The online sports betting community will be treated to a special matchup in NFL Week 3 as the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens. Back-to-back NFL MVP winners face off head-to-head. The 2019 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, fresh off winning a Super Bowl, takes on last year's MVP, Lamar Jackson. It’s an NFL betting dream matchup! Your favorite sportsbook casino is ready for the big game, all hands on deck!
What To Look For
There is a lot more to be excited for than just the two quarterbacks. The electric speed of Chiefs wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman; Marquise Brown’s explosive breakout speed and the rest of the talented Ravens team; two great head coaches with big personalities—these are just a few of the things to look forward to on Monday night.
The Chiefs travel to M&T Bank Stadium to take on the Ravens in what could emerge as one of the biggest rivalries in the AFC over the next decade. Both teams are firmly focused on making it to the Super Bowl and are probably each other’s biggest hurdle to clear both in the regular season and down the line in the playoffs. For the Chiefs, that would mean winning two years in a row and they’re well-priced to do so at 11/2 with BetMGM. But it’s actually the Ravens who lead the current betting odds - and they’re a very popular pick at 9/2.
The Ravens will do what they do best—pick up yards using their powerful ground game. Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, and pretty much all the other Ravens running backs will have plenty of opportunities to break free against the Chiefs vulnerable front.
The Chiefs have plenty of weapons at wide receiver, tight end, and at running back. Look for Patrick Mahomes to sling the football all over the field, as usual. Rookie running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has shown impressive skills in limited action. How the Ravens plan to stop the speed of the Chiefs will be fun to keep an eye on for game day.
Watching this talented bunch is always a treat for any NFL fan. This early matchup should provide both teams with a good test of what to expect if they want to compete in the playoffs later in the year.
Key Players To Watch
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback
With the best arm in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes is the greatest quarterback in the league today. If he can maintain his pace, he may end up as the best ever. Nobody has been able to make the off-schedule, unscripted throws he consistently makes on the run. It is amazing to see.
In Kansas City, they have done a fantastic job of supplying Mahomes with plenty of Pro Bowl talent to target. Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce, these are all very good players with a lot of speed for their position on the field. Hill may be the fastest player in the entire league. The deadly combination of Hill’s speed and the golden arm of Mahomes makes the Chiefs hard to stop.
As a popular MVP choice among NFL betting picks, Mahomes is primed for another huge year. Against the Chiefs, you have to guard every inch of the field, because Mahomes can make every throw, and because the speed of the team can outrun anybody. Any team going up against Mahomes and the Chiefs should be worried.
Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver
It is tough to know for sure, but it is commonly believed that Tyreek Hill is the fastest player in the league. There is no one man that can keep up with him on a football field. Good luck to whoever draws that assignment on Monday night!
Not only is he very fast, he can run great routes. His route-running ability, his speed, and of course the arm of Mahomes, attempting to cover Hill is a nightmare. Hill can go off for 80 yards at any moment, in the blink of an eye. If they slip up for even a play, Mahomes will make them pay.
Travis Kelce, Tight End
As a Pro Bowl tight end, Travis Kelce is a delight to watch on game day. Not only is he talented, but he just loves the game of football. A big personality in his own right, Kelce is also a bit of a trash talker.
Kelce backs up his talking with his play on the field as well. Kelce has four-straight 1,000 yard seasons. Lining up at tight end and consistently gaining over 1,000 yards is very impressive in the NFL. Expect Mahomes to target Kelce a lot on Monday against the Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson, Quarterback
There is nobody in the NFL like Lamar Jackson. A quarterback with lightning-quick speed and agility, along with a great arm, he is always a sight to see on game day. As millions of fans tune into the NFL each week, Jackson may be the most exciting player to watch consistently.
There is a reason why NFL odds have Lamar Jackson as an MVP candidate again, he really is that good. A deadly weapon both on the ground with his legs and through the air using his arm, Jackson can do it all. His MVP season last year proved that he could. At just 23 years old, it’s scary to think that he could be just scratching the surface.
Mark Andrews, Tight End
Coming off a Pro Bowl season, Mark Andrews is set to have another big year as one of Lamar Jackson’s go-to targets. Since being drafted in the third round in the 2018 NFL Draft, Andrews has surpassed expectations.
Running the ball is key to what the Ravens do. Lining up at tight end, Andrews does a fine job as a run blocker. His ability to stretch the field catching the ball is a nice bonus. In just his third season, at age 24, Mark Andrews still has room to improve. Expect the Ravens to utilize his skills nicely on Monday night against the Chiefs.
Where Do They Stand?
Both teams are off to a strong start to their seasons at 2-0.
In the AFC West, where the Chiefs play, they are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for first place. A win helps make sure they stay on top for at least another week.
For the Ravens in the AFC North, they are also tied for first place with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Similar to the Chiefs, the Ravens need a win to have a chance to stay in first.
Even though both teams enter this game 2-0, and in first place, one team will end up going home with a loss, likely sliding down a spot in the division.
Past Historical Matchups Between the Chiefs and Ravens
Since the Baltimore Ravens, compared to other teams around the league, haven’t been around long, history is brief. The Kansas City Chiefs lead the all-time series between the two squads 6-4.
Since Lamar Jackson arrived in the NFL in 2018, the Chiefs and Ravens have faced off each year. Schedule-makers understand this is the game fans want to see every year. Of course, it ends up on Monday night in primetime, for millions around to the world to see. Your favorite sportsbook casino will have their hands full as bettors track NFL betting lines throughout the week.
Both times the past couple seasons, the Chiefs have won a close, competitive game. Expect the Ravens to have some tricks up their sleeves as they attempt to slay the dragon this time around. They will have home-field advantage, but without fans, who knows how effective that will be.
NFL Betting Picks and Predictions
If you are an NFL fan, you are stoked for this matchup. Expect a well-fought game that goes down to the wire. Plenty of offensive firepower to score quick touchdowns, this game should feature a lot of scoring, and a lot of speed.
We think the Ravens finally find a way to take down Mahomes in a thrilling matchup of Super Bowl contenders. Ravens by 2.
Our final score prediction: Ravens Win 29-27
