This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Kansas City Chiefs begin their quest to become the first team since the 1960s to win three consecutive NFL championships when they host the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener on Thursday.
This contest is a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, which the visiting Chiefs won 17-10.
It’s also the sixth meeting between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP. Mahomes owns a 4-1 head-to-head record against Jackson, who downplayed the rivalry with Mahomes this week and potential payback for the loss to the Chiefs in January.
“Any game I play in, I feel like it’s a revenge game,” Jackson said. “I’m not just going to look at this game like a revenge game. Anybody we play, no matter if we’ve beaten them or lost to them in previous years, I just want to win.”
The Ravens inexplicably ran the ball just 16 times — eight by Jackson — for 81 yards in the AFC Championship Game despite finishing the regular season with the NFL’s top ground attack. The Ravens signed four-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry as a free agent in the offseason, and he should get plenty of opportunities to carry the ball against the Chiefs
Henry ran for 672 yards with eight touchdowns in six games, including the postseason, against Kansas City over eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta tried to acquire Henry at last season’s trade deadline, but the Titans denied him. Henry became the Ravens’ top free-agent target, and DeCosta signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal in March.
When asked whether he would have been the difference for the Ravens in last season’s playoffs, Henry said this week, “Hell yes. I was wishing I could suit up that day (when I was) watching that game. But, yes, now it’s my turn, so (I have) to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough, (and) they’re solid on all three (phases), so we’ve got to be locked in this week to be able to execute on Thursday.”
The Chiefs have not shied away from trying to make history this season as they try to become the first team to win a third consecutive Super Bowl. The Ravens could be one of their biggest challenges in the AFC, and Kansas City players want to send a message to the rest of the NFL that their team is still the one to beat.
The Chiefs will get an opportunity on Thursday night, shortly after unveiling their Super Bowl LVIII championship banner. Mahomes is expecting another hard-fought matchup.
“The common thing is just physicality and speed. That’s who the Ravens are,” Mahomes said. “They’re a team that’s going to play hard. They’re going to play physically, and you have to accept that challenge. If you don’t, they’re going to dominate the football game.
“Even though they’ve traded through defensive coordinators, they have those same principles. I think that’s more of the team (and) the culture they have, and I’m sure there will be wrinkles that we’ll have to adjust (to) out there. I mean, they have a great football team (and) a great defense. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
–Field Level Media
