The Baltimore Ravens were the best team in the NFL this past regular season. They are one of the few teams that can, theoretically, compete with the Kansas City Chiefs.

If we get this game again in the AFC championship game, no one should complain.

Thursday night was a thrilling first game of the NFL regular season. The Ravens had a chance to win it late in the game. Lamar Jackson, looking thinner and faster, made plays as usual. He had his 14th 100 rushing yards, a record for a quarterback. He put the Ravens in position for a touchdown late in the game, trailing 27-20. But the Chiefs held on for a huge win, and it was as close as it got.

Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone with just five seconds left. On the final play, Jackson rushed and appeared to hit tight end Isaiah Likely for a touchdown as time expired. But Likely’s toe barely made it to the back line and was ruled incomplete after a replay review. The Chiefs escaped.

The Chiefs made an interesting first-round pick in lightning-quick receiver Xavier Worthy, and he paid off immediately with two touchdowns. He scored on an end around on his first NFL touch, then scored a key touchdown in the fourth quarter as the game got tight. Just what Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes needed: a game-breaking rookie receiver who can outpace everyone else on the field.

The Chiefs looked good on Thursday night. The Ravens gave them a tough challenge. Maybe we’ll see them play again in January. It couldn’t have been more exciting on Thursday night.

Ravens fight to the end against Chiefs

Both offenses started well. Derrick Henry capped his first drive with the Ravens by scoring a 5-yard touchdown. The Chiefs responded on their first possession with a 21-yard touchdown to Worthy. It was Worthy’s first touchdown in the NFL, and he sped past the defense for a score.

Then the defenses took over for the rest of the half. There were no more touchdowns in the first half. Jackson fumbled in Chiefs territory and the Ravens defense held Kansas City to a field goal. Mahomes threw an interception near midfield late in the first half, but the Chiefs held Baltimore to a field goal. The Chiefs went into halftime with a 13-10 lead.

The Chiefs defense held out into the second half. Baltimore’s offensive line, which replaces three starters from last season, struggled to block the Chiefs’ front line. As a result, Jackson consistently threw short, often to Zay Flowers. Jackson completed a lot of passes, but not for many yards.

The Ravens finally got the play they needed. Jackson found Likely downfield and Likely weaved through defenders for a 49-yard score. That cut the Chiefs’ lead to 20-17. The game was far from over, especially with Jackson on the Ravens’ side.

But the Chiefs managed to make a great play with an exciting new rookie to extend their lead.

Xavier Worthy makes a big impact

Worthy struck again. This time it was on a blown coverage, but he got behind the defense and Mahomes hit him for a 35-yard touchdown, right after Likely’s touchdown.

The Chiefs struggled at receiver last season and still won a Super Bowl. Kansas City played without the injured Marquise Brown on Thursday night, and the combination of Rashee Rice, Worthy and Brown could be devastating all season.

The Ravens, one of the NFL’s best teams, were still not out of the woods after Worthy’s second touchdown. They were given a field goal, then a stoppage, and the Chiefs were up at the two-minute warning. Jackson took over at his own 13, trailing 27-20 with 1:50 to go and no timeouts. Jackson hit Rashod Bateman on a 38-yard catch to the 10-yard line, but the clock was under 20 seconds. Jackson threw Likely over in the end zone and missed Flowers on second down. He would regret that play.

The pass to Likely looked like a touchdown and the Ravens were ready to go for the two-point conversion and the win. But the replay showed Likely was barely out. The Chiefs could breathe a sigh of relief.