Week 14 Chiefs Host Ravens: OPEN THREAD

Week 14 Chiefs Host Ravens:

OPEN THREAD

by Laddie Morse | December 9, 2018 

With the Kansas City Chiefs playing two games in the next 5 days, watch as HC Andy Reid plays more of his roster than normal. That means we may see more of Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks in the mix at OLB. It could also mean we see Gehrig Dieter taking more snaps at WR. While Mitch Morse has returned to his starting position at Center, we could see the man who replaced him for the past month, Austin Reiter, taking some snaps there in one of these contests. While the next two games are critical to the Chiefs maintaining their top ranking in the AFC come playoff time, if the team takes a 2+ touchdown lead in the 3rd quarter of each game, you can expect to see some second stringers taking the field in an effort to save his starters for the rigors of post-season play.

Playoff Déjà Vu?

This game will give us a good indication of whether or not the Chiefs have changed their stripes since the last time they went to the playoffs. Why? Because this team, the Ravens, are very similar in make-up to the teams that K.C. has faced the past couple of years in the postseason: tough, run-centric teams who can bull you over on the ground. I’m expecting to see the Raven do everything they can to play a clock-control game where they run the ball down the Chiefs throats. The tricky part of that attack is that it will include a very shifty QB: Lamar Jackson. If the Chiefs can get out to a big enough lead… then, and only then… will that game plan go out the window. Here’s hoping for a big lead early on the Chiefs part!

Say What… Wins Championships?

It’s becoming a popular opinion that defense no longer wins championships, so I thought we’d take a look at the past 10 Super Bowls to see if there’s any validity to that hypothesis:

1. SB 43 – 2008 – Steeler 27, Cards 23: the Steelers #1 Defense beat the Cards #4 Kurt Warner led Offense.

2. SB 44 – 2009 – Saints 31, Colts 17: the Drew Brees led Saints had the #1 offense vs. the Colts #18 defense. However, the Peyton Manning led Colts had the #9 offense couldn’t manage more than 17 points vs. the Saints #25 defense.

3. SB 45 – 2010 – Packers 31, Steelers 25: the Aaron Rodgers led Packers #9 Offense beat the Steelers #2 Defense.

4. SB 46 – 2011 – Giants 21, Pats 17: the Eli Manning led Giants #8 Offense beat the Pats #31 Defense. However, the Brady led Pats #2 Offense couldn’t score more than 17 points vs. the Giants #27 defense. The Giants D stepped up to limit the Pats to 17 points.

5. SB 47 – 2012 – Ravens 34, 49ers 31: the Ravens #15 Offense beat the 49ers #4 Defense. However, the 49ers #26 Offense scored 31 on the Ravens #1 Defense. John Harbaugh’s D held Jim Harbaugh’s O to two field goals in the 4th period to emerge victorious. 

6. SB 48 – 2013 – Seahawks 43, Broncos 8: the Seahawks #1 Defense beat the Broncos #1 Offense. The Seahawks #18 offense ran away from the Broncos #19 D.

7. SB 49 – 2014 – Pats 28, Seahawks 24: Pats #11 Offense beat the Seahawks #1 Defense on a blunderous play call and instead of RB Marshawn Lynch running it in from the two, Pete Carroll elected to pass resulting in a Malcolm Butler INT. IOW… a defensive player stepped up to win the game.

8. SB 50 – 2015 – Broncos 24, Panthers 10: the Broncos #1 Defense beat the Panthers #11 Offense. Broncos #16 Offense beat the Panthers #6 Defense. All of the Broncos offensive pieces came together for a playoffs run and a SB victory. A #1 D didn’t hurt at all.

9. SB 51 – 2016 – Pats 34, Falcons 28 in OT: the Pats #4 Offense beat the Falcons #25 Defense. The Pats offense engineered the largest comeback in SB history.

10. SB 52 – 2017 – Eagles 41, Pats 33: the Eagles #7 Offense beat the Pats #29 Defense. The Eagles offense kept the pedal to the metal and held on to beat the Pats.

While there doesn’t appear to be a discernible pattern of the Offenses of the league dominating the Defenses of the league… at least in the Super Bowl… it does seem to be true that when a defense is needed to step up, they do… and… the Offenses of the league are responsible for winning as many Championships… at least… as the defenses of the league.

What This Means For the Chiefs

What this means for the Chiefs this year is that they appear to have all the necessary tools to win a championship… on offense. However, even though the defense has shown signs of “stepping up” to help win a few of their games, it’s an unknown when they have to face some of the league’s best offenses with a championship on the line. Although the offense can overcome most any defensive obstacle, the defense can not currently claim that as their modus operandi. Once Eric Berry applies his ample talents, that may change, but for now, the Chiefs need something more on defense to be taken as a serious threat in the playoffs whether they host or not. If the defense steps up today against the Ravens, that may help determine their fate going forward but we’ll have to wait and see. Although, you can see that some pretty awful defenses have made it to the Super Bowl so… it is possible.

The Best vs. the Best

The Baltimore Ravens defense is currently ranked as the best defense in the NFL. The Chiefs offense has consistently ranked in the top 3 during 2018 so… the question is… will it be the unstoppable force or the immovable object? I doubt that this Ravens defense has faced anything like the Chiefs 2018 offense. Patrick Mahomes has maintained a consistently superior performance rating this year to the great surprise of many. Will this be the game that he has a bad game? Or will he continue to show that he’s the leader in the NFL’s Most Valuable Player race? My guess is the later.

The Ravens bring more blitzes and pressure than any other defense in the league, but Patrick Mahomes has already proven he can handle pressure:

Weather Report

The weather today will be good weather for football… if you like it on the chilly side. Today’s weather report comes from the Weather.com:

My Game Time Prediction

I predict the Chiefs will come out on top in this one. The Arrowhead crowd — and resulting noise — is enough to rattle the best of QBs but it will be more than a rookie like Lamar Jackson can handle at times:

Chiefs 35, Ravens 14.

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