The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the NFL season with a nail-biting 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, with the winning margin coming down to mere inches.

In a game that went down to the wire, the Ravens thought they had tied the score with a touchdown as time expired, but a replay review showed that tight end Isaiah Likely's right toe had landed out of bounds, securing the win for the Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to victory, throwing for 291 yards in front of a packed Arrowhead Stadium crowd, including pop star Taylor Swift, girlfriend of tight end Travis Kelce. The Ravens drew first blood on their opening drive, but the Chiefs responded with 13 unanswered points to take a 13-7 lead. After a Ravens field goal late in the first half, the Chiefs extended their lead to 20-10 on an Isiah Pacheco touchdown run to start the second half. The teams then traded touchdowns, with a Justin Tucker field goal bringing the game within seven points, setting the stage for Baltimore's dramatic final drive.

Lamar Jackson had an impressive game for the Ravens, throwing for 273 yards and running for 122 more, but a costly error late in the game proved crucial. Running back Derrick Henry made his Baltimore debut, rushing for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Isaiah Likely had nine catches for 111 yards and a score.

The Chiefs' offense was led by receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, with Rice catching seven passes for 103 yards and Worthy scoring two touchdowns.

The Chiefs will face the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15, while the Ravens take on the Raiders on the same day.