Ravens @ Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 37, Ravens 20
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)
The Chiefs dominated this game offensively and defensively, from start to finish, in what was a must-win game for both teams. Both the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs entered Sunday with a 1-2 record after slow, disappointing starts. On Sunday, the Chiefs looked like a team with urgency, while the Ravens looked like a team with injuries. Patrick Mahomes shined as he cut through the Ravens’ defense like a warm knife through butter. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson made some questionable decisions and exited in the second half with what appeared to be a lower-body injury – though with no clear incident after replay, it could have been something that has been bothering him for a couple of weeks now.
Three Up
- Patrick Mahomes – He was incisive in his approach to dissecting the Baltimore defense and had an answer for every look the Ravens tried to throw at him.
- Xavier Worthy – He didn’t find the end zone, but over 100 yards from scrimmage on 10 opportunities was enough to show that he’s the clear top option in this offense (until Rashee Rice returns).
- Brashard Smith – Even before garbage time, Smith was involved in the game plan with designed first-read looks and carries.
Three Down
- Baltimore Defense – For a third time in four weeks, the Baltimore Ravens allowed more than 35 points. They lost Pro Bowl starters Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey to injury, along with a handful of other starters who were already missing. It could be a long year for Ravens fans.
- Derrick Henry – Carried the ball just eight times and was relegated to the bench as the Ravens went into pass-heavy mode in the second half.
- Chiefs RBs – It’s still a cluster in this backfield as Pacheco and Hunt continue to eat into each other – and if combating Mahomes’ scrambles wasn’t enough, now they have to contend with Worthy getting gadget carries.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson: 14/20, 147 Yards, TD, INT | 6 Rushes, 48 Yards, Fumble (LOST)
Jackson struggled for a second-straight week with an injured offensive line in front of him and a handful of poor decisions – and some truly poor play-calling. His play each of the past weeks has looked very… human. It’s a possibility that the lower-body injury that caused him to leave this game may have been something that’s bothered him for each of the past two weeks. Even an injury isn’t an excuse enough for his poor play in Kansas City. Lamar fumbled after bouncing off his own man and threw an awful, awful pick. There are rumblings on social media that he quit on his team, leaving the squad trailing 30-13 in the third quarter. Tough to say based on just watching the game, and nobody in the Ravens organization will ever admit it if he did, but he played as poorly as we’ve seen in a long time.
If he returns next week – which, based on the post-game report, he should – he’ll need to play better if the Ravens intend to score against an excellent Texans defense next week.
Lamar Jackson's first INT of the season belongs to the @Chiefs
Fantastic snag by Leo Chenal pic.twitter.com/UG7bthKhYS
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 28, 2025
Cooper Rush: 9/13, 52 Yards,
He got garbage time minutes, looking underneath for the majority of his throws. If Jackson isn’t healthy, he may be called into action against the very talented Houston defense next week. Yuck.
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 8 Carries, 42 Yards
The Ravens gave Derrick Henry just four first-half carries. The Ravens were trailing by three possessions in the second half and gave Henry just four second-half carries. It’s not enough for a first-round running back – especially one that averages over 5.0 yards per carry over the course of the game. The seat of the Ravens’ OC should start to get hot this week. Henry should be fed a lot more than single-digit touches out of the backfield. The pass-game involvement is encouraging, but it’s not enough volume for fantasy managers OR the Ravens.
Justice Hill: 3 Carries, 76 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 41 Yards, TD
Hill showed his versatility, pass-catching ability, and breakaway speed as he found the end zone twice. He caught the first score of the game on an inside screen pass and then broke away for a 71-yard rushing score in garbage time as the Ravens trotted out their backups. Hill showed that he could be a valuable piece of this offense, but with just nine opportunities to touch the football, the volume isn’t enough to be fantasy viable.
Hill also BADLY missed a block up the middle in pass protection that resulted in an intentional grounding penalty.
