Kansas City Chiefs win by a toe
After briefly thinking the game would head into overtime, the Kansas City Chiefs took home the first win of the NFL season.
In the nail-biting final moments of the game, the Baltimore Ravens caught a pass in the Chiefs’ end zone, only for what was originally called as a touchdown to be reversed when the referees determined Isaiah Likely’s catch was out of bounds by the very tip of his toes.
So instead of the game being tied up and heading into overtime, the Chiefs took home the win by the skin of their teeth…or the toes of the Ravens. The final score was 27-20.
Taylor Swift bonds with Donna Kelce while cheering on Travis
At the start of the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Baltimore Ravens, Taylor Swift was seated next to boyfriend Travis Kelce’s father, Ed Kelce.
However, as the game continued, the “Bad Blood” singer was then photographed standing next to the Kelce matriarch, Donna Kelce. Both wearing denim, the main ladies in the tight end’s life bonded over cheering on the Travis Kelce.
Kansas City takes the lead with another touchdown
Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy ran a pass from Patrick Mahomes into the end zone, bringing the score to 27-17, with the Chiefs in the lead.
Chiefs fans get creative with signs, including a ‘Mr. Swift’ poster
Kansas City Chiefs fans got creative when it came to the signs they made for the team’s game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5.
Among the slew of red jerseys in the stands there were a handful of signs supporting the Chiefs. One that was particularly noticeable was a “Go Mr. Swift” poster with Travis Kelce’s #87 and Taylor Swift’s favorite number, 13.
Swift happened to be in attendance, cheering on her tight end boyfriend. No word on if the singer saw the sign.
Another fan-created poster was a poll that had Trump, Harris and Mahomes, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ last name checked off.
There was also another Swift-inspired Kelce sign. Spotted in the crowd was a yellow poster that read: “Uncle Travvy needs to Swift-ly get a touchdown!!”
Another one focused less on the Chiefs player and more on the team and their home base.
“Arrowhead is our honeymoon,” the sign read.
Fans think Taylor Swift’s Chiefs game day outfit is a hidden reference
Taylor Swift fans love to dissect her every move, and the NFL season opener is no different.
Soon after Swift arrived clad in an all-denim outfit and red thigh-high boots, Swifties started discussing what the look could exactly ✨mean✨.
“If you saw Taylor Swift’s debut season opener NFL outfit and immediately were having deja vu, you are not alone,” @thethriftyswiftie said in a video. “I saw these maroon thigh-high boots and immediately thought of one thing and one thing only: the boots that Miss Taylor Swift wore in the ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ music video.”
The TikToker goes on to say that in the music video, Swift is “literally in the vault stealing what should be hers,” which fans will recognize is a reference to Swift’s infamous feud with music exec Scooter Braun and her quest to rerecord her first six albums in order to own the masters.
“I’m not saying it necessarily means anything but I’m also not saying that it doesn’t mean anything,” @thethriftyswiftie concludes.
Swift’s fans have long anticipated the rerecording of her 2017 album, “Reputation,” so far to no avail.
According to @TaylorSwiftStyled, an unofficial Swift fan account run by Sarah Chapelle to share where the superstar purchases her looks, Swift’s game day shoes are Giuseppe Zanotti’s “Frannie Boot,” which are sold for $1,650.
Chapelle noted that while Swift’s season premiere look is more edgy than her 2023 game fits, it makes sense given her public relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The two were photographed kissing and hugging on the field after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season.
“When you make out on the field at the Super Bowl, there’s no going back to demure,” Chapelle wrote alongside a photo of the boots and Swift.
Swift’s top is from Versace, the “Medusa Bustier,” according to Chapelle.
Did you catch this Easter egg in Donna Kelce’s game day outfit?
Donna Kelce proudly donned a signed No. 87 jersey for the first game of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season Thursday. But one detail also contained a sweet nod to one of her upcoming projects.
Paired with a jean jacket and Kansas City earrings, Kelce wore a black hat with the Chiefs logo decorated with mistletoe. While the holiday season is technically a few months away, the NFL mom appears to be gearing up for her film debut.
Kelce will star in the the upcoming film “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Star” alongside Hallmark veterans Hunter King and Tyler Hynes.
Hallmark announced Thursday that the film will premiere Nov. 30.
Chiefs score their second touchdown of the night
After a smooth handoff from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, running back Isiah Pacheco scored a touchdown, bringing the score 20-10.
How the Chiefs honored fan killed during Super Bowl parade at the first game of the season
Before officially kicking off the 2024 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs took a stadium-wide moment of silence to honor Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed during the team’s Super Bowl celebration Feb. 14.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan was a DJ in Kansas City and was the “life of the party,” her loved ones told NBC affiliate KSHB. Lopez-Galvan was killed and more than 20 people were injured after a shooting at Union Station in Kansas City during a parade to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl victory.
For Thursday’s game, Lopez-Galvan’s family wore kicker Harrison Butker’s jersey, No. 7.
“Lisa’s last day with us, she was wearing a Harrison Butker jersey,” Beto Lopez, Lisa’s older brother, told KSHB.
Chiefs finish the half up by 3 points
After back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter, the second quarter became a battle of field goals. The Chiefs enter halftime up 13-10.
Why kickoffs look different this NFL season
Get ready to add the term “landing zone” to your football vocabulary.
Teams have been acclimating during the preseason to what the NFL calls the new “dynamic kickoff” rule as they try to figure out what works best.
