Chiefs vs. Ravens: Game and score predictions

Every one of our contributors picked the Kansas City Chiefs to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. That’s exactly what happened, but it took an overtime field goal for the Chiefs to bring in the win. Our staff predicted a 33.6-14.9 victory — quite a contrast from the final score of 23-20. Our readers were also pretty confident in a Chiefs blowout. 96% picked the Chiefs to win, but only 22% thought it would be close.

Let’s see what the staff (and our readers) think about the Week 3 road matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Tom Childs (@tomchilds56)

I'm going to be that guy, I'm afraid. Whilst I don't buy the overreaction after the Chargers game, it's hard to deny the fact that the Ravens probably look like a more dangerous team than the Chiefs right now. Although the Chiefs handily beat the Ravens when they played in Week 3 of last season, I don’t expect a repeat performance. It should be a classic, though. Ravens 38, Chiefs 34

John Dixon (@Arrowheadphones)

I think there’s every reason to think this game will remain close right until the final whistle. I expect the Ravens to move the ball well against the Chiefs defense — and I expect the Chiefs to do the same against the Ravens defense. The lead will change hands a few times, and we’ll all be ready for tranquilizers when the Chiefs leave Baltimore with a win. Chiefs 34, Ravens 31

Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp)

I’m aware of how the Chiefs looked in Week 2 against the Chargers. Awful tackling and inopportune penalties don’t give me logical confidence heading into a matchup against what I believe to be the NFL’s only other juggernaut. Baltimore is just as dangerous — if not more so — than they were a season ago, and they are getting their first shot at the Chiefs in their own stadium. All that considered, the Chiefs know the significance of the top playoff seed. They’ve gotten back into game shape through the first two weeks, and it’s time to have an elite performance. I believe we’ll see a heightened level of creativity in play-calling — and noticeably better effort — in a classic battle that might be the most epic chapter of this rivalry yet. Mahomes bursts into the MVP conversation with an incredible game. Chiefs 44, Ravens 38

Matt Lane (@ChiefinCarolina)

Earlier this week on the Arrowhead Pride Laboratory game preview podcast, I said that if the Chiefs and the Ravens — or any other team — both play to their talent levels, the Chiefs will win the game semi-comfortably. The issue is that I trust the Ravens to bring their best game plan (and highest energy level) far more than I trust the Chiefs to do so. Having Patrick Mahomes allows the Chiefs to still have a chance to win this game — or any game — even if the Chiefs bring their B game. When the Ravens have the ball, the Chiefs have to focus on stopping the run through the angles the Ravens will be looking to exploit. Like in last year’s matchup, Frank Clark will have to shut down one side of the field by holding the edge. When the Chiefs have the ball, the Ravens will throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Chiefs — but they’ve handled it well in the past. To keep the Ravens on their heels, the Chiefs’ ability to extend plays and produce dynamic results needs to be a constant throughout the game. In the end, my gut says the Chiefs find a way to pull out a victory in the fourth quarter — but logically, the Ravens are playing better football right now and produce more consistent results week-to-week. Ravens 31, Chiefs 30

Matt Stagner (@stagdsp)

In what should be the game of the regular season, the NFL’s two best teams face off in primetime. The Ravens present a unique challenge for the Chiefs, with an aggressive defense, strong running game and a mobile quarterback. In what will feel like a heavyweight fight — with haymakers back and forth — I do think Mahomes and company will get some big plays; watch for both Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman each to get loose in the Ravens secondary at least once. And after what was often a subpar performance against the Chargers, the Chiefs defense will show their fight. Chiefs 38, Ravens 35

Craig Stout (@barleyhop)

The Chiefs will put together a good game plan against the Ravens, picking up chunk plays against the blitz and first downs on the legs of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Chiefs defense will be up to the task, tackling better early in the game — and pressuring Lamar Jackson into some hurried throws. Chiefs win by 10 and the hype train picks up steam. Chiefs 34, Ravens 24

Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson)

This game is a matchup between the best player in the world and Lamar Jackson. This game is also a matchup between the best kicker in the world and Justin Tucker. What could be the marquee game of the NFL season is going to be a good one. The Chiefs are coming off one of the worst performances of the Patrick Mahomes era — and now have to right the ship against one of the NFL’s best teams. With essentially the same team with which they won the Super Bowl, the Chiefs are on their #RunItBack tour. We know the ceiling of this team — and that’s a world championship. Playing in Baltimore for a one-game lead on the one seed will get the Chiefs focused. It’s a critical early season matchup — and while the Chiefs have a lot to fix, their opponent will help focus them. Championship swagger — and a Harrison Butker field goal — will be the difference. Chiefs 31, Ravens 28

Pete Sweeney (@pgsween)

This is as nervous as I have been for the Chiefs in a long time. Maybe that’s better, since I was not all that nervous last week and Kansas City was almost upset by the Chargers. I am eager to watch Patrick Mahomes-Lamar Jackson III, the next installment of a budding rivalry — one that I think will become an absolute shootout. In that kind of game, I like the Chiefs’ weapons a bit more than the ones the Ravens have. This could be one of those coin-flip, last-team-with-the-ball games, so give me the ending I’ve seen before: Mahomes improves to an eye-popping 3-0 against the Ravens’ superstar. Chiefs 48, Ravens 45

Ties in the standings are broken with prediction points error — how much each prediction misses the actual point spread and the number of points scored by each team.

None of the staff predicted the Chiefs would beat the Chargers by less than 14 points. So Tom Childs and Matt Lane — who foresaw the tightest spreads and lowest-scoring games — had the inside track; their 27-13 and 31-17 predictions each had 22 points of error. John Dixon was right behind them. His 34-19 pick was 24 points off. That kept Matt in the top spot and moved John into second place.