The 1-2 Baltimore Ravens travel to Kansas City on Sunday to take on the 1-2 Kansas City Chiefs. It was a disappointing Monday night for the Ravens in week three as the defense gave up 426 yards, 224 of which were on the ground as they fell to the Detroit Lions 38-30. While the Chiefs has their most productive game of the season as they beat the New York Giants by a final of 22-9 to secure their first win of 2025. It is always a battle when the Ravens and Chiefs get together, and Sunday expects to be no different as each team looks to avoid starting the year 1-3, and all but making sure they will not get the AFC’s number one seed come playoff time.
The Ravens have begun to suffer the injury bug just three weeks into the season as defensive tackle Broaderick Washington (ankle) has been ruled out. Washington joins fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) who both have been ruled out. Defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee), outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring), and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), all practiced in a limited capacity on Friday and are all listed as questionable. The biggest injury news for the Ravens is the possible return of tight end Isaiah Likely (foot). Likely practiced in full on Friday for the first time since injuring his foot in training camp. Likely is listed as questionable for Sunday, but signs are pointing to Likely making his season debut on Sunday.
As for the Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) and defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte (elbow) are listed as questionable. Defensive end Mike Danna (quad) is listed as doubtful. The Chiefs got their own positive injury news as their young star wide receiver Xavier Worth, who suffered a shoulder injury in week one and has missed the previous two weeks. Practiced in full this week and has no injury designation for Sunday.
Players to Watch:
Rashod Bateman
The Baltimore Ravens are off to a fast start on the offensive side of the ball, but for Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman that fast start has not translated to his own individual numbers. It has looked at time as though Bateman and quarterback Lamar Jackson have not been on the same page which has caused Bateman to have just nine receptions for 88 yards through the first three weeks. A lot can be contributed to the lack of success thus far for Bateman, the poor offensive line play causing Jackson to get the ball out quicker to players like Zay Flowers on shorter routes. Or the increased emphasis on using the ground game both through Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.
No matter what the reason may be, the Ravens offense is even more successful when Bateman is getting the ball. Sunday could potentially be a breakout game for Bateman, as much of the focus will be on stopping Flowers in the passing game, and the return of Isaiah Likely could provide even more open looks for Bateman.
Chris Jones
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, now in his 10th season, continues to be a force for this Chiefs defense. Through the first three weeks of the season, Jones has accumulated five tackles, four of which are tackles for loss, and one sack. Currently the Chiefs rank 11th in the NFL in total defense and a lot of that is a credit to Jones and the attention he commands from opposing offenses.
In four career regular season games against the Ravens Jones has total nine tackles, four sacks, and three forced fumbles. The Ravens know firsthand the game wrecker that Jones can be, and it will take a group effort by the Ravens offensive line to avoid a repeat of last week that saw them give up 7 sacks.
Prediction
The Ravens and Chiefs have both gotten off to slow starts this season, with the Ravens struggling mightily to get stops defensively. While the Chiefs have looked un-Chief like offensively. It seems as though on Sunday either the Ravens defense or Chiefs offense will find their groove. The Ravens rank dead last in the NFL in total defense while the Chiefs rank 19th in total offense. When breaking down these two teams, the winner will be decided by one thing. Can the Ravens defense stop the run, or will the Chiefs do what the Lions did and wear this injured Ravens defensive line down for four quarters. The Ravens unsurprisingly rank 30th in rushing yards allowed per game at 266.3. While the Chiefs rank 17th offensively in rushing yards per game at 108.
The Ravens offense for the most part has seemed impossible to stop, as despite their own troubles from time to time they have still managed to score no less than 30 points in their first three games. With that said the Ravens offense will score and score often, but if the Chiefs can hang around and especially if they can get their less than impressive run game going, it once again can lead to a long day for the Ravens, and one that puts the pressure on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense to come out and score on every drive.
I think the injuries to the Ravens defensively hurt them both from a pass rush standpoint as well as stopping the run. No Madubuike, now no Broaderick Washington, and a less than 100% Travis Jones makes it hard for me to see much changing from last week despite the Chiefs offense, particularly their run game looking all that great through the first three weeks of the season. I think at the end of the day the Ravens inability to create short gains on first down, and their inability to get off the field on third downs will ultimately be their undoing. While the Ravens offense tries to keep pace, it won’t be enough. Chiefs win 31-27.
Line: Baltimore -2.5
Over/Under: 48.5
All-Time Record: Kansas City leads series 8-4
Last Meeting: 9/5/24 Kansas City 20-27
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