There was something very different about the Kansas City Chiefs victory over Baltimore Ravens – but also something eerily familiar.
Patrick Mahomes was making more history, Taylor Swift was watching her first NFL Season Opener, and opponents were still falling short when handed an opportunity and then getting themselves involved in an unlikely war of words.
Leading 27-20, the Chiefs somehow survived a Ravens march down the field that put them within touching distance of a win.
Baltimore and quarterback Lamar Jackson has struggled to find a way past Mahomes, losing four of their five meetings – including last season’s AFC Championship game.
With the chance for a rare victory in front of them, Baltimore looked like they had fluffed its lines on the final plays.
However, Jackson found tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone for a touchdown that was awarded by officials, only to be ruled out on review.
Likely’s toe was seen to be just out of bounds, so rather than be within one point and have a chance of a game tying field goal, or a two-point conversion that would win the game, the Ravens were left with no time and another defeat.
And Mahomes was quick to remind Likely, Baltimore and the NFL that the Chiefs are not be given chances : “He has got to wear white cleats next time, that’s my advice to him,” the Chiefs QB smiled in his press conference.
Likely didn’t waste much time himself in biting back: “If this is they best that they got, good luck in the postseason.”
And that came after he appeared to aim a furious X-rated, three-word rant at Chiefs fans after the Ravens failure to upset the two-time reigning champions.
“F*** you, b****,” he seemed to say towards the goading fans.
A smile may have ended Mahomes fashion advice, but he was also happy at becoming the Chiefs’ all-time passing leader, surpassing the 84 yards needed to leapfrog the late Len Dawson – who played for the Chiefs between 1962 and 1975 – into first place. He got there on a 23-yard completion to Travis Kelce in the second quarter.
Patrick Mahomes’ advice to Isaiah Likely: Wear white cleats pic.twitter.com/5wJmDQJYv1
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) September 6, 2024
For the first time since she started dating Kelce, pop superstar Swift was in town for the Chiefs Championship banner ceremony.
Back in early September 2023, the roadshow had yet to hit the NFL, but 12 months on her presence remains a good thing for Mahomes, Kelce and the rest of the squad – if not NFL fans.
Kansas City has now won 12 of the 15 games that Swift has been in the suite seats, including the Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers that has put them on course for the NFL’s first ever three-peat.
Her arrival in last season’s Week 3 win over the Chicago Bears got NFL fans hot under the collar, and as the weeks went by the prominence given by broadcasters to her presence riled up fans.
There was little difference on Thursday night, as Swift’s arrival – while her sellout Eras Tour is on a break until November – provided social media with their chance to react.
And when the game was delayed by 20 minutes due to weather the decision by NBC to air a Mahomes interview that spent a lot of time discussing Swift, rather than a history-chasing three-peat, drew plenty of criticism from fans.
“Nice of the league to delay [the game] by 20 minutes so they can air an interview with Mahomes talking about Taylor Swift,” one fan posted on X.
While another added: “Why are we discussing Taylor Swift in a Patrick Mahomes interview on Thursday night football, please ENOUGH.”
Typically Swift has taken everything in her stride, famously saying last season that she didn’t care how her presence made the ‘Brads and Chads’ feel and that she had no control over where the TV cameras were pointed.
Despite not being seen alongside last season’s BFF, Brittany Mahomes, Swift enjoyed drinks in her suite, celebrated and hugged Kelce’s mum Donna, and ensured there was time for her fans with a sweet interaction.
Swift’s arrivals have always seemed to include a nod to the Chiefs, and for the Season Opener she paired her denim outfit with striking thigh high red boots – with her arrival posted by the NFL’s social media accounts.
The Chiefs have welcomed Swift with open arms, her presence attracting a new wave of fans and in an interview with Front Office Sports ahead of the season the franchise outlined their plans.
“She wants to be a fan,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said in an interview with Front Office Sports ahead of the season.
“This is her off time. She wants to be there to support Travis. We’re going to create that opportunity where we provide that.”
Last season had started with defeat for the Chiefs, but engulfed by the Kelce-Swift romance they found a way to right the ship and win a third Lombardi Trophy in five years.
They are off and running with a win in 2024, and Swift is there to see the story unfold from the start.
