The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, which will be one of the more thrilling games in terms of anticipation in recent memory. The Ravens come into the game as slight favorites, but we all know that Patrick Mahomes can win in any circumstance.
To set the anticipation for the game, what are a few bold predictions that fans can watch for this week?
3. Lamar Jackson will rush for over 100 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs
If the Kanas City Chiefs have a weakness, it is their rush defense. They are a top-10 defense, but most of that is because they rank top five in almost any passing game metric. However, they slide outside the top overall defenses because of their run defense.
The Chiefs have only faced four teams with a top-ten rushing offense in both EPA per play and success rate. In those games, they are 1-4, with the win coming last week against the Buffalo Bills. They lost to the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and even the Bills in the regular season because they were able to run the ball. Now, the Chiefs get the best rushing attack in the NFL.
In the win over Buffalo, Josh Allen ripped over 72 yards on 12 rushing attempts. Last week, Lamar Jackson had 11 rushes for 100 yards. We thought that Jackson might be unleashed more on the ground in the playoffs because the team does not have to rely on his short-term health beyond the next two games.
With the Chiefs being weak here, Jackson being extremely efficient, and possibly getting closer to 15 attempts this week, the odds of him rushing for 100 yards would be impressive.