Chiefs at Ravens: GAME REVIEW

Laddie Morse

The Way the Chiefs Lost

On the third play of the game, the Baltimore Ravens QB, Lamar Jackson, threw the ball Sammy Watkins way, but he slipped and he ball ended up being intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu who promptly returned it for a TD.

Then the Ravens changed their tactics and ran the ball on 5 of their next 6 plays resulting in a touchdown. The Chiefs turned around and drove to the Ravens 33 yard line and then Patrick Mahomes hit Demarcus Robinson in the back of the end zone for the lead, 14-to7.

After a couple of failed drives by K.C., Baltimore drove on 9 lays to tie it up at 14 all. Patrick Mahomes then engineered a 7 play drive which ended in Darrel Williams scoring behind RG Trey Smith and RT Lucas Niang, as the Chiefs regained the lead, 21-to-14. However, the Chiefs left enough time on the clock for Lamar Jackson to get the Ravens in position to make a 43-yard field goal and the score was 21-to-17 Chiefs at halftime.

Tyrann Mathieu also had another INT which halted a Ravens drive in the 2nd quarter. So far, Mathieu is the player of the game… on defense… which the CHiefs didn’t have much of as the Ravens ran for 165 yards in the first half.

The Chiefs had the ball first after the half and on the 5th play Mahomes hit Byron Pringle on a crossing route at the Ravens 40 and he raced up the left sideline all the way to the end zone.

Touchdown KansasCity! Chiefs 28-to-17.

The Ravens had an answer to that score with a 4-play drive and a 42-yard highlight reel jump pass from Lamar Jackson to Marquise Brown for a TD. Chiefs 28, Ravens 24.

No problem, because Mahomes rolled right and threw a short pass to Travis Kelce who danced his way and that way and stumbled into the end zone. Talk about highlight reel plays. Kelce is unbelievable! Chiefs 35, Ravens 24.

The Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo had to make some kind of adjustment, and he brought Safety Daniel Sorensen on the run blitz and a QB blitz which helped that the Ravens off the field after 4 unsuccessful plays resulting in a 3rd down sack fo Lamar Jackson.

After three play, Patrick Mahomes made perhaps the worst play of his career by trying to throw the ball as he was being tackled which resulted in an interception.

Five plays later the Ravens punched in into the end zone on a run by Lamar Jackson around the right side as he was diving for the goal line. The Ravens tried a two point conversion… made it… but were called for a penalty… tried again and had it intercepted. Chiefs 35, Ravens 30.

After 5 plays, the CHiefs Punted and then the Ravens used 14 plays to score the go ahead touchdown, but failed on their two point conversion making it: Ravens 36, Chiefs 35.

Mahomes gets the ball back with 3:14 left on the clock and he completes two passes to the ball down the the Ravens 39 yard line then waits for the two-minute warning to walk over and talk to HC Andy Reid. He completes a short pass to Travis Kelce then Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumbles the ball, and the game, away with 1:20 left on the game clock.

Lamar Jackson keeps the ball and takes 4 seconds off the clock. 2nd down and 9 from the 34 and Jackson takes a short run around the right side, leaving 1:10 on the clock and the ball at the 37. Jackson hits Sammy Watkins for 6 yards then Jackson runs a keeper on 4th down and basically ends the game with his first down. Final play of th game was a kneel down.

Final Score: Ravens 36, Chiefs 35.

What Went Wrong in Baltimore

Newly minted DE Chris Jones is a downhill beast but he couldn’t use that straight forward thrusting power of his in this game. Compare him to Frank Clark who can flip his hips on the dime and take down anyone who tries to get around his end. That’s not Chris Jones. Will Jones have oodles of sacks this year/ Yes, but not against a quarterback like Lamar Jackson.

The Chiefs allowed the Ravens to control the game by running the ball down their throats. Part of that had to d owith the shiftiness of Jackson, but much of it did not. The past two season, the Chiefs had players like Mike Pennel (even though his play fell off last year) and as well as a player like Terrell Suggs, who can put a stopper in the opposing team’s running game in a New York Minute. What the Chiefs will do next to fix the hole in their bucket — the run defense — is anyone’s guess, but I believe part of the problem is having the right personnel on the roster.

Stat of the Game

There’s no denying that the Chiefs allowing 251 yards rushing to the Baltimore Ravens was a problem that will take more than a few adjustments to fix. I don’t know what the answer is, but the players the Chiefs have on the inside of the defensive line and the Linebackers on the roster, just don’t appear able to stop the run.

The other stat worth noting is that Travis Kelce had 7 catches for 109 yards. That gives him, 13 catches over the first two games of the year for 185 yards.

Highlight of the Game

Tweet of the Game

I think Daniel Harms of RGR Football says it best when he says the Chiefs defense was manhandled.

Quote of the Game

Andy Reid on Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s late game fumble:

“We have to play better football…I haven’t seen the replay yet but…idk if there was an exchange problem but I’m not worried about him fumbling again…he’s not a fumbler”

Game Song

Game Ball Goes to

I suppose Lamar Jackson was given a Game Ball by his team. I won’t do that here. Tyrann Mathieu reasonably deserves a Game Ball for his two interceptions, but it seems like pure silliness since the Chiefs couldn’t pull this game out in the end.

Looking Ahead

The Chiefs host the Chargers at Arrowhead next Sunday for a noon time game. Good news on the weather front, Autumn begins this week and the weather cooperates as well. It’s supposed to be 81° with 9% humidity, which is very low. IOW, it should be wonderful weather for the Chiefs Kingdom to watch a game! Sadly, whoever loses that game will take sole possession of last place in the AFC West.

Parting Shots

Perhaps the one positive from this game is that there were no injuries.

Cheer Up, It’s Only a Game

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Yes, Tyrann Mathieu needs to be signed to an extension ASAP! Mathieu also said in the post game comments that any time you miss an assignment against a good team, they’ll make you pay for it… and they did.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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