TNF Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs Betting Preview

It’s about time that real football returns to dominate the landscape. The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their three-peat quest when they oppose the AFC-rival Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium Thursday evening. It’s a rematch of the conference title game last season, won by the Chiefs, 17-10, in Maryland. Baltimore went 13-4 last season, while the Chiefs finished 11-6.

KC is a field-goal favorite (total at 46), according to NFL odds.

Kansas City is used to starting the season ‘early,’ having lost last season’s league opener, 21-20, to the Detroit Lions.

It was an inconsistent regular season in Kansas City, as the Chiefs reeled off six consecutive victories after getting edged in the opener. KC dropped off after that, 3-5 at one stretch in the season’s second half.

There was some thought the Chiefs might miss the playoffs, something not seen since 2014.

Here’s a look at the NFL’s season opener, along with our selection…

Henry a Raven

It’s not as if the Baltimore Ravens didn’t have running back Derrick Henry in their sights, as the team even discussed acquiring him before the trade deadline last season,

Baltimore couldn’t agree with the Tennessee Titans on a price, so Henry stayed in Nashville.

Baltimore now has Henry in the fold and in the backfield. There hasn’t been a back as durable/ productive over the past number of seasons (280 carries, 1,167 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2023).

A down side, if there is one, is Henry’s 30 and with the requisite amount of wear and tear. Regardless, he’s now the go-to back that the Ravens desperately needed.

Asked about the AFC title game loss to the Chiefs, Henry said that he still wonders what could’ve been if he was on the Ravens during that second-half run.

"Hell yes . . . I was wishing I could suit up that day [when I was] watching that game," Henry said. "But now it's my turn, so [I have] to take advantage of it. It's going to be a hell of a game."

Henry in the backfield alongside reigning MVP Lamar Jackson (3,678 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions) seems to be a perfect marriage in Baltimore, which under coach John Harbaugh has its usual stingy defense (league-low surrendered 280 points).

Chiefs the Standard

Here’s how good the Chiefs of coach Andy Reid have been over the past decade…eight consecutive AFC West titles and a half-dozen conference-title games appearance in a row.

The obligatory Patrick Mahomes (4.183 passing yards, career-low 27 touchdowns, career-high 14 interceptions) reference found a statistically ‘poor’ season, but as lethal as ever when the trophy was on the line.     

It’s no longer all about Mahomes, as the Chiefs have built one of the better defenses over the last few seasons. It’s also a given in today’s NFL that rosters get tweaked, turned over or somewhere in between.

In Kansas City, L’Jarius Sneed is the latest example. The cornerback signed a four-year, $76.4 million pact with the Tennessee Titans ($20 million signing bonus, $51.5 million guaranteed).

Sneed had started 54 games in four years with the Chiefs (40 pass deflections, 10 interceptions, four forced fumbles, 6½ sacks and three fumble recoveries).

In the AFC title game against those Ravens, Sneed stripped receiver Zay Flowers of the ball as he approached the end zone in the second half. Flowers carelessly held the ball, subsequently fumbling it instead of scoring a touchdown. That was a huge play in a game which ended 17-10

KC will rely on Nazeeh Johnson, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams at the corner opposite Trent McDuffie.

Ravens Exact Revenge

Looking at the odds to win the title, Kansas City is the 5-1 (+500) favorite, Baltimore is the third choice at the 10-1 (+1000), as per Super Bowl LIX odds.

You won’t find the Ravens as underdogs in many games this season, so this season-opener is somewhat of an outlier.

A note about the Chiefs’ receiving corps. The team imported ex-Arizona Cardinal Hollywood Brown, who’s doubtful here with an injured shoulder. Meanwhile, Rashee Rice is looking at probable sooner-rather-than-later suspension after his involvement in a multi-vehicle Dallas auto crash this past spring.

It’s not a title game, but we’re going with the Baltimore Ravens (+129) as an outright winner over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Thursday evening opener.