AFC Game Of The Week
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Chiefs: The champs had to battle in week two. I understand that divisional games aren’t always a cakewalk but they got everything they could handle from the Los Angeles Chargers. First, Justin Herbert was named the starting quarterback for Los Angeles. The Chargers had the edge because the Chiefs had no type of game plan defensively to stop Justin. That’s why I always say that rookies somewhat have the edge over any defense because there is no film on them. In the second half, they made their necessary adjustments. Here’s the thing people still don’t understand about the Chiefs. It doesn’t matter how many points they are down, they are NEVER out of a game. The definition of a great team is one that can win games in several ways. They can blow you out or win the closely contested battles. On Monday night, it’s a showdown with Baltimore.
Ravens: They’ve won 14 in a row dating back to last season. It seems as if they’ve picked up where they left off in 2019. The question all off-season was can Lamar Jackson consistently throw the football from the pocket? Look at his first two games. He picked apart the Cleveland Browns in week one and in week two against the Houston Texans, he completed 18 of his 24 pass attempts. Lamar has looked like a five-year veteran in the pocket and I’ve been impressed. The Ravens’ bread and butter will always be these two things. Running the football first and foremost. They’re one of the few teams that pride themselves on a consistent ground attack. Secondly, their defense which has been their backbone for many years. This is the most physical football team in our league at the moment. They will host the Chiefs on Monday night.
Chiefs X-Factor: Frank Clark– This is another key piece to that Kansas City defensive front. Off the edge, he’s their best pass rusher. Frank does it in a variety of ways. I’ve seen him do it on twists, stunts and he finds any way to get to the passer. Frank can also drop back in coverage. The Chiefs will need his all.
Ravens X-Factor: Mark Ingram– Defenses forget about him because of the threat Lamar is. Mark has become the heartbeat of this entire team in just his second year. On the field, he’s a force. The Chiefs will be all prepared for Lamar. That’s when the Ravens feed Ingram the ball and let him go to work.
Final Thoughts: It’s deja vu all over again. Last season, these teams met in week three. More than a year later, they meet again in week three. This time in Baltimore. It’s key for the Ravens to exploit that Chiefs run defense using Lamar, Ingram and Dobbins. Control the clock. Also, expect both offenses to attack the middle of the field with their weapons. Both quarterbacks will find their spots with their weapons. This one will come down to the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Chiefs 31 Ravens 28
