Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
When
Thursday, September 5th at 8:20 p.m.
Where
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (76,416)
Spread
Chiefs are favored by 3 points (MGM)
How to Watch/Listen
Television: NBC / WBAL Channel 11 (Baltimore)
National Radio: Westwood One Sports
Local Radio: WBAL 1090 AM / 98Rock (97.9 FM) / SiriusXM Radio Ch. 85 or 225
Stream: FuboTV, YouTube TV, Peacock
Series History
The Chiefs lead the regular-season series, 7-4. The postseason series is tied 1-1. Baltimore beat Kansas City, 30-7, in the 2011 wild-card round, and the Chiefs beat the Ravens in last season’s AFC Championship game, 17-10.
Notable
In his 17th season at the Baltimore helm, John Harbaugh is the NFL’s second-longest tenured head coach behind the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin (18). The Ravens have produced a 12-4 mark in Week 1 games under Harbaugh, winning seven of their past eight.
2023-24 Rankings
Ravens: Total Offense: 6; Total Defense: 6
Chiefs: Total Offense: 9; Total Defense: 2
The Chiefs offense lines up against the Baltimore Ravens defense during the third quarter in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. By Geoff Burke-USA Today Sports
RAVENS GAME PLAN
Offense
The Ravens’ new-look offensive line with three new starters will get one of its toughest tests against the Chiefs’ aggressive pass rush. In last season’s AFC championship, the Chiefs blitzed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on 43.5 percent of his dropbacks, and the elusive quarterback was sacked four times. Kansas City used six- and seven-man pressures to prevent Jackson from having time in the pocket and running for significant yards. Expect the same game plan.
Jackson has been given more freedom to assess the defense at the line of scrimmage and the Ravens have been working on his cadence to throw off opponents’ timing. The Ravens could employ two tight-end sets with Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to help Jackson get some quick, sure-handed targets to loosen the Chiefs’ front seven.
The Ravens abandoned the running game in the AFC championship despite having the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL. The team signed four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry this offseason, and he should get plenty of opportunities to carry the ball against the Chiefs. Henry spent the first eight years of his career with the Tennessee Titans and had some of his best games against Kansas City. He has run for 672 yards with eight touchdowns in six games, including the playoffs, against the Chiefs.
Defense
The key for the Ravens will be neutralizing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. It will be a tough challenge for new Ravens defensive coordinator Zachary Orr. Mahomes has gone 4-1 against Jackson and the Ravens over his career, and he has made several game-changing plays.
Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton will match up against Kelce. The two had a tough battle in the AFC Championship Game, but Kelce finished with 11 receptions for 116 yards with a touchdown. If Kelce puts up those same numbers, the Ravens will be hard-pressed to win.
The Chiefs’ running attack is led by Isiah Pacheco, who finished with 935 yards rushing with seven touchdowns in 2023. The Ravens contained Pacheco in last season’s meeting, and he finished with just 68 yards on 24 carries with a 2-yard touchdown. The Ravens’ defensive line is stout again and they should be able to keep the Chiefs from establishing an effective running game. The question is whether the Ravens can contain Mahomes, whose biggest attribute is his ability to improvise under pressure.
Prediction
The Chiefs have the home-field advantage and will send the sellout crowd into a frenzy when they unveil their latest Super Bowl banner. If the Ravens can absorb an early push from Kansas City, they have the talent to leave with a win. Henry and Jackson should be rested and ready to roll, and they want to show the rest of the nation that they are the main threat to Kansas City. The Chiefs are still riding high from the last championship and the Ravens are determined to make up for a missed opportunity at home. The Ravens’ motivation will be the difference in this game.