2TDS FOR JUSTICE HILL
— Barstool Pokes (@BarstoolOKST) September 28, 2025
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Zay Flowers: 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 74 Yards
Flowers was targeted five times by Rush over the course of the final two drives before the starters came out. He caught three of those targets while two of them were nowhere close. The Ravens have used Flowers primarily on horizontal-breaking routes, where he excels in change of direction and gaining yards after the catch. He continues to see the most volume of any Ravens’ receiver, though Andrews’ involvement is drawing nearer.
Mark Andrews:8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 30 Yards
Andrews was involved early and often as the Ravens integrated the tight end (notice, I didn’t call him an offensive tackle this time) into the passing game. Andrews got the Dalton Kincaid treatment, gaining nearly all of his receptions on five-yard outs. Listen, it’s better than serving as a pulling blocker.
Rashod Bateman: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 24 Yards
DeAndre Hopkins: 1 Target
Isaiah Likely: 0 Targets
Likely was back on the field for the first time this season, but didn’t register a target – he’s clearly easing back into play. Hopkins’ only catch came on a long gain where he high-pointed the ball over his defender, but it was called back for a penalty. Bateman caught one ball on an extended play. Not much more to say about this group.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 25/37, 270 Yards, 4 TDs | 4 Carries, 5 Yards
With little to no pass rush of note, the Chiefs’ quarterback had a comfortable amount of time to make nearly all of his throws. He carved up the defense to a tune of 270 yards and four touchdowns. It seems like things may be coming together nicely for Mahomes managers, as his squad continues to round into form. The Chiefs can’t really run the football, meaning they have to lean on the passing game and continue to get more and more weapons every week. It’s the perfect storm for a renaissance Mahomes fantasy season.
Running Back
Isiah Pacheco: 7 Carries, 35 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards, TD
He is still one of the most violent runners in the NFL, but when he runs, he looks like he’s stomping down the field rather than trying to be light-footed at all. He carried just seven times and caught two of three targets, not enough volume for a fantasy running back to be a sure thing in any lineup. The receiving touchdown was a designed first-read play, but it was one of only two touches in the red zone.
Kareem Hunt: 13 Carries, 34 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 13 Yards
The Chiefs’ leading rusher in terms of carries; he toted it 13 times, nearly double that of Pacheco. However, he averaged just 2.6 yards per carry – he’s a between-the-tackles guy that doesn’t have much value if he doesn’t find the end zone.
Brashard Smith: 4 Carries, 9 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 27 Yards
Smith was utilized on the first Chiefs’ drive of the game, caught one pass for a solid gain, but had one drop where he ran a poor angle on his route. With four carries and four targets, Smith was much more heavily involved than he has been in previous games so far this season. From a play-making standpoint, he looks as competent as any player on the Chiefs. He could provide some explosiveness out of the backfield if they decide to utilize him in that way, but expect him to serve more as a pass-catching threat than anything else moving forward.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Xavier Worthy: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 83 Yards | 2 Carries, 38 Yards
Worthy was back on the field like he never left, looking fast, spry, and ready to contribute to an offense that needed his kind of profile in the worst way. Worthy was used all over the field, in short area routes, gadget runs, and intermediate to deep routes as well. He forced the defense to account for him on every play and still managed over 100 yards from scrimmage despite being the focal point of the Ravens’ D. He’ll be a force once Rice gets back and adds another layer to this offense.
Tyquan Thornton: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards, TD
With less of a call to take the top off the defense, Thornton had to settle for just two targets, though one of them was pulled in for a touchdown. His utilization will continue to diminish as he returns to being a rotational receiver for this offense.
Travis Kelce: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 48 Yards
Worthy’s involvement helped to open up short areas for Kelce, but he managed just 48 yards on his five catches as he didn’t find the YAC that he has become so good at manufacturing throughout his career.
Hollywood Brown: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 38 Yards, TD
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 36 Yards, TD
Rotational pass-catchers used mostly in short areas when the defense was cheating towards Worthy or Kelce, both Brown and JJSS pulled in touchdowns on lasers to the end zone.