An area known as the landing zone has been created, which is between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line. Here are some of the new rules surrounding it.
- If the ball is kicked short of the landing zone or out of bounds, it will automatically be placed on the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
- Any kick that hits the landing zone and then bounces into the end zone must either be returned or downed, so teams can’t just let the ball bounce into the end zone and get an automatic touchback if it hits the landing zone first. If the return team downs the ball in the end zone, it goes to the 20-yard line.
- If a kicker booms one out of the back of the end zone on the fly, the return team gets the ball at the 30-yard line. Under previous rules it had been placed at the 25-yard line, so it’s penalizing kicking teams another five yards if they kick the ball out of the end zone.
- Teams can only attempt onside kicks in the fourth quarter, and they have to declare they are doing it to the officials, which takes away the surprise element.
For more on the new kickoff rule, click here.
Chiefs respond with their own touchdown moments later
Shortly after the Ravens put a score on the board, the Chiefs responded with their own touchdown. Mahomes passed to wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who ran the ball into the end zone.
After the kick, the score is tied at 7-7.
Ravens score first touchdown of the season
The Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry scored the first touchdown and extra point of the season, putting the score at 7-0.
Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce while next to his dad
After making her way into the stadium and to her seat, Taylor Swift was seen sitting next to Travis Kelce’s father, Ed Kelce.
Sipping on her drink, the two appeared to be in conversation as the Chiefs and Raven warmed up.
As the game was underway, Swift was then seeing cheering on the Travis Kelce and the players.
She was also photographed giving a thumbs up as she stood next to Ed Kelce and other friends.
Ed Kelce has previously opened up about meeting the pop star, telling People, Swift is “a very, very sweet, very charming, down-to-earth young woman” and “very genuine.”
He added, “She’s very smart. I mean, very. That comes through right away.”
Coco Jones performs the national anthem ahead of kickoff
Singer and actor Coco Jones took the field ahead of the kickoff, which was delayed, to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The artist, who wore a red dress for the occasion, belted out the national anthem from the Arrowhead Stadium.
Aside from her singing career, Jones is also known for her role in “Bel-Air,” “Let It Shine” and “Good Luck Charlie.”
Kickoff delayed until 7:40 p.m. CT
The Ravens and Chiefs have retaken the field for warmups following the rainstorm but the game will be delayed 20 minutes.
When the skies cleared, a rainbow graced the sky above Arrowhead Stadium, NBC Sports reported.
In the meantime, here are some photos from warmups!
Donna Kelce shows off her Chiefs jersey with special message from Travis
Donna Kelce, also known as Mama Kelce, was in attendance and cheering on her son, Travis Kelce. The famous mom stopped by the Chiefs World’s Largest Tailgate and livestreaming event ahead of the game.
The tight end’s mom showed off her game day outfit, which included a Chiefs-themed jean jacket and a red #87 Chiefs jersey that included a special message from her son.
In video captured by TODAY.com, Donna Kelce takes off her jacket to reveal Travis Kelce’s signature on the back, as well as a heartwarming note.
“How about this?” she says, before showing the message.
“Love you mommy!” it reads on the number 8
It’s really pouring in Kansas City right now
It’s pouring rain in Kansas City right now.
What started as a light shower around 6:15 p.m. CT turned to heavy storms by 6:30 — with less than an hour before the scheduled kickoff at 7:20 p.m. CT.
Lightning strikes were visible from the stadium, with loud thunder claps sounding seconds after.
Press originally huddled in a tunnel onto the field have had to slowly retreat from the entrance, as the rain pelts sideways.
It was not immediately clear if the game start time would be delayed as a result of the weather. Warmups have been interrupted and the players have returned to their sidelines and locker rooms to wait out the storm.
Local NBC affiliate KSHB reports after the storm moves through, rain chances are low for the rest of the evening.
First look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Hallmark movie is released
Ahead of the big game, Hallmark shared a first look at its upcoming football-themed film, “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.”
The rom-com stars Tyler Hynes and Hunter King with appearances from Donna Kelce and TODAY’s very own Jenna Bush Hager. “Holiday Touchdown” will premiere Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET, Hallmark announced Sept. 5.A teaser trailer and various photos from the film were also released.
“Holiday Touchdown” was filmed in Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium in July.
Read all about the upcoming movie here.
Taylor Swift is in the building!
Taylor Swift has arrived, ladies and gents.
Swift was spotted in a video shared by the sports director of the local FOX station, Rob Collins.
In the video, seemingly taken from somewhere inside Arrowhead Stadium, Swift appears to be wearing an all-jean outfit, with a corset top and short shorts. She accessorized with red thigh-high boots and kept her hair down in loose waves.
TODAY.com has a news team at the game tonight but we haven’t personally seen Swift yet.
Travis Kelce (and his mustache) arrive at Arrowhead Stadium
Travis Kelce made a stylish entrance at Arrowhead Stadium ahead of the Chiefs game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The tight end was dressed in coordinated jacket that faded from white to tan and kept fading into his jeans. He wore a white tank top with a white-and-red hat, white tennis shoes and sunglasses. His mustache was noticeably present ahead of kick off.
Kelce’s stylist Danielle Salzedo previously told Us Weekly about styling the athlete, “He dedicates time to buying online, so he knows what’s out there and what’s new.”
“Travis has a clear vision for his personal aesthetic and definitely styles himself,” she added.
Fans, meanwhile, are hoping that the NFL star and his pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift have a sweet public reunion during the game.