The NFL fever is soon going to take over as the regular season kicks off with the Chiefs taking on the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. Although this encounter brings lots of excitement, the Chiefs could be walking on thin ice based on the injuries they are dealing with. One of their key players, defensive tackle Chris Jones, remains under close attention going into the week 1 face-off.

Earlier last month, Chris Jones suffered a shoulder injury during a training session that has seemingly kept him from action for multiple weeks. However, with the game against the Ravens in week 1, good news is coming out of Arrowhead Stadium. Based on recent reports, Jones has been found to participate in full contact training for the last few days.

This is a huge positive for the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions, who had the second-best defense last season with 17.3 points allowed per game. Even Jones had a crucial role to play in that title-winning defense where he recorded 10.5 sacks, thereby clinching his spot in First-Team All-Pro.

However, entering his ninth season in the NFL, Jones is possibly nervous going into the season opener. Opening up on his thoughts, the Chiefs defensive tackle stated, “I think it’s always a butterfly feeling when you’re getting closer to the game, and actually, the first play of the game, I still get butterflies.” Well, Jones is all of us, as we are equally excited for the first game while getting butterflies all over our stomachs.

But the 30-year-old didn’t end there, as he went on to explain his teams’ chances going into a potentially historical season. “We have a lot of potential in the room. It’s all about coming together, building chemistry throughout the year, and building off adversity. If we’re able to continue to face adversity and build off of that, I think this team can be really special,” Jones shared. Well, the hopes of securing a three-peat are hovering above the Arrowhead Stadium with pressure greater than ever. But can a Chris Jones and Patrick Mahomes-led offense help the Chiefs topple their first hurdle that comes in the form of last season’s best defense?

Clash of two titans in week 1’s NFL kickoff: Ravens vs Chiefs!

The Chiefs and Ravens are going to be a mouth-watering encounter with three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes lined up against reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Both teams had the best defense last season, with the Ravens accumulating 60 sacks compared to the Chiefs’ 57.

Kansas City even got themselves in the record books after holding their opponents under 28 points throughout last season, including playoffs. Even the team from Baltimore wasn’t too far away, as they almost matched the Chiefs record while falling short by two games.

However, going into this match-up, the Ravens might be dealing with a little setback as they lost DC Mike MacDonald, who took on the role of head coach at Seahawks. The Ravens also lost linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Patrick Queen, where the latter led the Ravens’ defense in snaps last season. Elsewhere, the Ravens nation still has Justin Maduike and Kyle Hamilton on their roster to stop the Mahomes-led Chiefs offense.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs moved on from L’Jarius Sneed, who remains the only notable absence from last year’s Super Bowl-winning defense. Although both teams have certain gaps on their roster, it would still be a match that can truly get the NFL season on fire in the first week itself. As fans, we can’t wait for it to begin while hoping it brings out the best in everyone.