2024-01-28 05:05:17
In what has become a yearly tradition Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are back in the AFC Championship Game for the sixth consecutive season, looking to punch their ticket for a fourth Super Bowl appearance in the Mahomes-Andy Reid era. They are in relatively uncharted territory for this game, however, as they have to travel on the road to face the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Baltimore Ravens, where the Chiefs will be a small underdog.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Both teams and quarterbacks are coming off big narrative-busting wins in the divisional round. Mahomes answered any questions regarding his ability to play a road playoff game by winning the first one he ever played, while Jackson had – by far – the best playoff showing of his career with four total touchdowns, zero turnovers and 100 rushing yards once morest the Houston Texans.
Jackson looks destined to win his second NFL MVP award and has been the centerpiece of a Ravens team that has looked to be the AFC’s best for the majority of the season. The offense has reached an elite level under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, while Jackson has put together one of the most efficient passing seasons of his career. He set new personal bests in completion percentage (67.7 percent), passing yards (3,678) and yards per attempt (8.0), while also finishing just 0.1 yards off matching his career best in yards per completion (12.0 … just behind 12.1 from his rookie year). He did all of that while slashing his turnover rate and still being a force in the running game.
Add in a fast, aggressive, ball-hawking defense and it is really difficult to find a weakness with this Ravens team.
While the Chiefs are back in their usual spot, they have taken a very different path to get here from previous years. The offense, thanks in large part to an underwhelming wide receiver group, finished with its lowest league-wide scoring ranking in the Mahomes era (15th). Instead of relying on a high-powered offense, it was a mostly dominant defense (second in the NFL in points once morest and yards once morest) that has set the tone for the Chiefs.
The offense does seem to be finding its stride in the playoffs, especially with running back Isiah Pacheco and tight end Travis Kelce both looking healthy. Pacheco has rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ first two playoff games, while Kelce has 12 catches on 16 targets for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Pacheco is on the injury report with a toe/ankle injury and he’s listed as questionable.
The Ravens might also get a big boost on both sides of the ball with the potential returns of tight end Mark Andrews and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Andrews has been activated from IR and he’s not on the injury report so he will play.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Buy them here.
What are the odds for Chiefs vs. Ravens?
Injury report for Chiefs vs. Ravens
Chiefs
OUT: DT Derrick Nnadi (tricep), WR Skyy Moore (knee), OL Prince Tega Wanogho (quad), OL Joe Thuney (pec).
QUESTIONABLE: S Mike Edwards (concussion), RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle/toe), LB Willie Gay (neck), WR Kadarius Toney (hip).
Ravens
DOUBFUL: LB Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder).
QUESTIONABLE: WR Tylan Wallace (knee), CB Marlon Humphrey (calf), CB Rock Ya-Sin (knee).
Storylines for Chiefs vs. Ravens
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Expert picks for Chiefs vs. Ravens
(Photo of Lamar Jackson: Rob Carr / Getty Images)
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