Notebook: Self-Inflicted Wounds Prove Fatal for Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City Chiefs Loss

A combination of three turnovers and eight penalties proved to be the difference between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

The Baltimore Ravens fell 17-10 and one game short of traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Super Bowl. Instead, the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will have a chance at hoisting back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. 

However, before the Ravens turn the page on an ultimately heartbreaking end to a season where they had run the table in the AFC on their way to earning the No. 1 seed, we empty our notebook one last time.

Out of Sorts 

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) prepares to throw the ball during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The improvement of the Ravens' offense, specifically the quarterback Lamar Jackson, had been the story all season long. With offensive coordinator Todd Monken implementing his more traditional pro-style offense in Baltimore, the Ravens had a much more complete version of Jackson.

However, it wasn't the same story on Sunday. Facing a Chiefs defense that featured the NFL's second-best pass rush, that trailed only the Ravens in team sacks, they never let Jackson find his rhythm and comfort in the pocket. 

Jackson was sacked four times and had two turnovers, one being a fumble and another via an interception, as he completed just 20 of his 37 passes for 272 yards with one touchdown.

Dominant Defense? 

If someone told you that the vaunted Ravens' defense would hold the high-flying Chiefs' offense to just 17 points, you would've likely thought that meant good things for Baltimore. 

After all, beating good teams had been the specialty of the Ravens this season, and they had done so off the backs of their dominant defense. 

Despite being on the wrong side of the scoreboard, the Ravens' defense didn't disappoint in their matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense. Baltimore held Kansas City to 17 points and 319 total yards despite being on the field for 15 minutes longer than their offense. 

While the Ravens' defense had their fair share of costly penalties, they still had enough to shut out the Chiefs' offense in the second half after going into the locker room for halftime trailing by 10 points.

Self-Destruction?

Turnovers, Disappearing Offense Doom Ravens in Loss to Chiefs

Continuing with the theme of an uncharacteristic performance, the Ravens seemingly shot themselves in the foot countless times. Baltimore was penalized a costly eight times for 95 yards. Some of those penalties extended drives for the Chiefs, while another, like the taunting penalty on Zay Flowers, negated a big play for the Ravens offense.

To make matters even worse for Baltimore, they had three turnovers. Two of those came late in the fourth quarter while the Ravens were trying to mount the comeback. 

First, following his 15-yard taunting penalty that took yardage off his 54-yard catch, Flowers would get the ball a few plays later on an eight-yard completion but lost the ball as he dove for the goal line. 

Then, on the ensuing drive, Jackson made a mistake, throwing an interception in the redzone as he forced the ball to a tightly covered Isaiah Likely. 

Those two plays alone made the difference for the Ravens in a game where the winner punched their ticket to the Super Bowl.