With both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs sitting at 1-2, the stakes are high for both teams in their week 4 matchup.
Week 4 Matchup Between Ravens and Chiefs Could Have Highstakes
The Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs are in the game of the week this coming Sunday. Even though the matchup is in week 4, some high stakes are involved for both teams, which should make the game more competitive.
Neither Team Wants to be 1-3
A loss for either team would put them at 1-3 on the year. It isn’t season-ending to have that record, but it’s a hard hole to climb out of with that record going forward. The margin of error will be thin for both teams going forward if either one falls to 0-3.
After losing to Detroit, the Ravens’ next three games are against KC, the Houston Texans, and the Los Angeles Rams. That is a tough stretch of defenses the Ravens will face after Lamar Jackson suffered a career-high seven sacks against Detroit on Monday Night Football.
The AFC North crown is also still in play for the Ravens, as all the other teams in the division also have their own issues. The Ravens could start a midseason win streak and likely take full control of the division.
As for the Chiefs, they are already playing catch-up in the AFC West division, as the Los Angeles Chargers have a win over them and currently hold the tie-breaker over every team in the division.
The Chiefs face the Ravens, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Lions in their next three games. Both the Jags and Lions are 2-1 and will pose tough matchups to the Chiefs, who have been struggling to find their footing so far this season.
Tie-Breaker Implications for AFC Playoffs
In week one, the Ravens have already dropped a pivotal tie-breaker to the Buffalo Bills. Meaning if the Ravens finish with the same record as the Bills, the Bills will hold the tie-breaker for home-field advantage with their week one win. A loss against the Chiefs would also be tough for the Ravens if it comes down to AFC wild-card implications. If the playoff race is close and the Ravens and Chiefs are in the mix for the wild-card spot, a win for either of these teams in week four could go a long way.
Even though this game is in week four and it’s a big national matchup, the implications of this game could have massive effects later on in the season.
Can the Ravens Finally Shake Their Chiefs Losing Streak?
Sunday’s game will be played in KC, the same place the Ravens lost a tough week 1 matchup in 2024. Baltimore has had one win in the last seven meetings against KC, which included an AFC Championship playoff loss back in January of 2024.
For the Ravens to go where they want to go this season, they will likely need to go through possibly Kansas City and Buffalo. They’ve already dropped a game to Buffalo; the Ravens won’t be in a good spot if they drop another game to a AFC contender.
Main Image: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
