Not only is it a matchup of the top two Super Bowl favorites, but it is also the third chapter in the emerging rivalry between the previous two leagues MVP, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahoms.
Jackson is 21-3 as a starter, but he is 0-2 against Mahoms. In Jackson’s fourth career two years ago, the Chiefs won overtime, 27-24. Last year, the Chiefs gave the Ravens a 33-28 edge. However, both of those games were at the juicy Arrowhead Stadium.
Will there be a different outcome this time? Most prognosticators, which we think better than two-one-margin. As of this morning, 32 of the 45 pundits had predicted Ravens’ victory.
This is quite the difference from the Week 3 meeting between the two teams last season, when 56 of the 60 pundits chose the chiefs.
Here is a sample of what pundits say about the game:
The Ravens are a better team at this early stage of the season.
Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com: “Thirty quarterbacks have more 20-plus yards per game than Mahoms (3), including Jeff Driscall. The main order per game is (5..7), and his offensive line looks normal. I have no question that Kansas City will be quick. He’s out of it, but he’s facing a Ravens team that looks much faster on offense (Ravens ’early season message to Devin Dover that the main public will have to respond to in January, perhaps in Baltimore.
The running game of Ravens gives them a significant edge.
NFL Next General Statistics: “The Ravens adds almost a whole yard more than expected per run, which is good for a fifth of the NFL. Stopping runs is an issue for the Chiefs defense, not just 6. y yards per carry this year, but 9.1 per cent.” Just run. Run-st rate f rate, lowest in NFL. So run, run Ravens, because your super power happens to be your opponent’s cryptonite. “
Baltimore Sun Children’s Taxes: “To win this high-profile show-down, the Ravens will have to score early and often. Kansas City’s poor run defense will allow them to do that.”
Mike Gerafolo of the NFL Network: “[The Ravens] Even if they are below a significant distance they will be committed to the run. So I’m sure they’re following the saying, ‘We’ve got a game plan to run football and we’ll stick with it. We need Kansas City to show that they will be able to stop it. ‘So definitely a challenge for [Defensive Coordinator] Defending Steve Spagnullo knowing he needed to play things on the shore ahead of the game on Monday and do it quickly. Otherwise they are going to have some problems with this Ravens offense, which is now J.K. Dobbins has been added to the rear position. He is getting impressed sooner. “
