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Ravens’ Derrick Henry on Kansas City: ‘Now it's my turn’

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Ravens’ Derrick Henry on Kansas City: ‘Now it's my turn’


During last season’s AFC Championship Game, Derrick Henry couldn’t help but think: What if?

“Hell, yeah,” Henry said this week when asked if he wondered what might have happened if the Baltimore Ravens had succeeded in their bid to obtain him from the Tennessee Titans at last season’s NFL trade deadline.

The Ravens had the NFL’s best regular-season record at 13-4 in 2023. But in the AFC Championship Game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Baltimore 17-10 as the Ravens’ running backs combined for 23 yards on six rushing attempts.

Henry won’t need to wonder on Thursday night. The former Alabama All-American running back made it to Baltimore in NFL free agency this offseason and will be in the backfield when the Ravens and Chiefs square off at 7:20 CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

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“I was wishing I could suit up that day watching that game,” Henry said. “But, yeah, now it’s my turn, so got to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough.”

Although it’s a different year, Henry said the Baltimore holdovers who lost one win short of the Super Bowl last season naturally will feel Thursday night’s game a little more acutely.

“Of course it’s going to be that,” Henry said. “That was who they lost to to get to the big one, so I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and want to come out and play Ravens style of football, execute so that we get a ‘W.’ But yes, I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and I’m sure everybody is locked in and going to be ready to go.”

After beating Baltimore, Kansas City edged the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs have won the past two NFL championship games, played in the previous six AFC title contests and reached the Super Bowl four times, with three victories, in the past five seasons.

But even with Kansas City’s success, Henry has a 4-2 record against the Chiefs, with 572 yards and eight touchdowns on 120 rushing attempts with the Titans. In four regular-season games against Kansas City, Henry has averaged 5.73 yards per carry.

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“They’re a great team,” Henry said. “Been a great team for a while now. Their defense is solid. I think they’re solid from top to bottom, have willing tacklers, they’re disruptive, so you just have to bring your A-game when you’re going up against those guys.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have success when we’ve played them.”

That is not lost on Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team has won one of its past six games against Kansas City.

“It’s going to feel great to have Derrick Henry on our side,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a wonderful thing. I’m looking forward to it.”

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Henry joined Baltimore in free agency for a two-year, $16 million contract. Although the most accomplished running back available on the open market this offseason, Henry didn’t get the biggest deal after turning 30 years old on Jan. 4.

“My body feels the same,” Henry said. “It hasn’t changed much. I know the age difference, but my body still feels good.”

As last year’s league champion, Kansas City earned the privilege of hosting the first game of this NFL season. NBC will televise the contest.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” Henry said. “What I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. But the atmosphere and it being the first game, at night, them coming off a Super Bowl, it being at home at Arrowhead — which you know the environment is going to be loud, it’s going to be hostile — but that’s what you want, especially on opening night with everybody watching the first game of the year to kick off the 2024 season, so I’m excited.

“It’s going to be fun, so I’m looking forward to it.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.





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KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call

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KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A domestic assault call in Northeast Kansas City turned into a police shooting.

Kansas City officers responded to 41st and North Wheeling Avenue just north of the river just before 9 p.m. on March 23.

When a man inside the home grabbed a knife, an officer opened fire.

The suspect was not hit and is now in custody. The woman is being treated for injuries.

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Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, which is standard procedure when a KC officer fires their weapon while in the line of duty.

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.



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Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience

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Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience


Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith has emerged as one of the best guards in the league with his consistent and intimidating play.

The two-time Pro Bowler appeared on former Chiefs center Mitch Morse’s live podcast, In Good Company with Mitch Morse, last Thursday. He responded to a special guest question from Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. regarding his 2021 NFL Draft night memory. 

“What I remember about my draft night was terrible, to be honest. You know, night one, I knew I wasn’t going. Day two, I thought I was gonna get picked, but I didn’t, and I remember being a little emotional with my dad, just upset,” said Smith, “Just like, Dang man. You know it’s gonna happen. You came back to college for another year, but you had blood clots. Still, you’re not getting drafted where you thought you would. On that third day, you’re legit. It was just like, Okay, I’m being drafted, but I have one opportunity, and I don’t care. It could be anywhere. It’d be the worst team in the league, as long as I get one opportunity to prove myself, and when I’m working, that’s all I want. That’s all I needed.”

