Kansas City Chiefs Michael Travis Rose

Ravens at Chiefs: In Between The Lines

MIchael Rose September 21, 2019 No Comments Gallery

Ravens at Chiefs: In Between The Lines – The Kansas City Chiefs playing host to the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday promises to be the best matchup so far in the NFL this season. Both teams are undefeated at 2-0.  Both teams won their previous two matchups convincingly, and both teams are among the top three in the young season, with the Ravens claiming the top spot and the Chiefs at third.

Hopes, Assurances, and Aspirations

This is the game where Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes solidifies himself as Tom Brady’s heir apparent. While Mahomes has shut most of his critics and naysayers up, a few still exist in the dark recesses of the NFL, much like roaches.

He is the best quarterback playing in the NFL today.

It’s probably worth mentioning that he’s coached by the most offensively minded and talented man in the NFL with Chiefs HC Andy Reid. Add to this that even with the loss of WR Tyreek Hill for a few weeks, the Chiefs still have the most explosive arsenal of wide receivers and tight ends that have ever graced a football field. Those three things are more than enough, but like a commercial for a Ginsu Steak Knife, “… but wait, there’s more …”

They are playing the Ravens at home this week in the loudest stadium, NFL or otherwise, in the world, with fans more rabid than Roman citizens on gladiator day. If you’re an NFL player, and you where purple, Sunday does not bode well for you (with the probable exception of a Viking, who play the Raiders this week).

On a similar note, I like the Chiefs defense so far this season. Sure, there are some plays I’d like back, but I am digging the ‘bend don’t break’ philosophy we’ve seen so far from Spag’s unit, and they are just getting better.

I also think we will see a much less vanilla defense in week 3. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson should concern himself with rushes, sacks, and interceptions (Thornhill and Honey Badger are both due). It’s a far cry from the “Looks like you need to score another touchdown, Pat,” defense of 2018.  That got old quick… especially in the AFC Championship game!

Even Coach Reid is happy with the Chiefs defense after two games, “I liked the discipline and how they played.” The coach added, “We have to continue on getting better.  The more familiar we get with the defense, I think it picks up a little bit.“

Concerns, Worries, and Trepidations

I must admit to some worries about Sunday’s game. They are not about their on-fire quarterback, Lamar Jackson, nor do they center on their 2nd ranked defense. I’m not even worried about our 19th ranked defense. My chief concern is actually a real “Chief” concern:  the lackluster running game. The Chiefs running game is currently ranked 26th in the league. The only teams worse are:

    • 27th: Arizona Cardinals (0-1-1)
    • 28th: Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
    • 29th: Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)
    • 30th: Washington Redskins (0-2)
    • 31st: Miami Dolphins (0-2)
    • 32nd: Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)

The Chiefs are a paltry 144 yards rushing with a single touchdown in the 2019 season’s first two games. RB LeSean McCoy accounts for 104 yards, averaging 5 yards each carry.  Damien Williams is the Chiefs second leading rusher with 34 yards, averaging just 1.5 yards each carry.

This means that the Chiefs are averaging just 72 yards rushing and .5 rushing touchdowns per game so far this season.  By comparison, the average last season was almost 116 yards rushing and 1 rushing touchdown per game.  While that differential is not incredibly substantial, it bears watching.

I’m not sure if only 144 yards rushing over two games is part of Coach Reid’s strategy for the season, but it vexes me. Williams is already OUT for the game tomorrow and McCoy is listed as Questionable on the Chiefs midweek injury report.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am a huge Darwin Thompson fan. However, I hate to see any football player injured, be he a Chief or even a Raider. However, injuries happen in the NFL and the show must go on.

DTrain may get his chance this Sunday. I hope he’s ready, and I have a sneaking suspicion that he will be.

Interesting Notes on Sunday’s Matchup

    • Seven different players have scored TDs through the Ravens’ first two games.
    • Chiefs HC Andy Reid (209) is tied with Steelers great, Chuck Noll, for sixth-most wins in NFL history. Next up is Packer’s legend Curly Lambeau at 229.
    • With two weeks of play in the record books, Patrick Mahomes leads the NFL with 821 yards.
    • Mahomes and Jackson are tied (along with Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott) with seven TD passes so far in 2019.
    • With a catch on Sunday, TE Travis Kelce will have recorded receptions in 82 straight games.
    • Chiefs have recorded nine straight victories in September.
    • With Jackson as their starter, the Ravens are 8-1, with his only loss coming last year in overtime against the Chiefs.

 

Final Thoughts and Prediction

As I stated earlier, I’m not at all concerned about the Ravens this Sunday.  Should, in the unlikely event the Chiefs lose, it will be they who beat themselves. I’m firm in my belief that the Ravens are but a paper tiger. The two teams that they’ve played so far this year are the Dolphins and Cardinals, ranked 32nd and 23rd by NBC Sports, respectively.

NBC Sports ranks the two teams that the Chiefs have played so far this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders, at 25th and 22nd, respectively. I predict the Chiefs will handle the Ravens easily and expose them for the top-ranked imposters they are.

Final Score: Chiefs – 49, Ravens – 27.

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

 

 

 

At noon today David Bell’s article will go LIVE called:

.”Chiefs: Stop the Panic! Il Bosa is Here!”

 

 

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