The Baltimore Ravens and their supporters endured an even more agonizing Super Bowl experience as a result of the Kansas Chiefs hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy for the third time in the previous five years after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22. This was made worse by remarks made after the game by some of their most well-known players.

By both analytical stats and the eye test, the Charm City franchise was largely regarded as the top squad in the league this season. Chris Jones, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle with the Chiefs, acknowledged it as well in an interview with Michael Robinson of NFL Network.

“I think we faced the best team in the league in (the) Baltimore Ravens, hands down,” said Jones when asked what gave him and the defense so much confidence in their game plan.

The three-time Super Bowl winner continued to describe their path through the postseason that preceded the Super Bowl, highlighting the explosive Miami Dolphins offense that they shut down at home and the Buffalo Bills squad that was playing at its peak right up until the Divisional round. But in his opinion, there was no greater test than facing the top-seeded Ravens in the AFC championship at M&T Bank Stadium, who were headed by a two-time MVP-winning quarterback and the league’s best defense.

“It’s a tough environment. MVP Lamar Jackson and that defense, man. We [were] able to overcome them obstacles, we weren’t going to be defeated here,” Jones said.

The Chiefs overcome the most difficult postseason route to a Super Bowl in NFL history, according to Aaron Schatz of FOTN Fantasy, based on the opponents’ regular season DVOA. According to that criteria, the 49ers and Ravens were two of the greatest teams ever, but in the end, Kansas City defeated both of the top seeds.

After the red and yellow confetti dropped, Jones wasn’t the only star Chiefs player praising the Ravens in retrospect. The Ravens are a “juggernaut,” according to nine-time Pro Bowl tight end and potential Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, who also recognized Jackson as the league MVP.

The Ravens are one of eight teams that will have to play a regular season game in Kansas City in 2024, which might make things even worse and more agonizing for them and their supporters. In the season opener, they may find themselves the team forced to witness the Chiefs unveil their most recent Super Bowl banner.