|
Lamar Jackson is on the doorstep of his second NFL MVP award. But some doubters still remain ahead of the Ravens' big AFC Championship clash with the Chiefs this Sunday. Our predictions for the game see Jackson ready to not just meet but exceed expectations on the big stage.
The old luck versus skill debate is in the spotlight as the Chiefs and Ravens face off with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Many view the Chiefs' sixth straight conference title game as more good fortune, having dodged injury bullets from Miami and Buffalo. And they caught a break on that missed field goal to beat the Bills.
Meanwhile, the oft-injured Ravens are finally healthy. Their dominating win over Houston showed their potential. It's tipped the odds toward Baltimore, now -3.5 point favorites at home and the moneyline is Baltimore -185, Kansas City +153. If you are looking to bet for the Ravens and trying to earn more money make sure to use a bet365 Bonus Code.
Let's dive into the spread and total for the Chiefs-Ravens AFC title bout. We'll offer expert NFL picks and predictions for the January 28th showdown. We'll also look at potential weather impacts on the betting outlook.
Lamar gets his chance to silence doubters on the biggest stage. Despite his MVP-caliber year, some still question his ability. But the championship game is the perfect proving ground, especially against Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes.
As the Nature Boy Ric Flair famously said: “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” And right now, Mahomes holds that title. But Jackson has consistently stepped up to challenges this season. The Ravens have toppled many of the NFL's best, navigating the fifth-toughest schedule. Jackson has been phenomenal in these statement games.
Some critique Jackson as just a “running quarterback.” But let's look at his numbers against playoff teams. He completed nearly 71% of his passes, averaging over 250 yards with 17 touchdowns. That's a crazy 2.4 TD passes per game.
Jackson has 26 touchdown passes this season, with 13 coming in his last five games. That includes two in the win over Houston. He surpassed the 1.5 O/U line for TD passes in that game. Expectations are similar for the championship.
Bet365 has Jackson at +144 odds to go over 1.5 touchdown passes against the Chiefs. Kansas City has been stingy against the pass, but injuries may hamper their defense. And Jackson thrives with the pressure on.
The likely return of top target Mark Andrews, who's been out since Week 11, is key. Andrews is Jackson's go-to guy in the red zone. Player projections put Jackson between 1.5 and 1.6 TD passes. But given his current hot streak in marquee matchups, I foresee even higher production around 1.75 touchdowns through the air.
On the game's biggest stage, I predict Jackson will meet and exceed expectations, leading the Ravens past Mahomes' Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl.
