BOLD PREDICTIONS: Overcoming Kryptonite

The Baltimore Ravens (1-2) battle the Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. With kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET, this marks the Chiefs’ second home game (20-17 loss to Philadelphia in Week 2) and the Ravens’ second road game (41-40 loss at Buffalo in Week 1 this season).

Last Sunday, KC earned a 22-9 win at the NY Giants, while Baltimore fell, 38-30, vs. Detroit on Monday Night Football. The Ravens are 4-8 vs. Kansas City in all-time regular season play, including a 2-3 mark at Arrowhead. Under head coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore is 3-5 vs. the Chiefs (1-3 on the road).

Television: CBS/WJZ-TV Ch. 13 (CBS Local Baltimore)

On The Call: Jim Nantz (PBP), Tony Romo (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

Officiating Crew Chief: Clay Martin

Clay Martin has a notable career trend. Home teams have struggled against the moneyline and against the spread with him officiating. The number of penalties Martin’s crew has thrown through 3 games this season is in the middle of the pack among his peers, with a career trend of 46-43-3 “under” in his career.

Forecast at Kickoff: Sunny skies, temperature at 84 degrees, 0% chance of rain, winds S at 4 mph

Betting Line:

• DraftKings: Ravens – 2 ½, over/under at 48 ½
• Fanduel: Ravens – 2 ½, over/under at 48 ½
• Fanatics: Ravens -2 ½, over/under 48 ½
• ESPNBET: Ravens – 2 ½, over/under 48 ½
• Bet365: Ravens -2 ½, over/under 48 ½

Tony Lombardi

This game features two preseason Super Bowl favorites yet one will finish the game with a record of (1-3), pending an unlikely tie. Both teams have had their fair share of struggles and the feeling here is that those struggles will continue. The Chiefs are struggling to score while the Ravens defense opts to practice philanthropy in the fourth quarter – a staple of John Harbaugh teams.

Oddsmakers list the Ravens as 2 ½ point favorites. Clearly, they are seeing something different than I am because I just don’t see how a points-starved Andy Reid doesn’t come away from this one feeling like the fatted calf against the league’s worst defense that might even struggle against the Little Sisters of the Poor, particularly during the 4th quarter. But hey, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised. And maybe I’ll hit on a Powerball ticket too and if so, I can promise you I’ll be on vacation next week. Ok, enough of my skepticism. Let’s get to the BPs, shall we?

• Lamar Jackson has a decent day but not on par with his first 3 games. Remember that quote from him a couple years back about the Chiefs being the Ravens “kryptonite”. Well, I think that’s still in his head. He’ll force a pass into traffic that Trent McDuffie picks off and then meanders his way deep into Ravens territory. Lamar does throw for 2 scores, one to Mark Andrews and another to Rashod Bateman.
• Derrick Henry doesn’t fumble but he does score and rambles for 110 on 25 carries.
• Patrick Mahomes throws for 2 scores and 310 yards while the Chiefs RBs combine for 120 yards on the ground and a score from Kareem Hunt.
• Last week the Ravens snapped a 57-consecutive-game streak of registering at least 1 sack. This week, they start a new streak – the 2nd consecutive week without a sack. And that will prove costly during the Chiefs final drive, one that Mahomes engineers with less than a minute on the clock to send the Ravens home with another “L” after Harrison Butker connects from 43 yards out.

Zach Orr’s hot seat will soon be enveloped by flames of blue. The kryptonite remains intact.

Chiefs 27, Ravens 24

Kevin McNelis

I’d love to be able to tell you some things that would inspire confidence in the Ravens going into this matchup, but confidence has been hard to come by these first few weeks. The best I can offer you for now is that Baltimore has been listed as the favorite in the majority of the sportsbooks I’ve seen, and this is the first time that’s been the case going into Arrowhead in a good while. Still, this is Kansas City we’re talking about, and a KC team that saw full practice participation at that, because of course their roster would finally be healthy the week Baltimore faces them. Personally, my hopes are not high.

— Out of the gate, we’ll see the pass rush look a little better than it did last week. A pressure by Aeneas Peebles forces a quick throw into a tight window in Travis Kelce‘s direction, and Kyle Hamilton comes up with a pick. The short field leads to a field goal for the Ravens as they continue to struggle in pass pro. The warm and fuzzies don’t last in pass coverage, as the interception is the lone bright spot from a unit that gives up 250+ through the air on the day.

— Derrick Henry breaks his streak of fumbles this week and records a TD, but he’s held to 60 yards on the ground. The continued struggles along the O-line mean more congested running lanes, and the Ravens fail to pivot to outside runs (again), forcing them to go primarily to the air attack in the second half.

