’t do much outside of a 21-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. The Ravens were successful in coverage and Justin Tucker kicked a 43-yard field goal, his only attempt of the game, with 2:34 remaining. Overall, the Ravens didn’t allow any big plays, and that’s what you want from your special teams. Grade: B Coaching The Ravens were thoroughly outcoached the entire game. In the second half, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald made enough adjustments to keep the team competitive, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken always seemed a step behind Kansas City counterpart Steve Spagnuolo. All the blame can’t be put on Monken, though, since the Ravens have struggled with pass protection for most of the season. Coach John Harbaugh gave up on the run too early in the game and spent more time complaining to officials than getting his team in the right frame of mind. Grade: C Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds up the championship trophy as Chiefs tightend Travis Kelce, right, celebrates.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with trophy after beating the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce kisses the trophy to celebrate Chiefs victory over the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is comforted by a member of the Kansas City chiefs after the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by a member of the Chiefs staff as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is consoled by Odell Beckham Jr. in the final minutes of the game as the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Isaiah Likely looks dejectedly on the sideline as the Chiefs defeat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the the AFC championship game in Baltimore against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers sits dejectedly on the bench late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens Michael Pierce is dejected on the bench as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) John Brown of Phoenix reacts after the Baltimore Ravens fail to score a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left is consoled by kicker Justin Tucker as the fourth quarter and season close against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers walks on the sidelines in shock, still stinging from his fumble to the Kansas City Chiefs in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens fans react to a penalty against Baltimore late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans see the end of the season as the Kansas City Chiefs keep the ball late during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis grabs onto him during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie covers and cornerback Jaylen Watson, #35 watches during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts in frustration during the AFC championship game in Baltimore against Kansas City Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet, #10 watchees Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling make a crucial reception sealing victory during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defensive back Deon Bush, kneeling, intercepted the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Triple teamed by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner, #27 and linebacker Nick Bolton, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches a pass get intercepted by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush, #26 during the fourth quarter of the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. The Chiefs stunned the Ravens, 17-10. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chiefs safety Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush intercepts the ball thrown by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs recover a fumble at the one-yard line by Zay Flowers during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 coughs up the ball in the end zone to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie for a touchback during the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, talks to Referee Shawn Smith, left, in the fourth quarter after a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as Referee Shawn Smith, center, calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is called for a taunting penalty on the Chiefs L'Jarius Sneed after a 54-yards catch in the third quarter. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helairehe in the third quarter. Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own deflected pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbles the ball at the one-yard line as he tries to score and the Kansas City Chiefs recover the ball during the AFC championship game against the Chiefs in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs\xe2\x80\x99 Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Baltimore Ravens\xe2\x80\x99 Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Baltimore Ravens #6 Patrick Queen and teammate Baltimore Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney bring down Kansas City Chiefs #10 Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens #14 Kyle Hamilton celebrates a first half tackle. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jan. 28, 2024: Ravens #4 Zay Flowers and teammates celebrate his first quarter touchdown during the Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #4 Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter as Chiefs #32 Nick Bolton was late on the coverage. Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. 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Quarterback Lamar Jackson talked all season about being “locked in” on the singular goal of delivering on the draft night promise he made six years ago when he said the Ravens would get a Super Bowl out of him. He played like a man on a mission, too, putting up the kind of performances and numbers throughout the regular season that had Baltimore on the cusp of its first Super Bowl appearance in 11 years and will likely deliver him the second NFL Most Valuable Award of his career. But when it came to dethroning the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and their own reigning MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, Jackson and the Ravens learned the hard way that the playoffs are a different animal. So are the Chiefs this time of year. Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson was hurried and harassed into a fumble and an interception with just one touchdown pass as the Chiefs raced out to a 10-point first-half lead and held on to defeat the Ravens, 17-10, to advance to Super Bowl 58. Jackson finished 20-for-37 with 272 yards in the air to go with eight carries for 54 yards. Kansas City will play the winner of Sunday night’s NFC championship between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. It will be the fourth Super Bowl appearance in the past five years for the Chiefs, who were playing in their sixth straight conference title game. The Ravens and Jackson, meanwhile, looked more like a deer in headlights than a team that had the NFL’s best record and the top seed in the AFC. Trailing by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter and on the Chiefs’ 9-yard line, rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers caught a short pass and dove for the end zone only to fumble before crossing the goal line. The Chiefs recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback. It was just one of several self-inflicted wounds by the Ravens on the day. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-10 loss to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens-Chiefs AFC championship game pause was drone-related Baltimore Ravens | Lamarvelous: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson makes magic with 30-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers against Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Now we got bad blood: Ravens and Chiefs get into it pregame as Travis Kelce throws Justin Tucker’s helmet Baltimore Ravens | Live coverage: Ravens fall to Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC championship game Later in the fourth, Jackson threw into triple coverage and was intercepted in the end zone as he attempted to rally the Ravens from the hole they had dug themselves. Baltimore also committed eight penalties for 95 yards, which included an unnecessary roughness on Kyle Van Noy and a roughing the passer on Travis Jones that led to a Kansas City field goal late in the first half. The Chiefs also didn’t waste any time asserting their authority, marching 86 yards in 10 plays on their opening possession for an easy touchdown. Mahomes completed all five of his passes for 57 yards on the drive, three of them to Travis Kelce for 36 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown on a back shoulder rope with Kyle Hamilton draped on him. Kelce finished with 11 catches on 11 targets for 11 yards as he passed Jerry Rice for the most catches in postseason history. The Ravens bounced back, converting a fourth-and-1 from their own 34 on a designed run by Jackson that went for 21 yards. The scamper seemed to settle down if not ignite the offense, with Flowers spinning away from safety Nick Bolton and Jackson finding him for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7. But that was the last touchdown Baltimore would score. On the Chiefs’ next possession, they methodically marched 75 yards in 16 plays in just over four minutes. Kansas City converted four third downs, most of them from short range, before Isiah Pacheco plunged in from 2 yards out to give them a 14-7 lead. Harrison Butker added a 52-yard field goal just before halftime, and the Ravens’ only score came with 2:34 left on Justin Tucker’s 43-yard kick. Kansas City had 221 yards in the first half to the Ravens’ 110 and also dominated time of possession, 20:39 to 9:21. This story will be updated. Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson catches a pass after his pass was deflected by a Chiefs defensive player in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs #22 Trent McDuffie almost intercepts a pass as Baltimore Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson throws the ball away while being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs #95 Chris Jones in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback #8 Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs #90 Charles Omenihu in the second quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce catches a pass over Ravens Brandon Stephens for a first down in the first quarter. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has the ball stripped away by Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu in the second quarter of Sunday's AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Jadeveon Clowney as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill is tacked after a gain in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is striped of the ball by Chiefs Charles Onenihu for a 2nd quarter turnover as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps for a first down as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away under pressure from Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a completion to Mark Andrews in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. Brian Wacker: The league’s presumptive Most Valuable Player had no answer for the NFL’s best postseason team over the past few years. All year, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was in control of the offense, but in his first AFC championship game, he was completely out of sorts against the Chiefs’ blitz. And even when he wasn’t, Baltimore shot itself in the foot with costly penalties and ill-timed turnovers, including a fumble by rookie receiver Zay Flowers before he crossed the goal line on a would-be touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have cut the deficit to a field goal. Then Jackson, who’d already fumbled earlier in the game, was intercepted in the end zone as he threw into triple coverage down 10 midway through the fourth quarter. Baltimore had the NFL’s best defense during the regular season, becoming the first team to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game, but early on it had no answer for the explosive Chiefs, who marched up and down the field at will most of the first half. The Ravens’ defense stiffened as the game wore on, and holding the Chiefs to 17 points was more than commendable, but the offense never got in rhythm. Scoring 10 points against Kansas City, which came in boasting perhaps the NFL’s second-best defense, wasn’t going to cut it. Baltimore, which led the league in rushing, never got its ground game going, Jackson often held onto the ball too long as receivers struggled to get open and Kansas City dominated the Ravens’ shaky offensive line. Childs Walker: Zay Flowers had been the Ravens’ best offensive player all day, but when he reached for the end zone to pull the Ravens within three in the fourth quarter, the ball popped free. His agonizing fumble reflected an agonizing day for an offense that came up flat with a trip to Super Bowl 58 on the line. This was the best Ravens team ever through 18 games, but in the 19th game, far from that. Lamar Jackson’s second NFL Most Valuable Player award will be cold comfort as he spends the next year answering questions about a subpar performance in the biggest game of his most promising season. All the self-assurance he had displayed in recent weeks seemed gone when he threw into triple coverage for an interception that ended the Ravens’ next scoring chance after Flowers’ fumble. Patrick Mahomes carved up the Ravens’ defense to start the game, eluding pressure and trusting his receivers, especially tight end Travis Kelce, to make catches against tight coverage. We’ve seen this from Mahomes and Kelce for the last six years, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Jackson conjured up a few dazzling moments, slipping out of a sack to find Zay Flowers for a 30 yard touchdown and completing a 13-yard pass to himself (it ricocheted off a defender). But he struggled to find the right targets under duress, falling well short of Mahomes’ mastery. The Ravens handed the Chiefs an extra three points before halftime with a pair of personal fouls. That said, their defense stepped up in a big way after those initial drives, holding Kansas City to a single field goal over a span of eight possessions. It was the offense that could not do its part. Mike Preston: Until proven otherwise, Patrick Mahomes is still the best QB in the NFL. They can give the MVP to anyone they want, but this guy carried the Chiefs to the AFC championship. When it came to clutch throws, he delivered. He did it this year without two of his best receivers of the past three years. The road to the AFC championship had to come through Baltimore, but the title still goes through Kansas City and Mahomes. Hayes Gardner: The Ravens’ defense did what they have all year. They made open-field tackles, they pressured the quarterback, they stood tall, even against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. But their efforts weren’t matched by the offense. There were plenty of chances to come back in the second half, but turnovers — it’s hard to pick which was more painful, the Zay Flowers fumble or the Lamar Jackson interception — made that impossible. This was supposed to be the year that Jackson reached his first Super Bowl, the year that Baltimore broke through. Instead, once again, it’ll be the Chiefs representing the AFC. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens-Chiefs AFC championship game pause was drone-related Baltimore Ravens | Lamarvelous: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson makes magic with 30-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers against Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Now we got bad blood: Ravens and Chiefs get into it pregame as Travis Kelce throws Justin Tucker’s helmet Baltimore Ravens | Live coverage: Ravens fall to Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC championship game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews, CB Marlon Humphrey active for AFC championship game vs. Chiefs Sam Cohn: There are a couple ways to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, owners of six consecutive AFC championship game appearances and two Super Bowl titles since 2020. Perhaps