The Baltimore Ravens are ready to start their run at Super Bowl LIX. That road for the Ravens begins with a date with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s everything you need to know about the premiere game of the 2024 NFL season.
Ravens vs. Chiefs Matchup History
Thursday will mark the 14th time the Ravens and Chiefs have met. Kansas City is 8-5 all time against the Ravens and have won four of the last five games. Their last meeting was only months ago, where the Chiefs won a 17-10 game.
Key Players on the Ravens
The conversation with the Ravens starts and ends with the two-time MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s threw for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions last year. That production led to him winning his second MVP title at just 27 years old.
The Ravens’ rushing attack is now led by Derrick Henry. After eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry signed a two-year deal with the Ravens in free agency. Henry has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in five of the last six seasons and needs just 498 yards to reach 10,000 for his career.
The Ravens will have their dynamic duo at tight end in Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Andrews, in particular, has been one of Jackson’s favorite targets (45 catches, 544 yards, six touchdowns) and was on his way to another strong season before suffering a fibula injury last season on a hip drop tackle. Now that he’s healthy, he should pick up right where he left off last season. With that said, Andrews was involved in a car accident earlier this summer. However, he did not appear on the injury report this week.
Defensively, linebacker Roquan Smith (158 tackles in 2023) is back to lead the charge. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, coming off a 13-sack season, has a brand new contract at $24.5 million per year.
The secondary is led by safety Kyle Hamilton (81 tackles, 13 passes defended, three sacks, four interceptions). Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (26 tackles, five passes defended) and Brandon Stephens (74 tackles, 11 passes defended, two interceptions) are now joined by rookie Nate Wiggins, adding plenty of speed on defense. Wiggins had the second-fastest 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine.
Key Players for the Chiefs
Similar to the Ravens, it all starts with the man under center for the Chiefs. That’s three-time champion and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Not much more needs to be said regarding the 28-year old quarterback.
At 35 years old, tight end Travis Kelce is still one of the top tight ends in the game. He may not be as fast as he once was, but he’s still a weapon to be feared and one the Ravens will have to pay special attention to.
While the Ravens landed the second-fastest player at the NFL Combine, the Chiefs got the fastest. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy ran a 4.21 40-yard dash; and now gets to take the top off defenses and be a deep threat the Chiefs were missing last season. Hollywood Brown will do so as well, but not against the Ravens as he is out with a shoulder injury.
Rashee Rice had a very nice rookie season and is back for more. He had a run-in with the law following a hit-and-run earlier this spring. His trial date isn’t until December, meaning he likely won’t be suspended this season.
Defensively, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones had another season with double-digit sacks. And that was with missing the season opener against the Detroit Lions. He won’t be missing this game.
In just two seasons, Trent McDuffie has quickly become one of the best cornerbacks in the league. With L’Jarius Sneed now in Tennessee, McDuffie can now really step up as a leader on defense.
Keys to Victory for the Ravens
Take advantage of Chiefs’ rookie offensive tackle
The Chiefs have four returning starters on the offensive line. The one new face is rookie Kingsley Suamataia. He’ll likely draw Ravens edge-rusher Odafe Oweh in Week 1, a tough assignment as the Chiefs rookie tries to keep Mahomes upright. That will be one of the top individual matchups in this one. Also watch the interior offensive line of the Chiefs against Madubuike.
Don’t allow the top of the defense to get blown off
The Chiefs brought in Worthy to be the deep threat the team was missing last season. Baltimore has the speed and defensive prowess to combat that. Between Hamilton, Humphrey, Stephens and Wiggins, the Ravens are well-equipped to reign in the Chiefs offense and keep everything in front of them.
Unleash the rushing attack
Jackson and Henry have been great runners since entering the NFL. Now the Ravens have them together, and opposing defenses have to try and tackle them in the same game? Good luck.
The Ravens have had all summer to figure out how to use their new duo against the Chiefs defense. It will be very interesting to see the results.
