The NFL kicks off the 2024 season Thursday in Kansas City as the Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens. The two-time defending champions look to start the season strong against another powerhouse team from the AFC. In what could be a preview of another conference championship game, here are the top storylines for Chiefs fans to look for vs the Ravens on opening night.
An AFC Championship Rematch
Thursday night’s game between the Chiefs and Ravens is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship. In a closely fought battle, the Chiefs upset the Ravens on the road 17-10 to reach the Super Bowl for a second consecutive year. It ended a stellar season for the Ravens, who finished as the top seed in the AFC with a 13-4 record. The Chiefs’ defense shut down a Ravens offense that scored more than 28 ppg during the regular season, holding them to just one touchdown.
Tensions in last year’s title game were already high well before the opening kickoff. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were seen tossing Justin Tucker’s kicking equipment away from their endzone, leading to several scuffles between other players. This may have affected the Ravens’ composure during the game, as they had eight penalties for 95 yards. There is probably still some bad blood between these teams and emotions will be high on Thursday night.
Both the Ravens and Chiefs will likely be Super Bowl contenders again this season. Thursday’s matchup could have major implications for playoff seeding in January. Despite being the first week of the season, this is a very important game for both teams going in.
Previewing Chiefs Defense vs Ravens Offense
The Chiefs’ defense played a huge role in last year’s Super Bowl run, especially against the Ravens. They held one of the league’s most explosive offenses to just 10 points and forced 3 turnovers. While the Chiefs’ defense is still a strong unit, it lost a pair of impact players who helped beat the Ravens in last year’s AFC Championship game.
The first is L’Jarius Sneed, who was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason after playing his first four years in Kansas City. Sneed had perhaps the single biggest play of last year’s AFC Championship when he stripped Zay Flowers at the goal line to stop a potential Ravens scoring drive. This kept the game at 17-7 and made all the difference in the Chiefs’ 7-point victory.
Willie Gay’s departure could also be a key factor in containing Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson. The speedy linebacker was often responsible for spying on Jackson to try and limit his scrambling ability. Without Willie Gay playing this specialized role for the Chiefs’ defense, Jackson may be able to make more plays with his legs. For instance, Gay did not play in the 2022 regular matchup vs the Ravens. In that game, Lamar Jackson rushed for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Ravens to a 36-35 victory.
The Chiefs still have plenty of players who can turn the tide of a game. They have the league’s best interior defensive lineman in Chris Jones and a quiet superstar at cornerback in Trent McDuffie. Nick Bolton also returns as the leader on defense and one of the best tacklers in the NFL. However, they will need to make adjustments without the players who’ve helped beat the Ravens in the past.
The Derrick Henry Effect
Running back Derrick Henry has terrorized the Chiefs during the Mahomes and Alex Smith eras. In six career games against the Chiefs, Henry has averaged 112 yards per game and has scored 8 touchdowns. This includes a 156-yard performance in the 2018 Wild Card and a 188-yard game in 2019.
Henry signed with the Ravens this offseason after spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He joins one of the league’s most prolific rushing attacks in Baltimore and should make for a deadly combination with Lamar Jackson. Although his best years are likely behind, Henry is still one of the most dominant running backs the NFL has ever seen and will play a huge role in the Ravens’ offense this season.
The Chiefs’ defense will need to do everything they can to contain both Henry and Lamar Jackson on Thursday night. The aforementioned loss of Willie Gay also creates question marks in their open-field tackling. Moreover, one of the blueprints for beating the Chiefs is simply keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field. If both Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson run rampant, the Ravens can control the clock and limit Mahomes’ impact on the game.
Keys to Victory for Chiefs vs Ravens
The Chiefs can put themselves in a good position to beat the Ravens by:
- Containing Ravens rushing attack
- LBs and DBs stepping up to replace Gay, Snead
- Winning time of possession
- Trusting WRs to make plays
- Keeping emotions in check
Of course, the game could ultimately come down to who performs better between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. But If the Chiefs can win in these areas of the game, they have a great chance vs the Ravens in this potential AFC championship preview.
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Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
