The Thursday Night Football matchup in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season features the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. We’ll be diving into all of the primetime games this season, and this one isn’t any different. With that in mind, keep reading for betting odds, picks and player props for this exciting showdown. Also, make sure you head over to our Week 1 NFL Betting Hub for a look at all of our NFL betting content.

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How To Watch Ravens vs. Chiefs

When: Thursday, September 5th at 8:20 pm ET

Where: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Channel: NBC/Peacock

Ravens vs. Chiefs Odds

(Odds as of Sunday, September 1st)

Moneyline: Chiefs -154, Ravens +130

Spread: Chiefs -3 (-100), Ravens +3 (-120)

Total: Over 46.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110)

Ravens vs. Chiefs Analysis

In last year’s AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs earned a 17-10 win over the Ravens. Kansas City was a 4.5-point underdog in that game, but the Chiefs escaped with the victory and went on to win the Super Bowl. A lot of people were hesitant to believe in Kansas City after an up-and-down regular season, and the Ravens looked like the team to beat in the AFC for most of the year. However, Kansas City had slowly started to transform into an elite defensive team throughout the course of last season, and the team didn’t need Patrick Mahomes and the offense to be as explosive as previous seasons. Instead, the Chiefs were able to turn into a ball-control offense, and they were ultimately unbeatable the rest of the way.

This season, Kansas City should once again be one of the best defenses in football. After finishing last year sixth in the NFL in EPA per play allowed, the Chiefs were able to lock up All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones. Of course, Kansas City did lose linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and corner L’Jarius Sneed, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should be able to overcome that. The Chiefs like what they have at both positions. And when looking at this specific matchup, neither loss should hurt the unit. If Kansas City is a little shaky in the secondary to start the year, Lamar Jackson and this Ravens offense likely won’t be able to exploit that — especially at Arrowhead Stadium. Jackson has improved significantly as a passer in recent seasons, but he looked miserable against Kansas City in the playoffs. There’s no reason to expect him to light the Chiefs up this time around.

The Chiefs offense should also look pretty good here. While Kansas City definitely leaned a little heavier on the run in the second half of last season, the team has some more weapons around Mahomes now. Travis Kelce is still one of the best over-the-middle options in football, Rashee Rice still hasn’t been suspended and the team added an absolute burner in first-round pick Xavier Worthy. The Texas product ran a 4.21 in his 40-yard dash as the combine. He’s going to really open up this offense in a big way, and Baltimore is lucky that Hollywood Brown will miss this game with a shoulder injury.

Baltimore’s defense is also dealing with a pretty big question mark entering this season. Mike Macdonald was viewed as one of the best defensive coordinators in the league last year, but he left to take the head coaching job in Seattle. Zach Orr is expected to fill in admirably for John Harbaugh’s team, but making the right calls in a tough road environment will be quite the test. The Ravens also lost some key pieces from last year’s defense, including Jadeveon Clowney and Patrick Queen. Those two will be missed in a game like this.

It’s also worth noting that the Chiefs are 9-2 straight-up and 7-4 against the spread in Week 1 since Andy Reid became the head coach in Kansas City. He generally has his team fired up and ready to go for the opener, and this is a locked-in group as the Chiefs look to three-peat.

Ravens vs. Chiefs Player Props

Travis Kelce Over 56.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

Kelce isn’t getting any younger, but this total still feels way too low. In the playoff meeting between these two, Kelce had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also had at least 71 yards in all four of Kansas City’s postseason games, and he had at least 57 receiving yards in nine of the 15 regular-season games he played in 2023.

I know that the Chiefs will want to get Worthy comfortable early, but Kelce’s targets will still be there. He has a special connection with Mahomes, with the quarterback knowing that he can look his way in big situations. This is also going to be a game with a playoff-like atmosphere, and Kansas City is going to take it very seriously because it’s on the national stage.

I also don’t think there will be a shortage of openings for Kelce, as the Ravens are breaking in a new defensive play caller and will be doing so with new faces on the defense.

Ravens vs. Chiefs Pick

Last year, I opened the season by grabbing the Lions +4.5 in what ended up being an upset win over the Chiefs. Well, this year I’m turning to Kansas City. However, I am going to pay up a little for -2.5, as I don’t want to push in the event the Chiefs win by a field goal.

I’m just very high on Kansas City’s defense, which was as good as any when it mattered last season. I trust Spagnuolo to put a good plan together for the Ravens, even with Derrick Henry now lining up in the backfield for Baltimore. While that acquisition was splashy, I don’t think it will take the Ravens to another level. The only thing that can do that is Jackson playing better when the stakes are higher.

Kansas City’s offense will also present some real challenges for a Baltimore defense that will need to work out some kinks early on.

Pick: Chiefs -2.5 (-125)

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