Baltimore @ Kansas City preview
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Last Meeting ( Dec 9, 2018 ) Baltimore 24, Kansas City 27
The Kansas City Chiefs have put up at least 25 points in an NFL-record 24 consecutive games, and they’ll probably need to do it again to remain undefeated. The Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in a matchup of unbeaten teams with dynamic offenses.
The Chiefs have picked up where they left off offensively last season, when Patrick Mahomes put up huge numbers and claimed NFL MVP honors. Kansas City leads the league in passing through two games, but the Ravens actually rank ahead of the club in a number of offensive categories and lead the NFL in rushing, scoring and total offense. The Ravens have done it against two teams expected to be at the bottom of the standings in Miami and Arizona, so Sunday will be a measuring stick for the club. The teams went toe to toe in a thriller last year in Kansas City, which escaped with a 27-24 overtime win.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chiefs -5.5. O/U: 52
ABOUT THE RAVENS (2-0): Lamar Jackson continues to be a factor in the ground game, gaining 126 yards on 19 carries through two contests, and has shown huge growth as a passer in his second season. Jackson has thrown for 596 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions, and he and Mark Ingram (154 yards, two touchdowns) lead the league’s top rushing attack thus far. The Ravens also possess the league’s best run defense, but their secondary will be tested by Mahomes.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (2-0): Mahomes has put up a league-best 821 passing yards while matching Jackson for the league lead with seven touchdown passes and no interceptions. Kansas City will be without left tackle Eric Fisher (core muscle), so a reconfigured offensive line will have to try to protect Mahomes from a pass rush that has produced six sacks. The Chiefs’ secondary was picked apart in the second half of a 40-26 win at Jacksonville in Week 1, but the defense locked down last week and held Oakland to 307 total yards in a 28-10 road triumph.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mahomes has passed for at least 300 yards in 12 of his 19 career games.
2. Ravens WR Marquise Brown leads all rookies with 233 receiving yards.
3. Kansas City P Dustin Colquitt will play in his 226th game on Sunday, passing Hall-of-Fame G Will Shields for most in franchise history.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 31, Ravens 24