BALTIMORE | The Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. They will face the 49ers again, who were their opponents in the 2019 final.
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Even the Ravens, in their fortress guarded by 71,000 fans, couldn't slow down the Chiefs' machine in the American conference finals. The Chiefs won 17-10 and even in a season in which they are not at their best offensively, their last game is in Las Vegas on February 11th. The 49ers, for their part, overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat the Lions 34-31 in the national conference final. This will be their eighth Super Bowl appearance.
The Journal was there in Baltimore to witness another result that broke the hearts of Ravens fans. This team had to be perfect to beat the Chiefs, who have tremendous experience in these types of situations where things get hot in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the Ravens were far from perfect.
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Their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, was the victim of two turnovers. After he made an interception in the end zone during a critical moment midway through the fourth quarter, several fans threw their beers onto the field out of spite. What a waste of food!
The same bleak refrain is repeated in Baltimore. The team has an exceptional season, Jackson wins Most Valuable Player, the defense beats down big teams, and then the house of cards collapses in the playoffs. This will not dampen the enthusiasm of those who claim that Jackson fades when the stakes increase, even though he only completed 20 of his 37 passes.
A ruined party
Ravens fans are defending their fortress and many are showing their support for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Photo Stephane Cadorette
Be warned: Do not enter the Ravens cave wearing the opposing team's colors. Photo Stephane Cadorette
There seemed to be a nice big party coming up in Baltimore. More than three hours before the game, thousands of fans gathered along “Ravens Walk” at M&T Stadium.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
This pedestrian corridor between the Orioles Stadium and the Ravens Stadium is as festive as possible with several enthusiastic fans wearing their team colors. This sector is also where the famous Ravens brass band puts on a show to warm up the troops.
In the end, however, no matter how much heat was generated before the game, it was a cold shower that hit the fans who were watching their team's first conference final at home and the first in the city in 53 years.
Even the presence on the field of legends from a not-so-distant era like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs couldn't defeat the current players who didn't live up to the standards of the past.
Ravens fans enjoy showing off their intimidating looks. Photo Stephane Cadorette
The Chiefs defense dominates
The Ravens, accustomed to physically punishing their rivals, quickly realized that the Chiefs' defense deserved respect.
It's fashionable to constantly talk about the accomplishments of Patrick Mahomes (241 yards, 1 touchdown pass), but in this game it was the defense that was chasing him.
Lamar Jackson struggled to find his receivers and was the victim of three sacks. The ground game was eliminated from the schedule too quickly, with only eight races aside from Jackson's. It's hard to justify their departure from this point in their identity.
The Ravens defense held as best it could but couldn't slow down Travis Kelce. The tight end caught 11 passes from Patrick Mahomes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
In doing so, he became the record holder for most receptions in Series history, surpassing the immortal Jerry Rice.
It was Kelce's sixth playoff game with at least ten receptions, twice as many as any other player in history.
Blatant indiscipline
Photo Getty Images via AFP
The Ravens also shot themselves in the foot with eight, some of them downright stupid, penalties. Although her followers often chanted “bullshit,” this was undeniable. The Chiefs, more experienced in these big moments, had the gift of playing them in the Coco.
Receiver Zay Flowers, the best of the Ravens group, was the perfect example. He took a stupid penalty for taunting cornerback L'Jarius Sneed after a long play. He then fumbled the ball at the goal, denying his team a touchdown. Karma hit him because it was the same Sneed who caused him to lose the precious item.
To top it all off, he then cut his hand when he hit the bench. Very stylish!
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens represented the last hope of the fringe football fans who couldn't live with the idea of a Super Bowl week that would keep Taylor Swift in the headlines.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
The Chiefs played better, managed their emotions better and were more deserving of the win.
Patrick Mahomes can now boast 14 wins in 17 playoff games. He is the first quarterback to play in the Super Bowl four times before the age of 30, having already won the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice. We don't realize it, but it's absolutely crazy.