Baltimore Ravens v. Kansas City Chiefs
Game time: Sunday, Jan. 9 @ 1:00 PM ET
Network: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
The Chiefs posted a 7-1 at Arrowhead Stadium, a tough place for any opponent to play. Again, among many critics. The Chiefs only home loss came just last week at the hand of the Oakland Raiders, a team that finished 8-8. For those seven home wins, their opponents had a combined record of 42-70 (.375). The only team with a winning record among those seven wins was an opening week win against the San Diego Chargers (9-7).
When the Chiefs have the ball...
Scoring (Rk) | Total Yds (Rk) | Pass Yds (Rk) | Rush Yds (Rk) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
22.9 (14th) | 349.7 (12th) | 185.5 (30th) | 164.2 (1st) | |
16.9 (3rd) | 318.9 (10th) | 224.9 (21st) | 93.9 (5th) |
This really will be the crux of the game, the Chiefs top ranked running attack against the Ravens vaunted run defense. Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has enjoyed back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Bringing in Thomas Jones only helped that matter. Jones saw a reduced role compared to the fact that he was coming off his best season as a pro just last season in New York as a Jet. Still, it's close to being the best 1-2 punch among RBs in the NFL.
Charles is evolving into a complete back. Image: BabyBell11 via Flickr |
But departing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis found just enough of a passing attack to keep opposing offenses honest. His goal coming in was to fix the QB. Well, I don't think it's completely fixed, but Weis did mange to get a bit more out of QB Matt Cassel than head coach Todd Haley got out of him in 2009. WR Dwayne Bowe had a tremendous season in leading the NFL with 15 TD catches. And keep this in mind: The Ravens are a tad soft at the corner.
But don't go picking on the Ravens secondary too much. There's this guy named Reed that will make you pay. And the one guy he will have his eyes on is TE Tony Moeaki.
When the Ravens have the ball...
Scoring (Rk) | Total Yds (Rk) | Pass Yds (Rk) | Rush Yds (Rk) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
22.3 (16th) | 322.9 (22nd) | 208.4 (20th) | 114.4 (14th) | |
20.4 (11th) | 330.2 (14th) | 219.9 (17th) | 110.2 (14th) |
One guy will be in the Chiefs defense's crosshairs, RB Ray Rice. Rice led the Ravens in rushing (1,220), was second in receptions (63, only 1 behind team leader Anquan Boldin) and fourth in receiving yards (556). Rice is the oil that makes the machine go. So KC defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell has a simple way of stopping the Ravens, right?
A Flacco air raid would spell doom for the Chiefs Image: intothelens4149 via Flickr |
We've been hearing how good Flacco is, but I have yet to see him have that one standout game where I can emphatically so he's arrived. He's pretty much in the same as Trent Dilfer was when the Ravens won it all a few years back.
How do the Ravens score? They're not exactly a scoreboard busting offense, but the Chiefs defense can be had if Baltimore can simply maintain balance between the rush and the pass and utilize the clock to their full advantage. That will mean a lot of Rice. You do dance with the one that brought ya!
And here's another aspect to consider. The Chiefs offense isn't explosive either. Put together long touchdown scoring drives. If the Ravens O can do that, I see no reason why they don't leave Arrowhead as the winners.
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