Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs Week 1 Preview: Best Bet, Odds, and Prediction

Week 1 Matchup Preview: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Date: September 5, 2024, 8:20 PM ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
BetMGM Odds: Chiefs -155, Chiefs -3, O/U 46.5

The NFL season kicks off with a bang as the Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off their Super Bowl victory, welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Arrowhead Stadium. This clash is a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship Game, where the Chiefs came out on top with a 17-10 victory in Baltimore. That game was marked by Kansas City’s ability to dominate possession, holding the ball for an impressive 37:20, compared to just 22:30 for the Ravens, effectively keeping Baltimore's explosive offense off the field.

Both teams are led by superstar quarterbacks and have a strong history of success in Week 1. Under head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have posted a 9-2 record in season openers, with Patrick Mahomes leading them to a 5-1 mark during his tenure as the starter. On the other side, Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh boasts a 12-4 record in Week 1, with Lamar Jackson going 4-1 in his starts.

My Best Bet: Over 46.5

When looking at the betting landscape for this game, Over 46.5 points stands out as the best bet. Picking a side here is tricky, as both teams are evenly matched and could easily find themselves meeting again in the AFC Championship Game later this season.

Historically, Week 1 games with Patrick Mahomes under center have been high-scoring affairs. The Chiefs have averaged 34.8 points per game in season openers with Mahomes at the helm, while their defense has allowed an average of 24.2 points per game. While it's true that Kansas City went 1-8 to the Over/Under at home last season, and Baltimore was 3-4 to the O/U on the road, those trends might not hold much weight in this matchup.

The addition of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Chiefs’ receiving corps gives Mahomes another dynamic weapon to exploit, complementing the already unstoppable Travis Kelce and a fleet of shifty, speedy wideouts. This offensive firepower should lead to plenty of scoring opportunities for Kansas City.

On the other side, Lamar Jackson has also thrived in Week 1, with the Ravens averaging 34.6 points per game in his starts. The Ravens' defense has been stingy in openers, allowing just 13.4 points per game, but the addition of Derrick Henry at RB1 will bring balance to their offense. Additionally, wideout Zay Flowers is poised to take a significant step forward as a true WR1, giving Jackson a reliable target in the passing game.

With both teams loaded on offense and the Chiefs' and Ravens' Week 1 scoring history, expect a high-scoring shootout to start the 2024 NFL season. The best play here is to take the Over 46.5 and enjoy the fireworks.

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