NFL Football Betting: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL will square off for the second time in their short careers this Sunday when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens head west to take on Patrick Mahomes II and the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City nipped Baltimore 27-24 in Arrowhead Stadium last December with Mahomes throwing for 377 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens. The Chiefs defense held Jackson in check in the win, and they will look to do so again here.

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
LINE: CHIEFS -5.5
TOTAL: 52

The NFL betting odds for this game have fluctuated somewhat since the line opened on Sunday. Kansas City was originally -6 and the line moved to -6.5 and then 7 for a short time before receding slightly. There was a strong move towards the Ravens on Thursday night though with the line moving from 6.5 to 5.5. The total has shifted down from 53.5 to 52.

INJURY REPORT

Baltimore won’t have star cornerback Jimmy Smith for this game, and that hurts considering how Kansas City can beat you in the passing game. Safety Brynden Trawick, fullback Patrick Ricard, and tight end Mark Andrews are considered questionable.

The Chiefs won’t have Tyreek Hill for a few more weeks because of a broken collarbone, and left tackle Eric Fisher was just ruled out for at least a month after undergoing groin surgery on Thursday. Running backs LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams have both been ruled questionable for this game, so blitz pick-ups could be a concern if one of Kansas City’s inexperienced reserves sees extended playing time.

WHEN BALTIMORE IS ON OFFENSE

Give John Harbaugh credit for putting Lamar Jackson in position to succeed. The Ravens spent the offseason bringing in skill position players that would mesh well with Jackson’s skillset, and the results have ben impressive through the first two weeks of the season.

Baltimore leads the NFL in total offense and scoring offense after two weeks. Jackson has shined, completing 71.9 percent of his passes for 596 yards with seven passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is averaging 6.6 yards per carry too, but we haven’t seen the former Heisman Trophy winner run as much as we expected. That’s something to keep in mind when it comes to NFL player props betting.

The Ravens’ run game is averaging 5.7 yards per carry with free agent signing Mark Ingram putting up nice numbers on the ground. Rookie Marquise Brown has been impressive through two games too, but the potential absence of Andrews is a big deal. Andrews is the Ravens’ leading receiver this year with 16 catches and a catch rate of 94.1 percent.
This Kansas City defense could be Baltimore’s first real test of the season. The Chiefs spent a lot of money improving one of the league’s worst defenses this offseason, and they have performed relatively well through two weeks. Baltimore’s two opponents have two of the worst defenses in the league, so there is still a question of just how much this Ravens’ offense has improved.

WHEN KANSAS CITY IS ON OFFENSE

Reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes II is favored to be named the league’s best player again this season with odds of +200 to repeat. Mahomes continues to put up video game numbers in his second season as a starter, and he currently leads the league with 821 passing yards. He is averaging a whopping 14.9 yards per completion, continuing to thrive without Hill.

The loss of Hill meant the Chiefs needed to find another speedy playmaker, and it appears they may have found one in second round pick Mecole Hardman. Hardman caught his first touchdown last week against Oakland, stretching the defense with his quickness. He figures to be a bigger part of the offense in the coming weeks.

Travis Kelce remains very important too. Kelce was the most productive tight end in the NFL last season, and he is on pace to have a massive year again in 2019. He is one of the tight ends that are thriving with the league’s new rules, but he could have a below average performance with Earl Thomas patrolling the secondary. Thomas is a future Hall of Fame safety that can lay the lumber and cover very well in the middle of the field.

Running the ball could be a major issue though without Fisher and potentially both McCoy and Williams. Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson are the next two running backs on the depth chart, and they have combined to touch the ball twice this season.

PREDICTION

The announced injuries are more important than you might think, and that should make this more of a defensive game than the pundits would have you believe. The under is a good play, and Baltimore feels like the right side.

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