The 2024 NFL playoffs will continue this weekend. In the first game scheduled, the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 AFC Championship game. With the conclusion of Friday's practices, the final injury report for the game is out. Here's a look at that to go with my Chiefs vs Ravens prediction for what should be a very entertaining game.
Chiefs vs Ravens injury report: 2024 NFL Playoffs
The KC Chiefs listed seventeen players on their injury report. For those wondering what that means -- it's a lot. These matters are always weighed against the other team and the Baltimore Ravens only listed five players on their own half of the AFC Championship Game's injury report.
Furthermore, a couple of the names on Baltimore's report are names we've seen at many times throughout the season. Marlon Humphrey is questionable for the game but he has been questionable a lot this season. There isn't much on Baltimore's injury report that suggests that they are too banged up.
The Chiefs have Isaiah Pacheco on the injury report as questionable due to ankle and toe injuries. Those are TWO injuries -- and that's important to note. It will only take one of them to keep him out of the game. The way his name kept popping up in KC's last two playoff games, it would be a big loss if KC went without him. The Chiefs do have Clyde Edwards-Helaire as their RB2 but he can't be expected to have a big game. His season-high was just 55 yards and that required 15 carries.
Chiefs vs Ravens Prediction: Chiefs +4.0
The Ravens are coming in at just -4.0 as of late Friday night (bet365). For a team that is hosting and in better physical shape, the spread looks small. Chances are that a lot of sports bettors saw the Chiefs last week and love the passer rating that Patrick Mahomes put up. Furthermore, his QBR has been excellent so far in the playoffs, at about 90 on average for the two games.
But partly, I think that KC won last week because of some weak nerves with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. On that matter, you might find the same problem with Baltimore this week. Lamar Jackson has never won a game of this magnitude before. Furthermore, Justin Tucker's field-goal percentage ain't where it used to be. In fact, at 1 for 5 for 50+ yards this season, a long one in the clutch can't be counted on anymore.
I think you take the points on the Chiefs. That's not dependent on Pacheco playing. Rather you have to love the relative nerves for the game: KC's QB won't be phased for the occasion but Jackson may be in over his head.
Further reading: Australian Open men's singles final (Sinner vs Medvedev)
