With the start of the 2024 NFL season just around the corner, the Kansas City Chiefs will, at last, have the opportunity to begin their hunt for their fourth championship in the last six seasons. Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 5, at 8:20 p.m. at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens.
The game will be aired nationally on NBC and Peacock for those unable to attend in person. Fans can also tune into KFNZ-FM (96.5 The Fan) for the Chiefs Radio Network. For Spanish-speaking viewers, there is an alternative broadcast on the Audacy app and KSSA La Ke Buena (105.9 FM).
Game/Team Matchup Info
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The Chiefs have faced the Ravens five times since Patrick Mahomes became Kansas City’s starting quarterback, four times in the regular season and once in the playoffs. In those matchups, the Chiefs are 4-1 against the Ravens, including a 17-10 victory in the AFC Championship Game on January 28 in Baltimore. The Chiefs have also won the last two home meetings against Baltimore.
Kansas City enters this game as a three-point favorite according to ESPN odds, with the over/under set at 46.5. This will be the fifth regular season meeting between the two multi-time MVP quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson is 58-14 as a starter against the rest of the NFL but has only managed to defeat Kansas City once—on September 19, 2021, in a 36-35 victory at home.
Besides that narrow win, the Chiefs have beaten the Ravens in every other meeting by at least a field goal. However, the Ravens have won their last five road games, and since Jackson became the starter, they are 5-1 in season openers, with three of those wins coming on the road.
Keys To Victory
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The Chiefs will head into this game with some new offensive additions, including rookie Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy, Left Tackle Kingsley Suamataia, and Fullback Carson Steele amongst others. Expect the Chiefs to ease into this new-look offense by pounding the rock, led by starting Running Back Isiah Pacheco, to test Baltimore’s revamped defensive line.
Once settled, they will likely shift to their preferred passing game, targeting the Ravens’ secondary and linebacking corps. Kansas City’s receiving corps, led by Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Travis Kelce, will be key to their offensive success.
Andy Reid and Matt Nagy must maintain a balanced offensive attack and avoid becoming predictable against the savvy Ravens defense. The Chiefs must also minimize self-inflicted mistakes, such as penalties and turnovers, which cost them the game in their only loss to Baltimore. Last season, Kansas City was the sixth most penalized team in the NFL, a trend they need to reverse to start 2024 on the right foot.
Chiefs Set To Have Potent Offensive Attack
If the Chiefs want to continue their dominance, they must establish the run against a traditionally tough Ravens defense. With one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, ranked No. 7 by PFF going into 2024, this should be an area of strength for Kansas City. Once the run game is established, Mahomes can focus on picking apart the Ravens’ secondary, finding his pass-catchers, and making the necessary plays to secure the win.
For John Harbaugh and the Ravens, their offense will heavily rely on Lamar Jackson and their ground game. Baltimore is known for its RPO offense, which doesn’t rely much on play-action but excels in the rushing attack. Last season, the Ravens averaged the second-most yards before contact and ranked second in broken tackles forced. The team had the NFL’s most effective rushing offense by most metrics, and Jackson led all quarterbacks with 821 rushing yards.
Ravens Want To Lead With Ground Game
Historically, the Chiefs have struggled to slow down the run, especially early in the season. With the Ravens adding Derrick Henry, who ranked second in the NFL with 1,167 rushing yards, Kansas City’s mostly unchanged front will have their hands full. The Chiefs will likely need to rely heavily on their linebacking corps to contain Baltimore’s rushing attack.
Once the Ravens establish the run, Jackson can use his legs to scramble and find his receivers out of the pocket, breaking down the defense. This strategy is how Baltimore will likely approach the game. On defense, Baltimore has consistently been one of the NFL’s best units, ranking in the top six for both points and yards allowed last season. They also finished first in sacks. Despite losing some defensive players and Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald this offseason, the Ravens remain a formidable unit.
The Chiefs will need to adjust quickly or risk falling behind early. Focusing on their rushing attack, Jackson’s scrambling ability, and defensive playmakers like Nnamdi Madubuike, Roquan Smith, Kyle Van Noy, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey will be key for Baltimore to avenge last year’s defeat.
Players to Watch For Kansas City
Players to watch on the Chiefs are Kingsley Suamataia and defensive line anchor Chris Jones. Despite being a rookie and a second-round pick, Suamataia will start at left tackle in Week 1, putting him under significant pressure. However, Reid has expressed full confidence in him, noting that Suamataia has put in the necessary work this offseason and is ready for the moment.
On the other side of the ball, Jones must make his presence felt early and often on the defensive line to combat Kansas City’s routine slow starts against the run. Jones is known for sealing off rushing lanes, which typically requires at least two defenders to slow him down, opening opportunities for his teammates on the defensive line.
Players To Watch For Baltimore
Players to watch on the Ravens are Zay Flowers and Kyle Hamilton. Flowers, a rookie last season, had an impressive debut with 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. Known for his YAC ability, Flowers will be a significant concern for the Kansas City defense.
Hamilton, one of the NFL’s top safeties, had a stellar season last year with four interceptions, ranking fourth in the league. He only allowed 37 receptions, the eighth-best mark in the NFL, and enters this season as the second-highest-ranked player at his position according to PFF. Hamilton will be the Ravens’ anchor in combating the Chiefs’ potent passing attack.
Final Thoughts
The Chiefs enter 2024 looking to do something never done in the modern NFL—become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. While winning this home opener against the Ravens would be an ideal start to that campaign, it is not the end of the world if they fall short.
The Chiefs have historically started slow, often losing home openers, yet they always find a way to be there at the end. Once they make the playoffs, no matter what happens in the regular season, Mahomes finds a way to get it done. In 24 hours, we’ll find out if he can do it once again for the Chiefs on their back-to-back Super Bowl banner night in front of their fans at Arrowhead Stadium.
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