The AFC title game will take place on Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to win the Super Bowl for back to back seasons after beating the Eagles a season ago in the big game. The Chiefs won the AFC West this season with their 11-6 record in the regular season. After beating the Dolphins in the wildcard round, Kansas City went to Buffalo last week and took down the Bills.
For the Baltimore Ravens, they are the top seed in the AFC. The Ravens won the AFC North with their 13-4 mark. The Ravens took the wildcard weekend off, and then last weekend smashed the Houston Texans 34-10.
The Baltimore Ravens are favorites in this game. The Ravens are listed at -3.5 over the Chiefs. The total for this game is set at 44.5 points.
Mahomes Magic Time
Once again, in the NFC Divisional Round, Patrick Mahomes came through. He threw for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns, both coming to his main man Travis Kelce. Kelce finished the game with a team high 75 yards. Mahomes also threw for 262 in the win over the Dolphins in the wildcard round. He has yet to throw an interceptions this postseason.
Isaiah Pacheco has been fantastic for the Chiefs in the postseason. The running back is up to 185 yards and 2 scores so far. They need him to continue running the football to take some of the pressure of Mahomes. When Pacheco and Kelce are not getting the ball, Rashee Rice has been the target. Rice had 130 yards in the win over Miami.
Kansas City has not lost since Christmas Day, when they were downed by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs a season ago beat the Bengals in the AFC title game 23-20, at Arrowhead. Of course, we all know how the SUper Bowl ended up, with a 38-35 Kansas City win over Philadelphia.
Class of the AFC in 2023
The Baltimore Ravens have been the class of the AFC this season. They lost early to the Colts and Steelers, but since early October, they have been nearly unbeatable. Cleveland got them and then the Steelers again when Baltimore rested their starters. The Ravens are scoring 28.4 points per game on the season, and their defense is the best in the league, allowing 16.5 per game.
Lamar Jackson has been dynamite. In the win over the Texans last week, he used his legs, rushing for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jackson may have one of his top targets back in Mark Andrews, but even if Andrews sits, Isaiah Likely has been fantastic for the Ravens at the tight end position.
Baltimore has gone through several running backs this season. Currently, it is Gus Edwards leading the charge. He has carried the ball nearly 200 times for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns. A season ago, the Ravens fell to the Bengals in the wildcard round 24-17.
Thriller for Trip to Super Bowl
We expect a great AFC title game. The Chiefs are battle tested, and Mahomes is ready to win on the road in this game. Jackson has the ability to change a game at any time, and is ready to finally win the big one, and get to the Super Bowl. Both teams have other pieces that will play massive factors in this game.
The anticipation is this will be a tight one. When push comes to shove, Justin Tucker kicks a game winning field goal to send the Ravens to the Super Bowl. But, the Kansas City Chiefs cover the spread. We will take the Kansas City Chiefs +3.5, as the Ravens win the game 30-28.
