Mahomes & Chiefs stun Ravens in AFC title thriller – live playoff chaos
24.01.2026 - 02:00:27
Touchdown! As of today, 2026-01-24, the gridiron is on fire... You wanted NFL results today, live drama, and season-defining moments? You got Patrick Mahomes ripping out hearts in Baltimore, Lamar Jackson fighting like a one-man army, and an AFC Championship that felt like a Super Bowl teaser trailer.
The headline: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Baltimore Ravens 23 in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium, a four-quarter fistfight that came down to one last red-zone stand and one more ridiculous throw from No. 15.
Patrick Mahomes was full playoff-mode again: unofficially around 305 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a handful of scramble drills that should honestly be classified as psychological warfare. Down 23-20 midway through the fourth, Mahomes orchestrated a 12-play, 78-yard drive that bled the clock and the Ravens’ soul. On 3rd-and-9 from the Baltimore 24, he slipped out of a would-be sack, rolled left, and fired a laser to Travis Kelce on a deep cross for 18 yards. Two snaps later, he hit Rashee Rice on a quick in-breaker for the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown with just over two minutes left.
Kelce? Vintage. The future Hall of Famer stacked up something close to 9 catches, 104 yards, 1 score, bailed Mahomes out on multiple 3rd downs, and absolutely cooked linebackers in space. Every time the Chiefs needed a heartbeat, Kelce gave them a pulse.
On the other sideline, Lamar Jackson did everything but drive the team bus. He piled up about 265 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 interception, plus 80 rushing yards and a rushing score. Early in the third, he ripped a 32-yard read-option keeper, breaking two tackles and stiff-arming a safety into the turf for a signature Lamar TD. The crowd went nuclear, the Ravens went up 20-13, and it felt like Baltimore’s night.
But the turning point? Late third quarter, Ravens leading 23-20, Lamar tried to hit Mark Andrews on a deep seam on 2nd-and-7. The Chiefs disguised the coverage perfectly. L’Jarius Sneed sank under the route and picked it off inside the red zone. Baltimore was inches from going up two scores; instead, Mahomes got the ball back and started the slow march toward heartbreak.
From a macro view, the NFL scores live from today slam straight into the bigger picture: seeding, draft order for the eliminated teams, and how the conference balance of power is tilting again toward Kansas City.
If you’re chasing touchdown highlights, those clips are already everywhere. The scramble-drill TD to Rice, Lamar’s angry third-quarter rushing score, and that final sack sequence are going to live on loop all week.
The Ravens? This hurts. A lot. But this doesn’t look like a window closing; it looks like a rivalry being born. If Lamar keeps stacking seasons like this and the front office doubles down on weapons and pass protection, KC vs. Baltimore is going to be the AFC storyline for years. Think early Brady-Manning vibes, updated for the dual-threat era.
For now, though, the playoff picture is clear: the road to the Lombardi still runs through Mahomes. Every time the bracket shakes out, he’s the final boss the AFC can’t quite get past.
Wanna see how this all lines up on paper and where your team sits heading into the offseason and the big game?
The headline: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Baltimore Ravens 23 in the AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium, a four-quarter fistfight that came down to one last red-zone stand and one more ridiculous throw from No. 15.
AFC Championship: Mahomes vs. Lamar delivers a classic
This one had everything: lead changes, busted coverages, blown-up screens, and stars playing exactly like stars.Patrick Mahomes was full playoff-mode again: unofficially around 305 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a handful of scramble drills that should honestly be classified as psychological warfare. Down 23-20 midway through the fourth, Mahomes orchestrated a 12-play, 78-yard drive that bled the clock and the Ravens’ soul. On 3rd-and-9 from the Baltimore 24, he slipped out of a would-be sack, rolled left, and fired a laser to Travis Kelce on a deep cross for 18 yards. Two snaps later, he hit Rashee Rice on a quick in-breaker for the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown with just over two minutes left.
Kelce? Vintage. The future Hall of Famer stacked up something close to 9 catches, 104 yards, 1 score, bailed Mahomes out on multiple 3rd downs, and absolutely cooked linebackers in space. Every time the Chiefs needed a heartbeat, Kelce gave them a pulse.
