The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs entered the season as AFC heavyweights, but both have stumbled to 1-2. No one expected either to be staring down a 1-3 start, but that’s exactly what’s at stake on Sunday night football. Here are some bold predictions for this high-stakes showdown.

1) Lamar Jackson gets sacked more than three times

Lamar Jackson has done everything he can to keep the Ravens afloat, throwing for 722 yards, 9 touchdowns, and no interceptions through three games. But the protection hasn’t held up. He was sacked seven times against the Lions, even with just five- and six-man rushes.

That brings his season total to 12 sacks, far too many for a quarterback this dynamic. Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo has already hinted at a “controlled” rush plan to contain Lamar’s mobility. Expect Kansas City to get home at least three times on Sunday night.

2) Chiefs win the game despite a Lamar Jackson masterclass

It’ll most likely be how the Lions game played out. Lamar keeps racking up touchdowns, the defense gives up 30 points, and the Ravens come away with a loss.

They’re putting up a ridiculous 37 points a game, tops in the NFL, but they’re also coughing up 32 per, the second-worst mark out there. Pick any defensive metric and it’s ugly: 415 total yards allowed per game, 266 through the air, 149 on the ground. Bottom-three across the board.

Despite a Lamar Jackson masterclass, they’d simply get outscored.

3) Patrick Mahomes looks to exploit Baltimore’s fragile front

Patrick Mahomes hasn’t looked like his usual self this season, with just three touchdowns in three games. But things may be turning. He threw for 224 yards and a score against the Giants, and more importantly, he looked confident, something that had been missing.

Now he faces a Ravens defense that’s been shaky up front. Baltimore has allowed three sacks all season and has struggled to pressure quarterbacks consistently. They’ve also been soft in the red zone, giving Mahomes a real chance to bounce back in prime time.

4) Derrick Henry records another fumble

Derrick Henry’s ball-security slump has officially become a storyline. He coughed it up for the third time in three games during the Week 3 loss, a play he called “crazy” and personally apologized for afterwards. “Three fumbles straight. I’m trying every day to fix the problem that just keeps occurring,” Henry admitted.

It’s almost bizarre. Across nine previous seasons, he had only two fourth-quarter fumbles in 136 games. Now he has tripled that pace in three weeks. It’s obvious that it’s a confidence issue, not ability.

Most Ravens fans still trust him. The team signed him in 2024 and gave him a two-year extension this May. But he has to fix his ball security. When a powerful runner like Henry starts worrying too much about holding the ball, mistakes happen, like fumbles or getting stripped. And with the Chiefs being good at forcing turnovers, another fumble could easily happen.

5) Tyquan Thornton would be big trouble for the Ravens’ defense

If you’re looking for a non-QB to bet on, circle Thornton. The speedster is starting to carve out a real role in Kansas City’s attack: 9 grabs for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 targets through three games, a blistering 19.0 yards per catch. That’s nightmarish for any secondary in the league.

Baltimore’s secondary has talent but a bad habit of surrendering explosive plays, especially in the seams. If Mahomes starts launching deep balls, Thornton’s speed could be a serious problem for Baltimore. The Ravens’ secondary gives up big plays, especially in the seams. Their coverage has been inconsistent, and they’re losing battles at the line. Kansas City’s offensive tweaks might make it even harder to keep up.