Chiefs Have Hidden Advantage Over Ravens on Thursday Night Football Week 1

The Chiefs open their quest for a three-peat on Thursday Night Football at home against the Ravens and are slight favorites to come away with a victory to begin the 2024 season.

Most expect a tightly-contested matchup after last year's 17-10 AFC Championship win for Kansas City. However, there's one underrated advantage giving the Chiefs a major edge in the game, and things could get ugly quickly for Lamar Jackson and Baltimore.

Teams who rest starters, and especially quarterbacks, in the preseason frequently struggle in Week 1 as they shake off the rest. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' starters played in the preseason, but Jackson and the Ravens' did not.

Chiefs Should Be Sharper in Week 1 Thanks to Preseason Preparation

Mahomes is typically at his best in Week 1, partially because he and the offense are fully prepared. While the Chiefs lost to the Lions last year despite Detroit resting its starters in the preseason, neither Chris Jones nor Travis Kelce played and fans already know about the horrific drops. Even then, Kansas City only lost by 1.

In 2022, every team that rested their starters in the preseason lost in Week 1. We've seen the Bengals historically struggle in September employing that strategy, and the defending NFC Champion Eagles barely beat the pathetic Patriots last year.

There's a distinct advantage to be had just by giving your guys a warm-up before real games start. The Chiefs were so loose that we even finally saw Patrick Mahomes throw his famed behind-the-back pass.

With how effective Steve Spagnuolo's defense was against Jackson in the playoffs, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Ravens stumble out of the gate. This is their first real action together and it couldn't come in a more difficult environment.

The Chiefs will rectify last year's mistakes and leave GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with a win on Thursday night.

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