View our preview of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL Week 1 matchup. Use the notes and betting trends to be ready for this AFC matchup.
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| WHO | Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs |
| WHEN | Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 8:20 p.m. ET |
| WHERE | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
| WATCH | NBC, Peacock |
With a Thursday Night Football matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL begins its most recent season in dramatic manner. Two conference contenders square off in this repeat of the AFC Championship Game from the previous year. While the Ravens try to bounce back from significant losses and get used to new defensive leadership, Kansas City comes in fresh off another Super Bowl victory.
Chiefs, Ravens.Kickoff on NBC & Peacock is in two more weeks.https://twitter.com/Soe8RFowi6 #NFLpic
The top Pennsylvanian bookmakers support the home team in this important game. The top betting odds for this NFL Week 1 clash are shown here.
Chiefs start Super Bowl defense with balanced attack
After winning the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to keep up their winning spirit going into the 2024 campaign. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17–10 despite being the underdogs in the previous year’s AFC Championship Game, demonstrating their changing character. Kansas City changed from being a squad that relied on big attacking plays to one that prioritizes defensive solidity and ball management. The Chiefs have become more resilient and adaptable as a result of this change, which has helped them win their third championship under head coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs defense, which finished sixth in the NFL in EPA per play allowed, was a revelation the previous season. Kansas City has made a name for itself as a defensive powerhouse, led by All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones. Despite losing important defenders like cornerback L. Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Gay, the team is confident in their depth at those positions.
Given his reputation for adapting and making the most of the players at his disposal, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo suggests the Chiefs will be ready to tackle any offensive strategy the Ravens may provide. At Arrowhead Stadium, where the atmosphere and fans support Kansas City’s aggressive defense, Baltimore’s offense, lead by Lamar Jackson, may find it difficult to score even if the secondary displays some early-season rust.
The passing game and Patrick Mahomes are no longer the Chiefs’ only offensive options. Their attack gains a new dimension with the arrival of Xavier Worthy, a quick wide receiver selected in the first round. Despite Hollywood Brown’s injury-related absence from the first game, the Chiefs offense is still strong because to players like Travis Kelce and Isiah Pacheco. Kansas City is positioned as a strong opponent in Week 1 thanks to their well-rounded offense and dependable defense.
Ravens rebuild but still seek Super Bowl run
Overcoming major offseason changes is a problem for the Baltimore Ravens. Particularly against a well-oiled Chiefs offense, the team has needs to fill after the departure of outstanding defensive players like Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney.
Additionally, Zach Orr, the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, will need to immediately establish his abilities in a demanding road situation. Kansas City’s multifaceted attacking strategy will put Orr’s flexibility and decision-making skills to the test.
There are also concerns about Baltimore’s offensive. Even though Jackson’s passing has improved, he had a lot of trouble against the Chiefs defense in the previous season’s playoff defeat. If the Ravens want to stay ahead of the Chiefs, Jackson will need to improve.
Additionally, given some personnel changes up front, the offensive line will need to better protect him. Derrick Henry, the Ravens’ offseason acquisition, must perform well right away if they want to manage the game’s tempo and keep Mahomes off the field.
Ravens vs. Chiefs best bets
You may find our top picks for Thursday night’s football game between Kansas City and Baltimore below:
Chiefs -3 (-102, FanDuel)
This is a good wager at FanDuel Sportsbook because of Kansas City’s impressive record in season openers and their recent head-to-head victory over the Ravens.
View more: An explanation of point spread
Under 46.5 (-108, DraftKings)
Given that both teams are probably concentrating on defense, the Under 46.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook is a strong choice. Even though the score totals in previous meetings between these teams have changed, the playoff game last year only had 27 points.
Travis Kelce Over 57.5 Receiving Yards (-115, BetMGM)
Mahomes still prefers to target Kelce. Kelce’s ability to take advantage of mismatches and the improvements in Baltimore’s defense make it seem like a good bet to have him reach 56.5 receiving yards at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Travis Kelce might play a significant role in defying the Ravens’ demands.When pressure is applied by the opposing defense, Kelce is targeted at the third-highest rate among TEs.He takes against a Baltimore defense this week that puts pressure on 37.2% of their pass-rush snaps, which is the sixth-highest percentage.rW3OpxlZbv pic.twitter.com/