muting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Or outmuscling the Chiefs’ menacing pass rushers. None of which include getting to halftime with quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens in rushing yards (27) and passing yards (67), while being second in receiving (13). He finished with 272 passing yards, completing 20 of 37 attempts, a passer rating of 75.5 and one vicious helmet spike. A 10-point outing, Baltimore’s lowest offensive output all season, won’t do it either. Unlike last Saturday against the Texans, where a fiery halftime speech reignited the Ravens, their inability to capitalize rolled right into the AFC championship’s second half. Baltimore’s defense held up its end of the bargain. But without help, the Ravens’ season ends here. The Ravens got to this point by flexing versatility. On Sunday, Odell Beckham Jr. had three receptions for 22 yards. Mark Andrews, once Jackson’s favorite target by a long shot, had two receptions for 15 yards. Isaiah Likely had two receptions for 16 yards. Even Justice Hill and Gus Edwards combined for only 23 yards on the ground with three carries apiece. Can’t beat a dynasty that way. C.J. Doon: Brutal. The Ravens played their worst game of the season at the worst possible time. That didn’t look anything like the dominant group we saw during most of the regular season and in the second half of last week’s win over the Texans. The Ravens’ bravado served them well against tough opponents all year, but that aggression spilled over in big moments Sunday and cost them dearly. Why, after being patient and relying on quick passes to beat the blitz last week, did Lamar Jackson hold the ball so long and keep throwing deep? He played right into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s hands, and the Ravens paid the price. Tim Schwartz: It wasn’t meant to be. The Ravens had plenty of chances to get back in the game in front of a raucous home crowd but Zay Flowers’ backbreaking fumble at the 1-yard line and Lamar Jackson’s unforgivable forced throw to the end zone that was intercepted proved too costly. Baltimore’s defense started slow against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and company but settled down in the second half to keep the Ravens in it. If you had told me the Chiefs would only 17 points, I’d have almost guaranteed a Baltimore victory. But the Ravens were undisciplined throughout the game (Kyle Van Noy’s penalty late in the first half comes to mind) and the stage looked too big for this group. The narrative around Jackson being unable to win the big one will carry over into another season, and it’s likely the team around him won’t be as talented as this one. This Ravens team, unfortunately, will be remembered as the best in franchise history to not win the Super Bowl. Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson catches a tipped pass and runs for gain in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Kansas City Chiefs' George Karlaftis recovers fumble by Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is unable to stop Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce from catching a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

A drone once again paused a highly anticipated Ravens game. During the first quarter of Baltimore’s AFC championship game Sunday against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, there was a brief break as referees announced an “administrative” timeout. That pause was drone-related, Maryland Stadium Authority vice president for public safety Vernon Conaway told The Baltimore Sun. The pause lasted only a couple of minutes and, soon after, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens tied the game at 7 late in the first quarter. For safety reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration places a Temporary Flight Restriction during large outdoor sporting events. There was a similar, but lengthier, delay earlier this season when a drone was spotted during the Ravens’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16. During that month, eight drones violated restrictions by flying near the stadium during games. Typically, those who violate the restrictions are seeking to get an aerial photograph of the stadium and do not realize the dangers of flying a drone, Conaway has said, which can cause harm if the operator loses control of it. There were no such drone issues during the Ravens’ two December home games. Sunday’s drone was launched from an area near the intersection of W. Lee Street and S. Sharp Street. Maryland State Police responded to the area, located the drone pilot, and are investigating, Conaway said. This story might be updated. Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