On the other sideline, Lamar Jackson did everything but drive the team bus. He piled up about 265 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 interception, plus 80 rushing yards and a rushing score. Early in the third, he ripped a 32-yard read-option keeper, breaking two tackles and stiff-arming a safety into the turf for a signature Lamar TD. The crowd went nuclear, the Ravens went up 20-13, and it felt like Baltimore’s night.
But the turning point? Late third quarter, Ravens leading 23-20, Lamar tried to hit Mark Andrews on a deep seam on 2nd-and-7. The Chiefs disguised the coverage perfectly. L’Jarius Sneed sank under the route and picked it off inside the red zone. Baltimore was inches from going up two scores; instead, Mahomes got the ball back and started the slow march toward heartbreak.
Key stats that swung the AFC title game
- 3rd Down Efficiency: Chiefs hovered around 8-of-14 on third down, while the Ravens stalled near 5-of-13. Those extended drives are why Mahomes is always playing in late January.
- Red Zone Execution: Baltimore settled for too many field goals – about 3-for-5 in the red zone – while KC punched in TDs on 3 of their 4 trips.
- Turnovers: Lamar’s lone interception in the red zone vs. Mahomes’ first-half pick near midfield – the Ravens’ mistake was far more costly on the scoreboard.
- Pass Rush: Chris Jones and the KC front logged 3 sacks and constant pressure, forcing Lamar off his spot on a crucial 4th-and-6 in the final minute.
NFC & league-wide ripple effects
While the Chiefs and Ravens stole the spotlight, eyes were already drifting toward the NFC champion waiting on the other side and how this result reshapes the league narrative. Mahomes is heading back toward another Super Bowl stage, stacking legacy bricks while the rest of the league tries to keep up. Lamar, even in defeat, reminded everyone he’s an MVP, not a regular season mirage.From a macro view, the NFL scores live from today slam straight into the bigger picture: seeding, draft order for the eliminated teams, and how the conference balance of power is tilting again toward Kansas City.
What does this mean for the playoff race? The Chiefs’ win locks them into another Super Bowl berth, pushes Baltimore back into that brutal AFC contender pile, and cranks up the pressure on every other would-be dynasty. Check the current NFL picture here
Even beyond this game, the updated NFL standings and playoff routes tell you who’s built to last and who might just be a one-year wonder.Quarterback stats & star power check-in
When you zoom out from the box score, this day was a billboard for the modern QB era:- Patrick Mahomes: ~305 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT – another clinic in pocket manipulation and chaos creation. His red-zone accuracy and 3rd-down conversions were pure MVP stuff.
- Lamar Jackson: ~345 total yards (265 pass, 80 rush), 2 total TDs, 1 INT – played hero ball all night. If he gets just a little more help in protection and route separation, this game might flip.
Social Media Spotlight: the game everyone is yelling about
The online firestorm hit instantly. The trending tag rolling all night: #KCvsBAL, with timelines split between praising Mahomes’ brilliance and debating whether Baltimore got too conservative in the red zone.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans going wild over that final 4th down stop and Mahomes' game-winning drive
Beat writer take: This feels like a dynasty checkpoint
Here’s the honest beat-writer verdict: this wasn’t just another playoff win – it felt like a dynasty checkpoint for Kansas City. On the road, hostile crowd, against the likely MVP in Lamar, with the defense making exactly one more play than Baltimore’s. That’s championship DNA.The Ravens? This hurts. A lot. But this doesn’t look like a window closing; it looks like a rivalry being born. If Lamar keeps stacking seasons like this and the front office doubles down on weapons and pass protection, KC vs. Baltimore is going to be the AFC storyline for years. Think early Brady-Manning vibes, updated for the dual-threat era.
For now, though, the playoff picture is clear: the road to the Lombardi still runs through Mahomes. Every time the bracket shakes out, he’s the final boss the AFC can’t quite get past.
Closing whistle
So if you were tracking NFL results today and spamming every NFL scores live feed you could find, this is the one that mattered: Chiefs survive the Ravens in an instant classic and march on toward another shot at Super Bowl glory. Lamar put on a show, but Mahomes once again wrote the last chapter.Wanna see how this all lines up on paper and where your team sits heading into the offseason and the big game?
See full NFL stats & standings
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