Early Monday morning, the NFL announced that the Kansas City Chiefs would host the Baltimore Ravens on Opening Night. The game between the AFC Titans will be a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game, but is this a good matchup for the defending champs?
Even as great as the Kansas City Chiefs are in winning back-to-back Super Bowl Titles, their opening-night opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, will head to Kansas City with revenge on their mind. From this point, this is the game circled on the calendar that means the most to the AFC North team.
On the slip side, this game represents hanging another banner at Arrowhead Stadium, awarding the fan base that rode the ups and downs of the team’s improbable run to the Super Bowl. It will also be a primetime game with playoff implications in week one.
Last year, the Chiefs opened the 2023 season against the Detroit Lions. Through a series of mistakes, dropped passes, and a Chris Jones holdout, Kansas City lost 21-20 to the upstart NFL team. In retrospect, that game was a microcosm of this team’s offensive journey.
However, with the additions of Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worhty, the Chiefs’ passing offense should be better. Even though the team expects Rashee Rice to face a stiff suspension, they can overcome his absence.
The Ravens will head into the NFL opener knowing they can get a jump on the Chiefs this season. Though I don’t see Baltimore winning the AFC North this season, they can make a statement against the defending Super Bowl Champions.
Baltimore has lost some key defenders, but it is one of the best regular-season teams in the NFL. It plays smashmouth football and plays strong defense. If it doesn’t rely on the passing game, Jackson can be a very good field manager, chewing up possession time.
I’m surprised the NFL, particularly CBS, gave up this game so easily. Still, that likely means they’ll get something in return regarding a late afternoon game in Kansas City against the Cincinnati Bengals or Houston Texans.
The Chiefs should be an early favorite in this game and have the best odds of winning the AFC West and returning to the Super Bowl. Their entire focus this off-season has been to pave the road for their Three-Peat efforts.
To put a stamp on that quest, the Chiefs will face a tough task in defeating the Ravens in the season opener. Of all the matchups that could have settled the opening night question, Baltimore was their toughest possible opponent.
Still, the Chiefs have never backed away from a challenge, and despite the fact this game will be played on their home turf, they will be ready for whatever Baltimore throws at them.
Stay tuned for more scheduling updates at ChiefsBlitz.com.
