The AFC’S top-seeded Baltimore Ravens stands out as the hottest workforce in soccer, successful eight of their final 9, their lone loss coming in Week 18 whereas key gamers rested.
However the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs shouldn’t really feel like an underdog.
Regardless of being the third seed, that is their sixth consecutive AFC championship recreation.
Let’s have a look at what to look at for on this matchup.
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Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs shakes palms with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) of the Baltimore Ravens after the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 27-24 in time beyond regulation to win at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 9, 2018, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs)
The strain is on, however not on who you might suppose
There’s no query the Chiefs have gotten loads extra eyeballs this season due to Taylor Swift. And simply previous to the postseason, many puzzled if their heightened reputation and stardom was affecting their play on the sphere.
However no one is dealing with extra strain than Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson is probably going going to be named the NFL MVP for the second time in his profession subsequent month, however his foremost bugaboo has been his lack of success within the playoffs.
Getting into this postseason, he was 1-3 in playoff video games. That is his first journey to the AFC title recreation. It’s Patrick Mahomes‘ sixth, regardless of him being simply 15 months older than Jackson.
Jackson signed a $260 million contract extension within the offseason after requesting a commerce, and it’s off to a pleasant begin. However the principle query about him has but to be answered.
Mahomes has answered loads of questions.
Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after speeding for a landing in opposition to the Houston Texans through the fourth quarter of an AFC divisional playoff recreation at M&T Financial institution Stadium Jan. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (Rob Carr/Getty Photographs)
The harm report favors Baltimore
In Week 11, Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews reportedly cracked a fibula, and even head coach John Harbaugh thought the harm was “season-ending.”
However the Ravens took him off injured reserve Friday, making him lively for Sunday.
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Whereas Isaiah Doubtless has emerged at tight finish and it’s unknown what Andrews’ function and snap depend will probably be, the Ravens aren’t complaining about having two choices.
Chiefs’ All-Professional offensive lineman Joe Thuney will probably be out with a pec pressure. We noticed what occurred when the Chiefs had an injury-compromised offensive line within the 2021 Tremendous Bowl in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, mix that with query marks concerning the large receiving corps.
Talking of which …
Lamar Jackson (8) of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Mark Andrews (89) after scoring a landing through the fourth quarter in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at M&T Financial institution Stadium Nov. 20, 2022, in Baltimore. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs)
Can the Chiefs maintain onto the ball?
The Chiefs have damage themselves with dropped passes all season. They led the NFL in drops, and Mecole Hardman had two fumbles within the divisional spherical, one in every of which rolled by way of the tip zone and resulted in a touchback.
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However Travis Kelce remains to be Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes remains to be Patrick Mahomes and Rashee Rice has stuffed in properly.
However all it takes is one expensive misplay, and we’ve seen loads all through the season.
But there’s one man who’s doing the whole lot he can up to now to convey the Chiefs again to the Tremendous Bowl.
Rashee Rice (4) of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs celebrates a third-quarter landing catch with Travis Kelce (87) in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Photographs)
Travis Kelce is getting scorching
Kelce had an up-and-down season after setting profession highs in each class final yr. It was the primary time since 2015 he failed to succeed in 1,000 receiving yards. He was 16 shy whereas lacking two video games.
The star tight finish had 303 yards receiving weeks 6 and seven mixed however totaled 459 in his closing 9 video games. He had beneath 50 receiving yards in 5 of these contests.
To date within the playoffs, although, he’s been classic Kelce, catching 12 passes for 146 yards and two scores, each of which got here final week.
That is par for the course for Kelce, a stud regardless of the scenario.
Was it Swift that slowed him down? Or perhaps he rushed again from that hyperextended knee he suffered two days earlier than the season began? In any case, he’s choosing a great time to get scorching once more.
Travis Kelce of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs forward of a recreation in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Financial institution Park Nov. 5, 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany. (Ralf Ibing/firo sportphoto/Getty Photographs)
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Kickoff is Sunday at 3 p.m.
Sit back, calm down and benefit from the present.
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