The 2024 NFL Season Begins: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens

As the 2024 NFL season kicks off, fans of football across the country eagerly await what is bound to be one of the most exciting and anticipated matchups of the year: the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

Opening night always brings with it a certain level of excitement, but this game carries even more weight as it features two of the league’s powerhouses going head-to-head.

The Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off a trip to the Super Bowl, are slight favorites as they take the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens are seeking revenge after falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game just months prior.

With the energy surrounding Arrowhead Stadium, the return of Chiefs fans, and the ceremonial raising of the banner commemorating the team’s incredible 2023 season, the atmosphere will be electric.

The Ravens, however, are determined to spoil the Chiefs’ night and start their season off on a high note.

In this comprehensive preview, we’ll take a look at the keys to victory for both teams, the injury reports, predictions, and everything you need to know ahead of this highly anticipated opening night clash.

The Stakes: A Rivalry Renewed

The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the NFL’s most dominant teams in recent years.

Led by their superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, they’ve consistently been a playoff contender and have appeared in multiple Super Bowls, including winning one in 2020.

The Chiefs’ high-powered offense, masterminded by head coach Andy Reid, has been a nightmare for defenses around the league.

Their ability to strike quickly, combined with Mahomes’ incredible improvisation skills, has made them a difficult team to beat.

On the other side, the Baltimore Ravens have also been a perennial playoff team, thanks in large part to their dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson and a physical, run-first offensive philosophy.

Jackson’s combination of speed, vision, and arm strength has made him one of the most exciting players to watch in the NFL.

Head coach John Harbaugh has built a tough, resilient team that prides itself on physicality and ball control, traits that will be essential as they attempt to take down the defending AFC champions.

But it’s not just the history and talent on these rosters that makes this matchup so enticing.

This game marks a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship Game, where the Chiefs narrowly defeated the Ravens to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.

The Ravens felt they were on the wrong end of some controversial officiating decisions in that game and have spent the offseason stewing over their missed opportunity.

Revenge is on their minds, and they’ll be coming into Arrowhead Stadium looking to make a statement.

Injury Report: Who’s In and Who’s Out?

Injuries are always a factor in the NFL, and both teams have dealt with their share of them leading up to this game.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Maris Brown is expected to miss the game due to a shoulder injury.

Brown, one of Mahomes’ top targets, will be sorely missed in the passing game. However, the Chiefs’ injury report isn’t all bad news.

Several key players, including Johnson Jones, Williams, Bolton, Morris, Nauy, Tuney, and Winchester, are listed as probable and were full participants in practice earlier in the week.

Barring any last-minute setbacks, all of them are expected to play, which should give the Chiefs a boost, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

For the Baltimore Ravens, the news is relatively positive. This is the healthiest they’ve been in a while, which should give them an advantage.

Running back Rasheen Ali, a rookie out of Marshall, is listed as questionable with a neck injury, while fellow rookie Isaac is doubtful due to a hamstring issue.

Neither player is expected to play a major role in the game, so the Ravens will largely have their key contributors available for this crucial matchup.

Keys to Victory for the Kansas City Chiefs

1. Establishing the Run Game:
One of the most important factors for the Chiefs in this game will be their ability to establish the run.

Despite their reputation as a pass-first team, Kansas City has been quietly effective running the ball, particularly against stacked defensive fronts.

Since 2022, the Chiefs have had a 49.6% success rate on run plays against stacked fronts, a testament to their offensive line and the hard-nosed running style of players like Isaiah Pacheco.

Pacheco, coming off a breakout season in 2023, will be a key player for the Chiefs.

He rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out, Pacheco will shoulder most of the load in the running game.

If the Chiefs can get Pacheco going early, they’ll force the Ravens to respect the run, opening up opportunities for Mahomes in the passing game.

2. Take Away Derrick Henry:
The biggest addition to the Ravens’ roster this offseason was star running back Derrick Henry.

The former Tennessee Titan has long been a thorn in the side of the Chiefs, and his presence adds another dimension to the Ravens’ already formidable rushing attack.

In his last four games against Kansas City, Henry has rushed for 458 yards and five touchdowns, averaging over six yards per carry.

Slowing down Henry will be a top priority for the Chiefs’ defense.

If they can limit his effectiveness and force Lamar Jackson to win the game through the air, they’ll put themselves in a much better position to come away with a victory.

