During last season’s AFC Championship Game, Derrick Henry couldn’t help but think: What if?

“Hell, yeah,” Henry said this week when asked if he wondered what might have happened if the Baltimore Ravens had succeeded in their bid to obtain him from the Tennessee Titans at last season’s NFL trade deadline.

The Ravens had the NFL’s best regular-season record at 13-4 in 2023. But in the AFC Championship Game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Baltimore 17-10 as the Ravens’ running backs combined for 23 yards on six rushing attempts.

Henry won’t need to wonder on Thursday night. The former Alabama All-American running back made it to Baltimore in NFL free agency this offseason and will be in the backfield when the Ravens and Chiefs square off at 7:20 CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I was wishing I could suit up that day watching that game,” Henry said. “But, yeah, now it’s my turn, so got to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough.”

Although it’s a different year, Henry said the Baltimore holdovers who lost one win short of the Super Bowl last season naturally will feel Thursday night’s game a little more acutely.

“Of course it’s going to be that,” Henry said. “That was who they lost to to get to the big one, so I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and want to come out and play Ravens style of football, execute so that we get a ‘W.’ But yes, I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and I’m sure everybody is locked in and going to be ready to go.”

After beating Baltimore, Kansas City edged the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs have won the past two NFL championship games, played in the previous six AFC title contests and reached the Super Bowl four times, with three victories, in the past five seasons.

But even with Kansas City’s success, Henry has a 4-2 record against the Chiefs, with 572 yards and eight touchdowns on 120 rushing attempts with the Titans. In four regular-season games against Kansas City, Henry has averaged 5.73 yards per carry.

ALABAMA ROOTS: TOP 10 IN NFL RUSHING YARDS

“They’re a great team,” Henry said. “Been a great team for a while now. Their defense is solid. I think they’re solid from top to bottom, have willing tacklers, they’re disruptive, so you just have to bring your A-game when you’re going up against those guys.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have success when we’ve played them.”

That is not lost on Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team has won one of its past six games against Kansas City.

“It’s going to feel great to have Derrick Henry on our side,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a wonderful thing. I’m looking forward to it.”

Henry joined Baltimore in free agency for a two-year, $16 million contract. Although the most accomplished running back available on the open market this offseason, Henry didn’t get the biggest deal after turning 30 years old on Jan. 4.

“My body feels the same,” Henry said. “It hasn’t changed much. I know the age difference, but my body still feels good.”

As last year’s league champion, Kansas City earned the privilege of hosting the first game of this NFL season. NBC will televise the contest.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” Henry said. “What I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. But the atmosphere and it being the first game, at night, them coming off a Super Bowl, it being at home at Arrowhead — which you know the environment is going to be loud, it’s going to be hostile — but that’s what you want, especially on opening night with everybody watching the first game of the year to kick off the 2024 season, so I’m excited.

“It’s going to be fun, so I’m looking forward to it.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

Week 1 of the NFL season kicks off Thursday night in Kansas City as NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on the 2-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The venue has changed but this is a rematch of the 2024 AFC Championship game.

NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including where to tune in for kickoff, odds from DraftKings, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.

Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers.

So whether you’re targeting spreads and totals, looking for value in futures markets or circling player props, give their podcast a listen to give you that extra edge.

How to watch Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs live Thursday night:

• Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024
• Time: 8:20 PM EST
• Site: Arrowhead Stadium
• City: Kansas City, MO
• TV/Streaming: NBC/ Peacock

Want to check out the other games on the NFL schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action.

Latest Game odds for Ravens vs. Chiefs – Week 1

The latest odds as of Wednesday evening via DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Kansas City Chiefs (-155), Baltimore Ravens (+130)
• Spread: Chiefs -3
• Total: 47 points

The odds for this game are basically where they were when DraftKings posted the opening lines on May 14^th. The Chiefs opened at -3 and the number remains Chiefs -3. The Total has fluctuated a bit over the summer but has returned to its original number of 47.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NFL schedule!

NBC Sports Bet Best Bets

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) likes Baltimore’s latest backfield addition to have a strong debut:
“I don’t care about the Spread. I don’t know who’s going to win…It’s a toss-up to me, but what I do want to bet on is a nice +500 price on Derrick Henry to score two touchdowns. This Ravens’ run-heavy team was looking for that absolute juggernaut in the Red Zone. Well, they got him in King Henry.”

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) is also dabbling in the TD market in this game:
“I’m going to stay in the rushing market as well for the touchdown. I am going to put a little bit of a sprinkle at +350 on Patrick Mahomes to find the endzone. He did not have a single rushing touchdown in the regular season last year but did find it four times two years ago. On NBC kicking off against the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, I like Mahomes to find the endzone.”

Ravens vs. Chiefs team stats, betting trends

• The Chiefs are 9-2 straight-up and 7-4 ATS in Week 1 games since Andy Reid became head coach
• Baltimore was 2-0 ATS as road underdogs in 2023
• Chiefs’ games have cashed the UNDER in 18 of their last 22 at Arrowhead

Quarterback matchup for the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Kansas City Chiefs

• Ravens: Lamar Jackson – totaled career best numbers last season completing 67.2% of his passes for 3,687yds.
• Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes – completed a career-best 67.2% of his passes in 2023 and threw for 4,183 yards

Player news & recent stats

• Led by All-Pro Defensive Tackle Chris Jones, the Kansas City defense finished 6^th in the NFL in EPA per play allowed last season
• The Ravens’ defense enters the 2024 season without their standout DC Mike Macdonald (HC Seattle Seahawks) as well as Jadaveon Clowney and Patrick Queen
• Patrick Mahomes threw a career-high 14 INTs in 2023
• Lamar Jackson was sacked 37 times last season

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest betting info & tools for NFL with game predictions, player props, futures, and trends!

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