The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The game will kick off at 3:25 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS. This will be the fifth regular-season matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, with Mahomes leading the series 4-1.
These games have often come down to the wire, and neither team will want to fall to a 1-3 record.
Here are five things to watch on Sunday.
1. The return of Xavier Worthy
After sustaining a shoulder injury in Week 1 — exiting the game after only three snaps following a collision with tight end Travis Kelce — the second-year wideout is expected to return on Sunday. It was initially thought he had suffered a more serious injury — but after a few weeks of rest, he is back.
Even if Worthy is not yet at full health, his speed and deep-ball threat — as well as his ability to stretch the field — will make him valuable. In Week 3, Kansas City was able to attack downfield when quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton for several big gains in critical situations.
With Worthy back in the fold, the offense should open up even more, gaining a much-needed burst of juice for a unit that currently ranks in the bottom half of the league in points scored.
2. More snaps for Nohl Williams
In limited looks so far this season, the rookie cornerback has quietly put together a string of quality snaps. In the Chiefs’ first two games, he showed strong physical coverage skills and a good understanding of the defense. Against the New York Giants last Sunday, he played a career-high 19 defensive snaps and made several nice plays on the ball when given chances.
The Kansas City secondary is once again shaping up to be a strength of the team. For Williams to find the field early is an encouraging sign of things to come.
3. Containing Lamar Jackson
Through the early portion of the season, Jackson ranks second among quarterbacks in rushing yards and ranks 10th in the league in passing with 722 yards. The two-time MVP has been the catalyst for the league’s highest-scoring team: Baltimore has put up 111 points through three games.
Jackson is one of the league’s elite talents. The Chiefs’ defense will have its hands full with him.
In the past, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has used a “spy by committee” approach against Jackson. Everyone from linebackers to safeties — and even defensive linemen — has taken part, hoping to disguise the spy enough to keep Jackson guessing.
The Ravens’ offense knows how to exploit defenses that commit a single player to spying Jackson. Quick routes and fast-hitting plays are often designed to take advantage of misaligned defenders.
The Kansas City defensive line will face a tall task: generating pressure while containing Jackson in the pocket, preventing him from using his electrifying playmaking abilities. Pass-rush integrity will be crucial. But when linemen do get the chance to pin their ears back, they must finish plays — either with Jackson on the ground or forcing him to throw the ball away.
4. Stopping Derrick Henry
Now in his 10th NFL season, Henry doesn’t seem to have lost any steam. Henry ranks fourth in rushing with 242 yards and three touchdowns, serving as the perfect complement to Jackson. Averaging 5.9 yards per carry, he has produced explosive runs while remaining a down-to-down hammer.
The biggest issue for Henry so far has been ball security. He has fumbled in each of Baltimore’s first three games, losing two against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. Both turnovers came in critical spots — and ultimately contributed to the Ravens’ losses.
Kansas City’s defenders will be tempted to try to strip the ball, but the priority must be rallying to the football and tackling Henry. Still as powerful as ever, he can shrug off arm tackles — meaning defenders must wrap him up below the waist and get him on the ground.
This will be a tough week for the Chiefs’ front seven. Clogging run lanes and making stops will fall heavily on the shoulders of both the defensive line and the linebackers.
This game is monumental for both teams. The Baltimore offense has been electric — scoring at will — but poorly-timed turnovers and defensive regression have led to the team’s 1-2 start. Meanwhile, Kansas City has been in nearly the opposite situation. The offense — still not at full strength — has sputtered in key moments, while the defense has come up big to keep the team competitive.
Both teams could easily be undefeated right now. Instead, they must settle for being .500 at best. The winner will erase early-season blemishes and turn the tide, while the loser will fall into a 1-3 hole — a place no team wants to be.
Both sides will play with heightened urgency, and the result could have huge playoff implications down the line.
There are very few must-win games in September, but this one is about as close as it gets.
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