The Ravens followed up an uninspiring opening drive with one that flashed every bit of Lamar Jackson’s brilliance, driving six plays for 75 yards and a highlight-reel game-tying touchdown. Jackson emerged from the throes of the Chiefs defense to convert a fourth-and-1 for a 21-yard gain. Gus Edwards powered for another 15, draped by Kansas City defenders. Then Jackson scrambled, pirouetted and planted his back foot for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers, evening the score at 7 after a six-play, 75-yard drive. The Chiefs, however, answered quickly, driving 75 yards on the next drive to take a 14-7 advantage as Isiah Pacheco scored on a 2-yard run early in the second quarter. Ravens and Chiefs fans fight for the spotlight before the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Samantha Cholewczynski of Baltimore wears her handmade shirt showing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Ketia Stokes, right, and her mother, Linda Stokes of Baltimore get ready as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Patrick Reed a former Parkville resident wears his Johnny Unitas jersey that he wore to the Ravens Super Bowl against the 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Pat McFaul of Bel Air gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens game as they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Shawn Blowe of Baltimore carries a giant Lamar Jackson photo on his way to thew stadium. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans cheer as Zay Flowers arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) avens Jadeveon Clowney arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens running back Delvin Cook arrives prior to the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Ravens fans tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. ..(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chris and Karen Nicewarner of Martinsburg, W. Va attend every home game and are on the sideline as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) A fan holds a sign about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before the 2024 AFC Championship in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

There was a bit of pregame contention. Mental warfare before kickoff. Instigating for any leg up in Sunday’s AFC championship game between the Ravens and Chiefs. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker –– the only current Raven who played on the 2012 Super Bowl team –– had a few footballs, a plastic holder and his helmet collected near the far end zone. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tossed his equipment aside to make room for his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, going through pregame warmups. Tucker could only smile, stretching as he watched Kelce’s antics. The other had some pushing and shoving between Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet and a gaggle of Chiefs, having to be separated after a forceful headbutt. All signs point to a contentious AFC championship game. View the full article

The AFC championship game between the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs kicks off at 3 p.m. Read our pregame coverage here. And here’s our live coverage from M&T Bank Stadium: View the full article

The Ravens are playing their first AFC championship game at home, and they enter it about as healthy as they have been all season. Notably, tight end Mark Andrews, who was activated off injured reserve this week after undergoing ankle surgery in November, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who suffered a calf injury in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins and hasn’t played since, are both active for Baltimore’s 3 p.m. showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens, however, will be without wide receiver Tylan Wallace (knee) and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder), both of whom are inactive. To fill their roles on special teams, the Ravens elevated recently signed receiver Dan Chisena and inside linebacker Josh Ross from their practice squad Saturday. The Ravens’ other inactives are cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (knee), guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu, center Sam Mustipher and quarterbacks Malik Cunningham and Josh Johnson, who will be Baltimore’s third/emergency quarterback. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are without a few key players, notably All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney (pectoral) and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps), both of whom were ruled out Friday. Starting linebacker Willie Gay (neck) was also made inactive Sunday. Kansas City is also without two of its wide receivers: Skyy Moore (knee), who was ruled out Friday, and Kadarius Toney (hip). Toney, who welcomed a daughter Saturday night and hasn’t played in the past five games, said the Chiefs are lying about his injury. The 25-year-old went on an expletive-filled rant on his Instagram on Sunday, saying that he isn’t hurt. Other inactives for the Chiefs include cornerbacks Keith Taylor and Ekow Boye-Doe and defensive ends BJ Thompson and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. View the full article

The Kansas City Chiefs’ plane landed at BWI-Marshall Airport on Saturday afternoon, carrying dreams of an AFC title and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has arrived in Baltimore, along with his teammates and coaches, as they prepare to take on the Ravens at 3 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. But other than a host of social media memes, Swift has yet to be seen officially in Baltimore. A spokesperson for the global pop star could not be reached for comment about when or if she would arrive to watch Kelce take the field. The Maryland Department of Transportation directed a reporter to the Maryland Aviation Administration, which declined to comment on Swift’s potential travel. The governor’s office and BWI could not be reached for comment. Last week, Kelce said he was focused on the game and that his relationship was a separate compartment. “The only thing we’ve talked about is as long as we’re happy, we can’t listen to anything that’s outside noise,” Kelce told reporters