Loss to Chiefs Results in Ravens’ Super Bowl 54 Odds Fading to +2500

• Ravens have tumbled to +2500 in the Super Bowl 54 odds following Week 3 loss in Kansas City
• Baltimore was at +4100 in the preseason and peaked at +1800 following Week 1 rout of Miami
• A tough midseason schedule is likely to determine the Ravens’ Super Bowl prospects

The Baltimore Ravens (2-1) have seen their Super Bowl 54 odds take a hit following their 33-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. They fell to a +2500 wager at certain sportsbooks, which is no longer in the top ten.

Odds to Win Super Bowl 54

Odds taken on 09/23/19.

Week 3 Loss Erases Gains on Super Bowl Odds

The Ravens have now erased all the gains that they have made since their season-opening 59-10 rout of the hapless Miami Dolphins. Baltimore enjoyed a steady rise in the Super Bowl odds while going a perfect 4-0 in preseason action, and outscoring opponents by a wide 101-35 margin.

Despite enjoying a strong second half last season, the Ravens remained a lengthy Super Bowl bet through the summer. Baltimore posted SU wins in six of its final seven regular-season contests to finish atop the AFC North and return to the NFL playoffs for the first time in four years, but still opened their preseason schedule pegged as a distant +4100 wager.

Lamar Jackson is killing the Dolphins with his 4th TD of the day. This one to the other rookie WR Miles Boykin.#Ravens #RavensFlock #ravensnation #BALvsMIA @ESFDD pic.twitter.com/eOg9PCfXhd

— Steven Spaccarotelli (@SteveSpacc) September 8, 2019

Those odds steadily shortened as opening day approached, rising as high as +1800 following their lopsided victory over the Dolphins as 7-point road chalk. However, the Ravens proved to be a disappointment in a Week 2 home opener against Arizona. The squad struggled to maintain a pair of 11-point leads over the feisty Cardinals, escaping with a 23-17 win, and failing to cover as big 13-point favorites.

While their failure to bury the Cardinals had little impact on their Super Bowl odds, Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs as 4.5-point road underdogs raises concerns as to whether this team can compete with the NFL’s elite.

Ravens Benefit from Divisional Rival Struggles

One thing the Ravens do have going for them is the struggles that their AFC North divisional rivals are currently enduring. The Cleveland Browns opened the season as favorites to rise to the top of the AFC North this season, but have struggled to generate consistent offense while stumbling to a 1-2 record out of the gate.

With Ben Roethlisberger gone for the season due to injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled on both sides of the ball while going 0-3, joining the winless Cincinnati Bengals, who have posted just one SU victory in their past 11 games.

https://twitter.com/TheOfficialRNL/status/1176123563729965057?s=20

Those circumstances have helped the Ravens rise to the top of the AFC North odds, perched as strong -140 favorites. Baltimore also remains steady in the odds to win the AFC championship, trailing only the Chiefs and New England Patriots at +1000.

Ravens Failed Test Against Hobbled KC Offense

However, it is looking unlikely that the Ravens have what it takes to get past either the Chiefs or Patriots come playoff time. Even with receiver Tyreek Hill and rusher Damien Williams sidelined, the Raven defense was unable to contain a relentless Kansas City attack, which scored on four of five first-half possessions on Sunday.

#Chiefs defeated the #Ravens on Sunday w/o starters Eric Fisher, Damien Willams & Tyreek Hill. You take Lonnie Stanley, Mark Ingram II & Marquise Brown away from Baltimore and what would the score have been?

— Chiefs Blitz Insider (@ChiefsInsider) September 23, 2019

Lamar Jackson enjoyed his best day as a pro in Week 1, tossing for five touchdowns against the Dolphins, but he has yet to prove that he can carry this Ravens squad on a deep run against quality competition. The 2016 Heisman Trophy was unable to generate a spark on Sunday, failing to reach the end zone, and has enjoyed little support from the Ravens’ offensive line, which allowed him to be sacked three times on Sunday and 17 times over his past eight starts.

One thing going well in Baltimore is the ground game, with the Ravens averaging an NFL-best 216.7 yards through their first three outings. Baltimore’s rush defense has also been solid, limiting opponents to a third-ranked 60.3 yards per game.

Mid-Season Dates Likely to Define Ravens’ Season

With dates with divisional opponents awaiting them in each of their next three matchups, the Ravens enjoy a golden opportunity to pad their lead atop the AFC North standings.

The Ravens next 9 games:

@ KC
CLE
@ PIT
CIN
@ SEA
BYE
NE
@ CIN
HOU
@ LAR

The #Browns have a tough schedule but I mean…it isn’t like BAL about to slide through the next 10 weeks.

— CLEology (@_CLEology) September 18, 2019

However, it is unlikely that we will know whether this team is worthy of Super Bowl consideration until late October, when they will be put to the test during a season-defining seven-game stretch that features dates with the Patriots, Seahawks, Rams, Texans, 49ers, and Bills.