Mahomes Seeks Stronger Start for Chiefs vs. Ravens on Thursday Night

Kansas City, Missouri – The Kansas City Chiefs are focusing forward and not dwelling on last year’s opening game against the Detroit Lions. In that matchup, the Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl win with a flag-raising ceremony, only to suffer a surprising loss to the Lions.

Patrick Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl MVP, has particularly tried to move past that tough memory. During that game, he recorded one of the lowest performances of his career, completing just over 50% of his passes for 226 yards. It was his fewest touchdown passes (two) and marked the first time he threw an interception in six season openers.

With the Baltimore Ravens set to face the Chiefs on Thursday night, Mahomes is eager to leave the past behind. “I don’t think last year’s too much on your mind,” he stated. “You’re so focused on trying to get better, and we’re playing the best of the best Week 1. We’re going to see where we’re at. We’re going to have to go out there and play our best football early in the season. All we can do is go out there and be our best.”

Mahomes typically rises to the occasion in Week 1, having a strong track record prior to last season’s setback. Before the loss to Detroit, he had won his first five season openers as the starting quarterback for the Chiefs, completing at least 75% of his passes in four of those games. During that stretch, he averaged 308 yards and threw 18 touchdown passes without an interception.

Reflecting on the significance of their upcoming game, Mahomes emphasized the importance of physicality when facing teams like the Ravens. “You don’t want to get pushed around. I think that’s the biggest thing,” he said. “Whenever you play teams like this, you want to make sure you match their physicality. We’re fast, and we’ve got guys that run around, but we pride ourselves on being physical as well, so it’s going to be a great challenge, man.”

In addition to focusing on his performance, Mahomes is also aware of his place in NFL history. He has completed more passes, amassed more yards, and thrown more touchdown passes than any other quarterback through 96 starts. A significant milestone could be reached on Thursday night; he currently needs just 84 passing yards to surpass Hall of Famer Len Dawson for the franchise’s career record.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted the evolution of the game, mentioning, “It’s a little bit different game now with the passing the way it is, but he has so much respect for Len before Len passed. They had a relationship there. They talked.” Reid acknowledged that the current landscape of football favors a passing game, emphasizing Mahomes’ ability to navigate it with humility and respect.

Historically, Mahomes has elevated his performance during crucial games, contributing to the Chiefs’ remarkable achievements, including six consecutive AFC championship appearances and three Super Bowl wins out of four total appearances. Last season, the Chiefs needed to defeat the Ravens on the road to secure their latest conference title.

While Week 1 may not carry the weight of the playoffs, it is undeniable that the attention on opening night is significant. The Chiefs will raise another championship banner, and the NFL spotlight will shine brightly on Arrowhead Stadium, marking the start of the new season.

“It’s just a great opportunity for the guys, to see what it’s like to be on the biggest stage,” said Mahomes. “You want to play in the Super Bowl at the end of the year, but this is a big stage as well. To be able to get that experience, play a great football team, I am excited for these guys to get out there, and the guys who haven’t been here, see what it’s like to be on that type of stage.”

In other news, the Chiefs announced that running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been placed on the non-football illness list, making him unavailable for the first four games of the season. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown is also sidelined with a shoulder injury, as confirmed by Reid. Additionally, special teams coach Dave Toub mentioned various options for kickoff returns, including running back Samaje Perine and wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, and Xavier Worthy, with Hardman, Worthy, and Moore as the probable candidates for returning punts.