in Kansas City about his relationship, according to CNN.com. “That’s all that matters.” Swift has faced a lot of outside noise over the past week, much of it related to her privacy and safety. On X, the website formerly known as Twitter, fake and explicit AI-generated images of the singer were distributed widely before being shut down. Also, a suspect was jailed after repeatedly showing up at her home in New York City. Swift’s fans seem eager to welcome her and also to root for the Ravens. Swift, 34, has not performed in the Baltimore area since she was a 19-year-old country singer stopping at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on her 2009 Fearless tour. Although she has made stops in Washington and Prince George’s County since then, Swift’s closest stop to Charm City during last year’s record-breaking Eras tour was Philadelphia. Swift is far from the only celebrity showing up in Baltimore for Saturday’s championship game – T-Pain will be playing the halftime show, setting the stage for a potential reunion. Decorated Olympian Michael Phelps, a Baltimore native, will deliver the game ball, and Ravens legends Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are also planned to be a part of Sunday’s festivities. Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora contributed to this article. View the full article

Fifty-three years ago, Baltimore hosted the first AFC championship game — and won. That hallowed Colts team is gone; its stadium, demolished. What remain are some grizzled old Colts who have harked back to that victory as their successors, the Ravens, set to play the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday for a Super Bowl berth. This past week, more than one of those Colts, including running back Sam Havrilak, watched the vintage video of that contest, a 27-17 win over the favored Oakland Raiders at Memorial Stadium on Jan. 3, 1971. Havrilak, now 76, played a pivotal role, recovering an enemy fumble on a punt return, which led to a Colts touchdown. His reaction, on film, is — by today’s standards — restrained. “I was not prone to a lot of celebratory action,” said Havrilak, a retired dentist who lives in Phoenix, Maryland. “I remember grabbing the ball and lifting it up in the air as I ran off the field. That’s as animated as players got back then.” Likewise, the postgame revelry was low-key. The Colts were headed to the Super Bowl where, two years earlier, they’d been upset by quarterback Joe Namath and the New York Jets in a loss that still stuck in their craw. The champagne, they vowed, would have to wait. In the locker room, Havrilak said, “The younger players like me and [rookie kicker] Jim O’Brien were hooting and hollering and singing ‘Moon Over Miami’ [site of Super Bowl V]. The veterans who’d lost in Super Bowl III were more subdued and just thankful for a chance to redeem themselves.” Despite their heady record (13-2-1), it was a somber Colts team that faced Oakland (9-5-2) on that crisp, clear afternoon. Skeptics scoffed at Baltimore’s schedule; the Colts had played just three teams with winning records, one of which — the Chiefs — routed them, 44-24, on “Monday Night Football.” Even the crowd of 56,368 seemed to lack fervor. For the second straight game, there were empty seats in the stands after 51 consecutive home sellouts. One fan smuggled in enough snow to build a snowman in a vacant box seat, a blue-and-white pennant in its icy grasp. The non-sellout meant that, per NFL rules at the time, the game was blacked out on Baltimore television. Nationwide, an estimated 30 million viewers tuned in. Coach Don McCafferty is hoisted aloft by Baltimore Colts players after their victory over the Raiders in the AFC championship game on Jan. 3, 1971. (Staff file) The Raiders’ George Blanda looks to pass against the Colts. Blanda, 43, was the oldest quarterback ever to play in an NFL conference championship game. (Staff file) The front page of The Baltimore Sun highlights the Colts' victory in the AFC championship game. (Staff file) A page from The Baltimore Sun previewing the Colts' AFC championship game against the Raiders. (Staff file) Show Caption of Expand The game matched two stellar quarterbacks: Hall of Fame-bound Johnny Unitas, 37, and Oakland’s Daryle Lamonica who was, on paper, the AFC’s top passer that season. But the latter struggled early and limped off in the second quarter after being sacked by Bubba Smith, the Colts’ behemoth defensive end. “I was surprised [Lamonica] got hurt, because I didn’t hit him my best lick,” Smith said later. Enter the Raiders’ George Blanda, 43, whose appearance made him the oldest quarterback ever to play in an NFL conference championship game. The ageless Blanda, who’d played for the Colts 20 years earlier, passed for two touchdowns and kicked a 48-yard field goal to keep it close. But he was sacked four times and intercepted three, including a fourth-quarter theft by Rick Volk, a Pro Bowl safety who outwrestled a receiver for the ball at the Colts’ 5-yard line. