The 2023 NFL season is nearing its end with the Super Bowl just a few weeks away. However, it’s not that time yet. It’s championship week, with both the AFC and NFC Championship Games taking place for spots in the Super Bowl.
For the AFC, it’s the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs facing off to win the conference. What’s everything you need to know about the game ahead of kickoff?
Everything To Know About Chiefs vs. Ravens
The AFC Championship Game will be the first game on Sunday, Jan. 28. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET with the NFC Championship Game set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. later that evening. Fans will be able to watch the Ravens host the Chiefs on CBS with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call.
For the hosting team, the Ravens were the best team in the NFL during the regular season. They finished the season with an NFL-best 13-4 record, winning the AFC North and holding the AFC’s top seed.
Additionally, the Ravens have the heavy favorite to win the MVP award in quarterback Lamar Jackson. According to FOX Sports, Jackson has -10000 odds, with Dak Prescott in second with +1800 odds. Jackson passed for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 821 yards and five more touchdowns.
Injury-wise, the Ravens are getting healthy at the right time. Superstar tight end Mark Andrews was believed to have suffered a season-ending fibula fracture and ankle ligament injury in Week 11.
However, Andrews has been practicing with the team and is nearing a return. Despite full practice at the end of last week, he was not activated off of Injured Reserve before playing the Houston Texans. He will likely have another chance to return this week.
In addition to Andrews, the Ravens could see starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey return to action against the Chiefs. Humphrey, who is the Ravens’ top cover corner, missed the team’s showdown with the Texans due to a calf injury.
MORE: Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart | Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart
For the Chiefs, they finished the season with an 11-6 record, winning the AFC West and earning the AFC’s No. 3 seed. In the playoffs, they’ve gone on an AFC East gauntlet, defeating both the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills en route to the AFC title game.
Similar to the Ravens, the Chiefs have also had dominant quarterback play in the 2022 season MVP Patrick Mahomes. Although it was a down year, Mahomes still played impressive football. He passed for 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Injury-wise, the Chiefs are already relatively healthy. However, they did see starting guard Joe Thuney suffer a pectoral strain against the Bills. His MRI came out positive, but his status for the game is still up in the air, according to Ian Rapoport. If Thuney can’t go, Nick Allegretti will likely start in his place.
In addition to Thuney, the Chiefs saw safety Mike Edwards and linebacker Willie Gay both suffer injuries against the Bills, leaving their statuses in question. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, offensive tackle Wanya Morris, and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi also all missed the game and are questionable.
The weather of the game is another factor to watch. With the game set to take place in Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, it is expected to be a cold outing. According to AccuWeather, the area is expected to see a high of 48 degrees with considerable cloudiness and a 72% chance of rain.
In addition to the clouds and rain, the field will see westerly winds of six mph and wind gusts of 22 mph. The major thing to note is that there will be no snow, as the Chiefs’ two playoff games have both featured snowy temperatures.
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!