The key to stopping Henry will be gap discipline, tackling, and maintaining a physical presence at the line of scrimmage.

3. Create Turnovers:
Turnovers are often the deciding factor in close games, and this matchup is likely to be no different.

The Chiefs’ defense has been focused on creating more turnovers this season, with players like cornerback Trent McDuffie and linebacker Nick Bolton emphasizing the importance of getting extra possessions for the offense.

McDuffie, still seeking his first career interception, could be a game-changer if he can come up with a big play in the secondary.

If the Chiefs can force the Ravens into a couple of mistakes, it could be the difference in what is expected to be a tight contest.

Limiting their own turnovers will also be crucial, as giving Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry short fields to work with would be disastrous for Kansas City.

4. Get Xavier Worthy Involved Early:
With Maris Brown out, rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy will be thrust into the spotlight.

Worthy, known for his blazing speed, set a record at the NFL Combine with a 40-yard dash time of 4.21 seconds.

While he’s incredibly fast, Worthy will need to prove that he can handle the pressure of playing in the NFL, particularly on a big stage like opening night.

Getting Worthy involved early in the game will be crucial for both his confidence and the flow of the Chiefs’ offense.

In the preseason, Mahomes made a point to target both Worthy and fellow rookie Rashee Rice early and often, knowing that they would be counted on once the regular season started.

For Worthy, catching passes and avoiding drops will be key, as he struggled with some careless drops during his college career at Texas.

5. Utilize Travis Kelce in the Red Zone:
One area where the Chiefs can exploit the Ravens is in the red zone.

Since 2022, Kansas City has run 17.8% of their offensive snaps in the red zone, the highest rate in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Ravens’ defense has struggled in this area, allowing opponents to run 15.1% of their plays in the red zone, which ranks among the worst in the league.

Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ star tight end, is a mismatch nightmare in the red zone, and the Chiefs would be wise to target him frequently when they get close to the goal line.

Last season, Kelce had five red zone touchdowns, but the Chiefs didn’t utilize him as much as they could have.

If they make a concerted effort to get him the ball in scoring situations, it will go a long way toward securing a victory.

Keys to Victory for the Baltimore Ravens

1. Establish the Run with Derrick Henry:
The Ravens’ success hinges on their ability to run the football, and the addition of Derrick Henry only reinforces that philosophy.

If Henry can get rolling early, it will open up the rest of the offense and make things much easier for Lamar Jackson.

The Ravens don’t want to get into a shootout with Patrick Mahomes, so controlling the clock and wearing down the Chiefs’ defense with a steady dose of Henry will be critical.

2. Lamar Jackson’s Passing Game:
While the Ravens are known for their ground attack, they’ll need Lamar Jackson to make plays with his arm in order to win this game.

Jackson’s ability to extend plays with his legs and keep defenses off balance will be important, but he’ll also need to take advantage of opportunities downfield when they present themselves.

The Chiefs’ secondary, led by McDuffie, will be looking to make life difficult for Jackson, so accuracy and decision-making will be key for the Ravens’ quarterback.

3. Limit Patrick Mahomes:
The Ravens’ defense will have its hands full trying to stop Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league, and his ability to make plays outside the pocket makes him especially tough to defend.

The Ravens’ pass rush, led by veteran Calais Campbell, will need to find a way to generate pressure without allowing Mahomes to escape and make big plays downfield.

4. Win the Turnover Battle:
Much like the Chiefs, the Ravens will

need to win the turnover battle in order to give themselves a chance to win this game.

Jackson has been known to be prone to mistakes in big moments, and the Ravens can’t afford to give the Chiefs extra possessions.

On the defensive side, the Ravens will need to force Mahomes into making mistakes and capitalize on any opportunities they get.

5. Utilize Tight Ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely:
The Ravens’ tight ends, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, could be the X-factors in this game.

Andrews has been one of Jackson’s favorite targets for years, while Likely has shown flashes of being a dynamic playmaker in the passing game.

The Chiefs’ defense struggled to contain tight ends at times last season, so expect the Ravens to look to exploit this matchup.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Ravens 27

This game has all the makings of a classic. Both teams are loaded with talent, and the stakes are high with the rematch factor from last season’s AFC Championship Game.

While the Ravens are hungry for revenge, the Chiefs’ firepower and home-field advantage will prove to be too much for Baltimore to overcome.

Look for Patrick Mahomes to lead a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter as Kansas City starts their season with a hard-fought victory.