Why the Chiefs expect to get the Ravens’ best shot despite these recent trends
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs prepare for Ravens' offense despite recent turnover and sack trends
- Kansas City emphasizes Ravens' unpredictability in offensive play-calling
- Coaches highlight Lamar Jackson's dual-threat capability and proven impact
The Chiefs aren’t buying into a couple of trends working against the offense of the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday’s opponent at Arrowhead.
A fumble in each of the first three games by running back Derrick Henry?
“That’s new territory for him,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “He’s not a fumbler. I’m quite sure he’s working on that this week.”
And quarterback Lamar Jackson getting sacked seven times, matching a career high, in Monday’s home loss to the Detroit Lions? That also was a game in which Jackson passed for three touchdowns, 288 yards and no interceptions.
“He’s a dynamic quarterback with a lot of talent around him,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said.
With a game plan that confounds opponents.
“They’ll run it when you’re supposed to throw it, and throw it when you’re supposed to run it,” Spagnuolo said.
The Chiefs are gracious when addressing opponents during game week, but there’s enough recent history with the Ravens to know this isn’t false flattery.
The Chiefs have gotten the better of things lately in what’s become a rivalry based on these two teams’ mutual success. The Chiefs have appeared in the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons, the Ravens six of the past seven.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has won five of six meetings, including the 2023 AFC Championship Game, against Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson. All but one has been determined by one score, the most recent when replay confirmed the toe of Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely landed out of bounds by an inch on the final play to seal the Chiefs’ victory in last season’s opener.
Adding to the drama Sunday: Both teams stand an unexpected 1-2. The Chiefs and Ravens, along with the Buffalo Bills, were the top three betting favorites to win the AFC. The loser’s path becomes that much more formidable.
The teams have stumbled for different reasons. The Chiefs’ offense hasn’t found rhythm and hasn’t scored more than two touchdowns in a game.
The Ravens rank last in yards allowed and next to last in points allowed this season. But they’re scoring, leading the NFL at 37 points per game.
As for Henry’s fumble-itis, Jones is right. That’s not his habit. In his first nine seasons, Henry lost a total of 10 fumbles. Moreover, he’s logged big games when seeing Chiefs red.
In seven career contests against KC, including six with the Tennessee Titans, Henry has averaged 103 rushing yards and scored a total of nine touchdowns. And he hasn’t lost a fumble against the Chiefs.
Jackson had one of the most productive games of his career at Kansas City in the 2024 opener, passing for 273 yards and rushing for 122 and pushing the Ravens to the shadow of the goal line in the final seconds. He’s a two-time NFL MVP, and Jones believes a third award should have been presented last season.
“It’s just always tough playing to play against Lamar and the Ravens,” Jones said. “I think he should have won MVP last year. I have so much respect for him. He can change the game, at any point in the game.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM.