2024 NFL Week 1: The key takeaways from every game | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

First of all, the manner in which the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in their season opener, 27-20, is as devastating as a loss can be. Tight end Isaiah Likely was millimeters away from a touchdown that would have allowed Baltimore to either force overtime or clinch the win with a two-point conversion.

Second, the Ravens still have work to do — especially on the offensive line. A line with three new starters didn’t play well for most of the game, and the most established player on that line (left tackle Ronnie Stanley) was penalized approximately 112 times for illegal lineup.

However, the Chiefs lost their opening game last year and everything was going pretty well. There are things that need to be fixed. Derrick Henry needs to get going after a mediocre debut with the Ravens. But by losing, the Ravens may have found someone who could be a key player on offense this season.

You can’t really say Likely took off against the Chiefs. The third-year pro has a history of flashing when given the opportunity. There’s a reason Baltimore spent so much time with “12” personnel on Thursday — and it wasn’t just because the O-line was struggling.

Likely exploded against Kansas City. While veteran Mark Andrews was virtually invisible (two catches, 14 yards), Likely led the Ravens in targets (12), receptions (9) and receiving yards (111) while catching Lamar Jackson’s only touchdown pass of the game.

And again he was only one centimeter away from scoring a second goal.

At the risk of sounding exaggerated, Likely looked like Travis Kelce. Or Andrews before injuries sapped his explosiveness. And while some say you shouldn’t overreact to a game, it didn’t look like a fluke.

It looked like a changing of the guard.