9/19/21 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CHIEFS VS RAVENS
CHIEFS vs. RAVENS 9/19/21
Fresh off a Monday night loss to the Raiders, the Ravens find themselves facing Kansas City at home in Week 2. It wouldn’t be all that bad except the Chiefs have had Baltimore’s number recently. The two teams have played each other in each of the last three seasons. Kansas City has won all three games, including last year in Baltimore. Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdown passes as the Chiefs won 34-20.
Like Baltimore, KC wasn’t all that impressive in Week 1, but Mahomes led a second-half rally that produced a 33-29 victory over Cleveland. When push came to shove, the Chiefs did what they do best – find a way to win. That victory came at home at Arrowhead Stadium, but Kansas City has to go on the road to face the Ravens. Not a problem for head coach Andy Reid and company.
The Chiefs went 8-0 on the road in 2020, including that win over Baltimore early in the season. KC also went 7-1 away from home in 2019. The venue isn’t really a problem for Mahomes and company. Playing in primetime on national television will also be a boost for both teams.
Kansas City is just 1-5 ATS in its last six games, but the Chiefs have been one to back when playing the Ravens. KC is 4-1 both straight up and ATS in their last five games against Baltimore. They are also 5-1 ATS against the Ravens when playing in Baltimore.
While the Chiefs have had recent success over Baltimore, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the Ravens want to avoid going 0-2. Teams that start an NFL season 0-2 have a very difficult time making the playoffs. The percentage of teams that has made the postseason after starting 0-2 is right around 12 percent. That’s not good and that’s why Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will do what he can to ensure his team doesn’t fall into that hole.
Baltimore is 12-4 at home over the past two seasons. One of those losses, of course, was to the Chiefs. The Ravens had covered seven games in a row before losing to Buffalo 17-3 in last year’s playoffs as a 2.5-point underdog. Baltimore lost last week as a 3-point favorite.
Sunday night’s total is a big one opening at 53.5 and up to 55 at most sportsbooks. Both offenses are capable of putting up big numbers. Baltimore averaged 27.3 points per game last year (ninth in the league) and hit that number on Monday night against the Raiders. Interestingly enough, the total has gone Under in four of the Ravens last five games.
That changes when the Ravens are at home though. The Over is 4-1 in Baltimore’s last five home games. The Over is 5-3 in KC’s last eight games. Three of the last four Ravens-Chiefs games have seen the total go Over.