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Winners and losers of the Chiefs’ narrow victory over the Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game


Winners and losers of the Chiefs’ narrow victory over the Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game

https://www.nfl.com/players/noah-gray/Ravens running back Derrick Henry: The whole point of signing Henry was to give Jackson fewer opportunities. That wasn’t the case Thursday, as Henry rushed for 13 yards and a touchdown. He really wasn’t a factor in the final two quarters, and the offensive line woes should make people wonder if this is going to be a tougher transition than first thought. The Chiefs were determined not to let go of Henry, but the Ravens had no counterforce when it came to play-action. That’s not a good picture for a team that prides itself on being more physical than its opponents.

Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken: This game was another opportunity for the Ravens offensive coordinator to prove he can take this offense to new levels. The results were mixed at best. The Ravens’ good work on offense was largely thanks to Jackson’s magic, not their overall scheming. There were too many plays going east and west as the Ravens hoped to probe the perimeter for big gains on quick throws. Some of that had to do with the offensive line’s woes. But you can’t discount Monken’s role in this. Spagnuolo out-coached him in last year’s playoffs, and Monken didn’t fare any better in this game.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce: It was a quiet night for the future Hall of Famer, as he produced three catches for 34 yards. Equally significant was the fact that Kelce only four goals in the game. The Chiefs’ offense has run on him for nearly the entire Mahomes era, but Thursday night felt like a sign of the times. Kansas City needs to start thinking about future options when Kelce retires from football — he turns 35 on Oct. 5 — and Rice is obviously the favorite for Option A in that offense. The Chiefs have also been using backup tight end Noah Gray more often and there are high hopes for wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown once he returns from a shoulder injury. That’s not to say Kelce is done. It’s just a reality check. He struggled in the second half of last season before going nuts in the postseason. There could be more moments this year when we realize his best days are behind him.

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