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | At Ravens’ revolving running back position, Justice Hill has always been there Baltimore Ravens | How the ‘illusion of pressure’ — and a nifty cornerback blitz — help fuel Ravens’ elite defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mark Andrews on his return | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Then and now: 1971 vs. 2024 Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Todd Monken evolved with the game to become Ravens’ unsung hero | COMMENTARY “I just went up in the air a bit higher than he did,” said Volk, 78. The Glen Arm resident acknowledged that he “hadn’t thought about that play in forever” until Sunday when he watched highlights of the game on YouTube with several old teammates. The Colts’ attack proved erratic. Plagued by dropped passes and overthrows, Unitas completed 11 of 30 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. Chicanery proved the difference. Leading 13-10 in the third quarter and 11 yards from the end zone, the Colts attempted a “Statue of Liberty” play, said Norm Bulaich, a rookie running back who’d already scored one touchdown and was a key to this play. “John [Unitas] backed up as if to pass, then I swung around behind him and he handed me the ball,” said Bulaich, 77, of Hurst, Texas. “I spun to the left, Bill Curry threw a block and I dove in for a touchdown. It was a good play, and it caught [Oakland] off guard.” The Raiders answered with a touchdown of their own. Three plays later, on third-and-long, Unitas flummoxed the defense, bringing four wide receivers to the line of scrimmage. He took the snap, backpedaled, peered right, then swiveled and threw left, hitting fleet Ray Perkins, all alone and in mid-stride. Though flu-ridden and nursing a broken toe, Perkins raced 68 yards for a touchdown to finish the scoring. Afterward, as he usually did, Unitas shrugged off the success of the trick play. With so many would-be targets, he said, “I had [the Raiders] man-to-man on Perkins and it was simple. Ray just beat his man.” At the final whistle, linebacker Mike Curtis raised his arms in triumph, fans rushed the field and Unitas grabbed the game ball before it disappeared. Coach Don McCafferty was hoisted aloft; two weeks later, he’d become the first rookie coach to win a Super Bowl, 16-13, over the Dallas Cowboys. For the moment, though, the jubilation was on hold. The day after the AFC title game, an editorial in the Baltimore Evening Sun read: “The restraint that brings the [Colts] home season to so gratifying a close is … deceptive. Underneath, we must understand, the Colts seethe with emotion. They are men of purpose, whose desire will know no satisfying until they have reappeared in the Miami Stadium where they were rudely upset two years ago, until the end of the Super Bowl … finds them alone at the summit of the entire pro football range of mountains.” AFC championship game Chiefs at Ravens Sunday, 3 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 3 1/2 View the full article

Justice Hill practiced at the Ravens’ facility each day this week. Afterwards, he showered, he talked to reporters, he attended team meetings, he left. It’s unremarkable, really. Hill has only done what is expected of him. But his presence — and ascendance in recent weeks — is a lesson in consistency, in staying ready and being prepared when long-awaited moments arrive. A fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2019, Hill didn’t enter this season a starter, like self-assured, former Ohio State star J.K. Dobbins, nor is he the fan-favorite son of a former Raven, like undrafted darling Keaton Mitchell. He doesn’t have the pedigree of veteran backups like Melvin Gordon III or Dalvin Cook. But as the Ravens have strung together an outstanding 2023 campaign, complete with 13 regular-season wins and a trip to the AFC championship game Sunday against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, the 26-year-old Hill has been there every step of the way. Injuries to Dobbins and Mitchell have been cruel reminders of the callousness of football. They were each lost to the season and the Ravens quickly beat on, winning games without them and adding replacements like Gordon and Cook. Hill’s participation has fluctuated. In one game, he had only one touch; in another, he had more than 100 yards from scrimmage. Regardless, he’s been prepared. “Because if you’re not ready when an opportunity arises,” Hill explained, “you’re not going to be here for long.” Hill seldom played during the Ravens’ standout 2019 season, when Mark Ingram II ran for 1,000 yards, and again in 2020. Then, he missed 2021 with a torn Achilles tendon. But he’s been a contributor each of the past two years, including career bests in the Ravens’ last two meaningful games. When Baltimore clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a New Year’s Eve win over the Miami Dolphins, he racked up 112 yards from scrimmage. Saturday, in the Ravens’ divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, he rushed for 66 yards. Those aren’t All-Pro numbers. But Hill has carved out an essential, varied role for the Ravens and, in turn, he’s been a key cog in the machine. Ravens running back Justice Hill, left, gets past Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley in the third quarter Dec. 31. Hill had 112 yards from scrimmage in the victory, which clinched the AFC’s top seed. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) If the best ability is availability — which Hill has demonstrated this year — the second best might be versatility. As a runner, pass-catcher and blocker, he’s shown that, too. “He’s a complete back,” Cook told The Baltimore Sun. “I think he’s one of the most underrated backs in the league.” Of the four NFL teams remaining, Kansas City has hard-running second-year back Isiah Pacheco, Detroit boasts a potent one-two combination of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and San Francisco leans on MVP finalist Christian McCaffrey. Hill and his backfield partner Gus Edwards don’t have the same level of name recognition as that group, but they’ve been reliable for one of the best Ravens teams ever. Sunday’s conference championship game will mark the first in Baltimore in more than 50 years. “He excels most when he has great challenges in front of him,” Derrick Hill, Justice’s father, told The Sun. Coach John Harbaugh described Hill, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Ravens last year, as a “well-rounded back” and a “difference maker for us.” “He’s a supremely talented player, but his heart is even bigger,” Harbaugh said. In a brutal league, a running back can be one play away from an elevated role — or the injured list. It was the latter for Hill in 2021, as he tore his Achilles in September, ending his season before it began. But even that — a painful, frustrating injury with a monthslong recovery process — was an opportunity in his eyes. Two months later, he and his now-wife welcomed their daughter to the world. He was at the hospital for the birth and spent time with his family during the initial, “hard months.” “I looked at it as a blessing in disguise,” he told The Sun. A picture of his daughter is pinned against the back of his locker. Next to it are two words: “My why.” The name Justice has an innocuous inspiration, but a meaningful message. His father, Derrick, first got the idea for the name from watching former MLB player David Justice and both he and his wife, Tia, stuck with it because of its biblical relevance. “Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right,” reads a passage in Psalms. Justice and his younger brother, Daxton, were both athletic as kids, which was no surprise, given their parents. Tia is strong — Derrick says when they were younger, she was the strongest girl he knew — and Derrick himself could dunk a basketball in ninth grade at 5 feet 7. Once, during an intramural game at Oklahoma State, he scored over future NBA player Bryant “Big Country” Reeves, he recalled. That athleticism and discipline landed both Justice and Daxton, 23, in the NFL. The younger Hill played defensive back for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and was drafted in the first round in 2022 by the Cincinnati Bengals. For Derrick and Tia, it’s been natural to see them succeed. After all, that’s what they did their entire childhood. “We do have those moments where it’s like, ‘Wow, this is something special,’” Derrick said. Ravens running back Justice Hill, center, makes a key block on Rams punter Ethan Evans, left, allowing teammate Tylan Wallace, right, to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime Dec. 10. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) As AFC North rivals, the brothers play one another at least twice a season and Daxton, a safety, tackled Justice earlier this year. (Justice didn’t realize until after the game it was his brother who had brought him down.) It’s hard for Justice Hill to grasp the rarity that he and his brother have both reached the pinnacle of the sport, describing it as surreal. “I feel like I’ll fully appreciate it when we’re both done, like sitting down, got the grandkids,” he said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Colts won the last AFC title game in Baltimore 53 years ago. The celebration would have to wait. Baltimore Ravens | How the ‘illusion of pressure’ — and a nifty cornerback blitz — help fuel Ravens’ elite defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mark Andrews on his return | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Then and now: 1971 vs. 2024 Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Todd Monken evolved with the game to become Ravens’ unsung hero | COMMENTARY Hill’s parents have tried to capture what it was like to raise two NFL sons. They’re putting the finishing touches on a parenting book — working title, “The Flash Brothers” — with a Jim Harbaugh-written foreword full of lessons and stories that they plan to publish in a few months. In ninth grade, the running back ahead of Justice Hill on the depth chart suffered an injury, giving him an opportunity. At Oklahoma State, there was a similar situation his freshman year. “His standout moments have always been like, the next man up,” Derrick said. That stems from preparedness as a student of the game. Hill performed well in school and on the Wonderlic test during the NFL draft process. Cook said “his knowledge of the game is just unbelievable.” When the Ravens hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken, praised for his creative offense, Hill’s parents knew it would fit with him personally. And now, Hill has found himself to be indispensable, catching a career-high 28 passes this year. “He’s always strived to be a different and out-of-the-box thinker,” Tia said. The Ravens play their most important home game in team history Sunday, a trip to the franchise’s third Super Bowl hanging in the 60-minute balance as 70,000 fans look on. Hill’s parents and brothers, as well as several friends will be in attendance and, if history is any indication, he’ll be ready when his name is called. Asked about the matchup between star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, Hill said plainly, “it’s just another game in the way of our goals.” “We’re trying to go win a Super Bowl, and if Mahomes is in the way of that, we’re going to go take care of it.” AFC championship game Chiefs at Ravens Sunday, 3 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 3 1/2 View the full article