3 Bold Predictions For Ravens QB Lamar Jackson vs. Chiefs

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are heading into a date with the Kansas City Chiefs they have likely had circled on their calendar since the season schedule was announced in May.

The game takes place in Kansas City, which is a downgrade from home-field advantage in the playoffs last year. However, the Chiefs have every reason to walk into the matchup with a touch of hubris while Jackson has every reason to arrive with seriousness.

Here’s a look at whether the focus difference will matter in the end.

Lamar Jackson rushes for more yards than Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry was the flashy new pickup for the Ravens this year. However, with so much focus on Derrick Henry, Jackson will be open to running with much wider lanes. The RPOs and read options will be especially explosive in the first game of the season. As such, Jackson will be able to run better than he has in years.

Henry will get plenty of touches as well, however. He will earn about 95 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Jackson will earn at least 100 yards and two touchdowns. That said, one of the touchdowns will be the result of a quarterback sneak.

Gets sacked at least twice

After a while, the Chiefs defense will remember that they are playing Jackson and will need to drop a spy on most plays. The quarterback spy, charged with guarding Jackson alone, slows him down after halftime. This allows the defense to catch up to him as he stutters and log a few sacks.

This will give the Chiefs a chance for a second-half comeback. Whether Patrick Mahomes answers the call is a gamble that won’t be answered here. However, Jackson will slow down in the second half just enough to give some Chiefs fans hopes and expectations to others.

Lamar Jackson throws for more than 250 yards on less than 20 throws

Jackson isn’t known for his arm. Last season, he threw for just 24 touchdowns. However, he will be using his arm to get the ball down the field at times in the contest.

Just when the linebackers start to cheat up near the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Lamar Jackson will use play-action to decimate the secondary.

After a few passes, the Ravens quarterback will have about 150 yards and the rest will come from checkdowns and screens. The stats won’t be eye-popping to the average viewer, but digging one level deeper will give plenty of ammunition for Ravens fans.

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