Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes the ball in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Championship soccer sport at M&T Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Photographs The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs start their quest to develop into the primary group for the reason that Sixties to win three consecutive NFL championships after they host the Baltimore Ravens within the season opener on Thursday.
This contest is a rematch of final season’s AFC Championship Recreation, which the visiting Chiefs gained 17-10.
It is also the sixth assembly between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP. Mahomes owns a 4-1 head-to-head document in opposition to Jackson, who downplayed the rivalry with Mahomes this week and potential payback for the loss to the Chiefs in January.
“Any sport I play in, I really feel prefer it’s a revenge sport,” Jackson mentioned. “I am not simply going to have a look at this sport like a revenge sport. Anyone we play, irrespective of if we have overwhelmed them or misplaced to them in earlier years, I simply need to win.”
The Ravens inexplicably ran the ball simply 16 occasions — eight by Jackson — for 81 yards within the AFC Championship Recreation regardless of ending the common season with the NFL’s high floor assault. The Ravens signed four-time Professional Bowler Derrick Henry as a free agent within the offseason, and he ought to get loads of alternatives to hold the ball in opposition to the Chiefs
Henry ran for 672 yards with eight touchdowns in six video games, together with the postseason, in opposition to Kansas Metropolis over eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta tried to amass Henry finally season’s commerce deadline, however the Titans denied him. Henry turned the Ravens’ high free-agent goal, and DeCosta signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal in March.
When requested whether or not he would have been the distinction for the Ravens in final season’s playoffs, Henry mentioned this week, “Hell sure. I used to be wishing I may go well with up that day (after I was) watching that sport. However, sure, now it is my flip, so (I’ve) to reap the benefits of it. It should be a hell of a sport. The Chiefs are at all times robust, (and) they’re strong on all three (phases), so we have to be locked on this week to have the ability to execute on Thursday.”
The Chiefs haven’t shied away from attempting to make historical past this season as they attempt to develop into the primary group to win a 3rd consecutive Tremendous Bowl. The Ravens might be one in all their greatest challenges within the AFC, and Kansas Metropolis gamers need to ship a message to the remainder of the NFL that their group remains to be the one to beat.
The Chiefs will get a chance on Thursday night time, shortly after unveiling their Tremendous Bowl LVIII championship banner. Mahomes is anticipating one other hard-fought matchup.
“The widespread factor is simply physicality and velocity. That is who the Ravens are,” Mahomes mentioned. “They are a group that is going to play exhausting. They are going to play bodily, and you need to settle for that problem. When you do not, they will dominate the soccer sport.
“Though they’ve traded by defensive coordinators, they’ve those self same rules. I feel that is extra of the group (and) the tradition they’ve, and I am certain there will probably be wrinkles that we’ll have to regulate (to) on the market. I imply, they’ve an awesome soccer group (and) an awesome protection. It should be an awesome problem for us.”
–Discipline Stage Media
