KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sometimes, luck plays a crucial role.

In a thrilling season opener for the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, they almost fell short despite their ambitious goal of achieving a three-peat. They nearly left Arrowhead Stadium with their heads hanging low.

But let’s give a nod to Isaiah Likely’s right big toe.

In their rematch of the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs didn’t just win; they narrowly escaped as Likely’s potential 10-yard touchdown catch was reversed by a replay review that everyone could see on the Jumbotron.

Phew.

Likely managed to catch a high throw from Lamar Jackson in the back of the end zone, but his toe was barely touching the out-of-bounds line. Game over.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes remarked after the intense 27-20 match. “From my view on the sideline, it looked like it was a touchdown, but then the first replay showed the cleat was out. They’re a great team, and I’m sure we’ll face them again in the playoffs.”

Teams that excel, like the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions Chiefs, often find ways to clinch victories in tight contests that define the NFL’s excitement.

On the other hand, teams that struggle to find their footing, like the Ravens, have lessons to learn. It’s all about the details.

“He should wear white cleats next time,” Mahomes joked about Likely. “That’s my tip for him.”

Ouch.

Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s reigning MVP, was struggling to comprehend the final play when Mahomes spoke. He wasn’t convinced by what the replay showed everyone else.

“I still thought it was a touchdown,” Jackson insisted. “I still believe it was a touchdown.”

C’mon, MVP. You need to be more convincing.

Let’s give the Ravens some credit for their effort. They fought hard even when it seemed like the Chiefs were on their way to a decisive victory, especially after the Chiefs celebrated the unveiling of their latest Super Bowl championship banner — their third in five years. Just as the game was starting to slip away, Likely made a spectacular 49-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter, bringing the Ravens back with style.

Following a touchdown from Mahomes to rookie Xavier Worthy, which covered 35 yards, the Ravens responded with a field goal, keeping the game tense right until the last moments.

Jackson (26-of-41 for 273 yards, 1 TD) completed a significant 38-yard pass to Rashod Bateman, setting the Ravens up at the 10-yard line with just 18 seconds left on the clock. He then attempted passes to Likely and Zay Flowers without success, leading to a do-or-die situation.

Adding to their troubles, the Ravens faced five illegal formation penalties due to misaligned linemen, leaving them wondering how they let this golden opportunity to challenge the Chiefs slip away.

While winning against the Chiefs in Week 1 wouldn’t redeem their earlier loss in the AFC Championship, it would have certainly boosted their spirits. Now, questions linger about whether they can truly compete if, as Mahomes speculated, they cross paths with the Chiefs again come January.

“This is probably the worst game we’ll play all year,” Likely stated, having led the game with nine receptions for 111 yards. “If this is their best, good luck to them.”

Wow. That might just make it to the Chiefs’ bulletin board.

In the past, Jackson referred to the Chiefs as his “Kryptonite,” but he won’t admit that now.

“They’re not my Kryptonite,” he stated.

Regardless, the Chiefs are the team that ended the Ravens’ season after they claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year. And they have now handed them a significant defeat to kick off the new season.

Jackson, who managed to do something he didn’t do in the AFC Championship Game — eluding defenders with a game-high 122 rushing yards — doesn’t have to embrace the “Superman” image. However, unless the Ravens can prove they can defeat Mahomes and the Chiefs, their Super Bowl hopes may remain elusive.

“We need to do what it takes to win these games,” Jackson said.

That’s easier said than done.

Even though the Chiefs had a tense finish, they showcased why they might be even more formidable this season.

Worthy, the rookie who was drafted by the Chiefs after running the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine (4.21 seconds), scored on his first NFL touch, taking an end-around pass from Mahomes for a 21-yard touchdown.

After fumbling in a similar preseason play, his success illustrated that practice truly makes perfect, as he confidently predicted it earlier to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy during a walk-through on Thursday morning.

“I mentioned to Coach Nagy, ‘I have a feeling this play is going to result in a score,’ ” Worthy recalled. “And it turned out to be true. It’s incredible to have scored my first touchdown in the NFL.”

While Worthy’s statistics might not seem overwhelming (2 receptions, 47 yards, and a touchdown), his explosive speed created opportunities for other players. Rashee Rice, who is dealing with legal troubles due to a reckless driving incident that led to an accident on a Dallas freeway, managed to secure most of his seven catches, totaling 103 yards, through quick slants and crossing routes that allowed him to gain considerable yardage after the catch. Quarterback Mahomes completed 20 out of 28 passes for 291 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception during the game.

However, it wasn’t only the big plays that made an impact. The Chiefs demonstrated considerable determination, spearheaded by the exceptional Mahomes.

An early example of this occurred in the third quarter when Mahomes pushed through a pile to help Isiah Pacheco score a 1-yard touchdown, concluding an 81-yard drive.

What did Mahomes do?

He recognized that the offense was struggling in the red zone and urgently needed a touchdown. So, he declared, “I took a risk for the team.”

What a tense moment that was, reminiscent of a play against the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 where a lineman hit Mahomes, prompting Coach Andy Reid to warn him against taking such unnecessary risks.

“Coach Reid told me to avoid doing that again,” Mahomes said. “Fortunately, we scored this time and I avoided any further hits. So, he’ll likely remind me not to do it again.”

In the end, it was a successful night for the Chiefs, who seized a significant opportunity and outplayed the Ravens.

What insights might the Chiefs have gained about their capabilities?

“Nothing new to me,” asserted star defensive tackle Chris Jones. “We are driven. We always strive to push forward.”

These are crucial qualities needed to pursue a championship title.