Chiefs’ game against Ravens is widely considered as the game to watch in 2020 season
The Ravens had the best record in the NFL a year ago, and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson was the league’s MVP.
The Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the game’s MVP and the 2018 NFL MVP, too.
If it sounds like a Chiefs-Ravens game this fall has a chance to be epic, you’re not alone. Writers around the country picked the 2020 season games they are looking forward to most, and this one appears on every list I found.
This is what they were saying about the Chiefs facing the Ravens on “Monday Night Football.”
Adam Schein of NFL.com wrote about the nine best prime-times game. This is a snippet: “With this matchup occurring early in the season, we have a better chance of seeing both of these juggernauts operating at full strength. I know quarterbacks typically like to say they don’t actually compete against each other — but rather, the opposing defense. Still, you can’t help but think Pat and Lamar will be looking to one-up each other in this sparkling QB showcase. And don’t discount the complete nature of these two teams under two incredible head coaches in Andy Reid and John Harbaugh.”
Nick Wright, a noted Chiefs fan, was dreaming big about a potential Chiefs victory leading to a 13-0(!) start to the 2020 season:
This is an excerpt of what Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr wrote: “We could pick a quarter of the Chiefs’ schedule given that they’ll be appointment viewing all season long, but this takes care of two converging storylines we’ll be watching closely. The evolution of the Ravens’ offense with Lamar Jackson will collide with the defending Super Bowl champions in a matchup that many believed would be the AFC title game in 2020.”
ESPN Stats & Info shared this:
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports wrote in part: “This should be fun watching the Ravens run-heavy offense led by Lamar Jackson against Patrick Mahomes and his passing game.”
Here’s a portion of what USA Today’s Mike Jones wrote: “Patrick Mahomes holds bragging rights for now after narrowly beating Jackson and the Ravens 27-24 in their first meeting (2018) and then throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-28 triumph last season. But a year after following in Mahomes’ footsteps and taking home the NFL’s top individual honor, Jackson will try to avenge those losses and match Mahomes’ Year 3 Super Bowl-winning quest.”
Bill Bender of the Sporting News picked Chiefs games as the top three to watch. The Ravens’ contest actually was second (behind Buccaneers meeting), and he wrote: “A matchup of the last two NFL MVPs in Jackson and Mahomes could determine home-field advantage in the AFC. Kansas City beat Baltimore 33-28 last season. Expect another fantastic finish here.“
ESPN’s Field Yates picked this as his game to watch in 2020 and wrote: “While I’m keenly aware of the fact Mahomes and Jackson will play precisely zero snaps on the field at the same time, any game in which these two are involved is more than enough to get excited about.”
Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun called this the Raven’s toughest game. Here is part of what he wrote: “This has game-of-the-year potential, an early-season, prime-time showdown between the AFC’s (and maybe the NFL’s) top two teams. The Ravens finally have home-field advantage to pair with 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and a superior defense. Kansas City has a Super Bowl ring, 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes and even more weapons than it did in last season’s meeting.”
Mark Maske of the Washington Post wrote: “The last two league MVPs, Mahomes and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, share the field in Baltimore for the Week 3 Monday nighter.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 11:11 AM.