Smith was selected in the 6th round, 226th overall, due to concerns about his health history. The Chiefs looked past that as he described the emotional phone call moment.

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“I remember getting that phone call from Kansas City. Was one of the doctors just like, “Hey, Trey, I told you I’ll call. I remember telling, blunt, straight up. Like, yeah, what’s up? He chuckles. He’s just like, well, we’re gonna make you the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s our owner, Clark Hunt, Mr. Hunt, popped on the phone. I snapped out of the funk, right? Oh, it’s real. Is this happening? Like, oh, it’s happening,” said Smith. “So I remember just being so excited, like, no one was in my house except for my sister, so I’m celebrating with her in the living room. I call my dad. He’s like, Man, I’m so proud of you. It’s unbelievable, Kansas City, man. He’s like, “Hey, I’ll be home in 10 minutes. I got chicken tenders on. I’m bringing home lunch. So it was like a calamity, but it was amazing. At the same time, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

Smith continues to be an impactful part of the team’s success, becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion and ranking among the NFL’s elite interior offensive linemen.



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St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999

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St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999


SAN DIEGO — Church Bells arrived at the perfect time.

Dylan Darling, the Idaho State transfer in the midst of a massive shooting slump, sent St. John’s to the Sweet 16 with a buzzer-beating, right-handed layup at the horn after the Johnnies had blown a 14-point lead.

Darling strutted after it dropped and was immediately mobbed by his teammates after clinching this dramatic 67-65, second-round victory over Kansas at Viejas Arena.

Darryn Peterson had pulled the Jayhawks even with 14.1 seconds left, and they were able to use four fouls to stall St. John’s because it was under the limit.

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With 3.8 seconds left, St. John’s inbounded the ball to Darling, and he drove in for the game-winning basket. They were his only points of the game.

Dylan Darling drives to the basket for the game-winning shot during the St. John’s win over Kansas on March 21. Getty Images

In mid-February, after Darling hit a game-winning 3-pointer at Xavier, Pitino joked that he had “balls the size of church bells.”

Boy, was he right.

St. John’s will meet Duke in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Washington, D.C., its first trip to that round since 1999.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning basket March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Bryce Hopkins also had 18 points.

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Ian Jackson had 10 off the bench.

Peterson scored 21 for Kansas.

The Red Storm have won 21 of their past 22 games.

For the first time in five games, St. John’s didn’t start on a big run.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning shot March 22. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Red Storm reeled off an 11-0 run to take an early eight-point advantage.

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They made three of their first four 3-point attempts, but then went ice-cold.

Dylan Darling is pictured during the St. John’s game March 21. Getty Images

St. John’s went 5:45 without a point, and Kansas tied the game on the strength of a 9-0 burst.

Hopkins ended the drought with a 3-pointer that hit off the back rim and fell through.

Joson Sanon and Ruben Prey added 3s to help the Red Storm take an eight-point lead into halftime.


CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS

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Against bigger Kansas, St. John’s let it fly from deep, making 7 of 23 in the opening half.

They average 21 per game this season.

A major factor in the opening half was Bidunga being limited to 12 minutes due to two early fouls.

Zuby Ejiofor dunks the ball during the St. John’s game against Kansas on March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Defense carried the Johnnies over the first 20 minutes.

They held Kansas to 34.5 percent shooting and forced nine turnovers, which led to 12 points.

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Peterson hit his first two 3-point attempts but scored only nine points in the first half on 2-for-6 shooting.

St. John’s methodically pushed the lead to 10 by the under-12 timeout as it continued to handcuff Kansas.

The Jayhawks had as many turnovers (four) as made field goals over the first 8:21 of the second half.

When Mitchell scored on back-to-back possessions, St. John’s lead had ballooned to 14.

Only 8:51 remained between the Johnnies and a Sweet 16 berth.

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They didn’t know at the time how dramatic those final minutes would be.



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