— Lamar does his best to keep things afloat, but this one begins to look like last week, and like so many previous trips that we’ve seen against Kansas City. In an effort to stage a comeback, he tries to put the team on his back making a heroic play, but he keeps the ball too long and George Karlaftis demolishes the inside pass protection to force a fumble and seal the deal.

Until we see a massive improvement from the defense in a hurry, I can’t place any confidence in keeping up against high-quality offenses, particularly one that’s coached by Andy Reid, who has historically coached circles around this group.

Chiefs However many they want Ravens 27

Rob Shields

Before this season started, I would have said the Ravens lose this game.  The Chiefs look worse than expected, but so do the Ravens.

Now, I do think some of the fan base is going overboard. Whether they win this game or not, the Ravens are still winning the division, will still win 11-13 games, and will be in a fight for the #2 seed.

They have some bad injuries right now and that is likely to hold them back this week.

Lamar has struggled against the Chiefs. Can he overcome that?  Henry didn’t do much vs them last year. Can he get over that hump and the recent fumbles?

The Ravens are better but they are far more injured, in key spots, and they don’t play situational football as well as KC.

Harbaugh will get out-coached and the Ravens will do enough stupid stuff to not win.

Chiefs 26 Ravens 24

Chad Racine

I have very little doubt the Ravens can and probably will get the defense turned into a formidable unit. I do have a lot of doubt that they can have that done by this Sunday. What may be the most concerning is the extent of Madubuike’s neck injury. The way John Harbaugh talks about it reminds me of Zach Orr‘s career-ending injury. I’m not assuming the worst yet but I’m guessing at the very least Madubuike will miss several games. Combine that with the entire defensive line missing practice this week is not a recipe for confidence against an Andy Reid team led by Patrick Mahomes.

Now of course if the Ravens do get things turned around enough to hold the Chiefs to maybe 30 points or less and pull out a win, that wouldn’t be surprising either. With Lamar and the firepower the offense has this year, they can outscore any team. However the margin for error is so small and this defense is putting too much pressure to have to score nearly every drive. In that environment at Arrowhead Stadium may just be too tall a task.

I think the Ravens defense will fail them again unfortunately this week and just maybe the loss sparks some immediate change…*cough..cough” …Pagano. Lamar and the offense will do their part and put up points and Henry will avoid another costly fumble but it won’t be enough.

Chiefs 35 Ravens 31

Vermont Raven

Ravens run defense continues to struggle without Nnamdi Madubuike

The Kansas City Chiefs rush for 150+ yards (combination of Isaiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Patrick Mahomes).  The Ravens run defense looked bad last week against the Detroit Lions without Nnamdi Maduibuike.  I expect the Chiefs to exploit this weakness.

Lamar Jackson is sacked 5+ times

The Ravens offensive line is struggling, and the Chiefs are masters at getting pressure on the quarterback.  I expect it will be another long night for the Ravens offensive line, particularly Andrew Voorhees and Daniel Faalele.

Henry held under 75 yards.

Derrick Henry doesn’t fumble, but is held in check.

Lamar Jackson rushes for 75 yards

Jackson will be under pressure, and the Chiefs will contain  Henry.   Jackson will make a play or two on scrambles and add a few designed runs.

Tyler Loop makes at least one more mistake

I expect Tyler Loop to make at least one mistake, whether that be another short kickoff or a missed field goal or extra point.  He is a rookie, so struggles are expected, but I am still shocked they really didn’t bring in much competition at all.

Ravens defense forces 2+ turnovers

I couldn’t be all negative.  I don’t think the Ravens defense is as bad as they have looked, so I think they make a couple big plays to keep the Ravens in the game.

Andy Reid and Travis Kelce get in another shouting match on sideline

I’m not sure what all is going on between Andy Reid and Travis Kelce, but there seems to be growing tension between them.  Maybe Reid got left off the guest list for pending Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding?

The Ravens compete, but unfortunately, they are overmatched in the trenches again.

Chiefs 27 Ravens 23

Derek Arnold

It can’t be all doom & gloom here. This is still the NFL, after all. Any given Sunday, week-to-week league, all that. Maybe this is the time the Football Gods finally show some favor to the guys in purple when they take on the Red Menace.

— Derrick Henry puts up 80 yards, a TD, and no fumbles

— DeAndre Hopkins, eager to show KC how much they fumbled the bag in not using him appropriately, has three catches for 80+ yards and TD.

— It’s one of those games that makes this very confounding offensive line make us think they’re actually good.

— Kyle Hamilton gives these “spoiled” Ravens fans something to brag about with a game-sealing pick.

Ravens 27 Chiefs 24

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