Chiefs vs. Ravens: Baltimore’s defense presents a real issue for Patrick Mahomes
By Grant Tuttle
In another important week of AFC action, the Chiefs take on one of the NFL’s best defenses. Here is how Kansas City can come away with a victory:
The Kansas City Chiefs control their own destiny for the rest of the season. A glance at the schedule will tell you that the end of the year may end up being a bit more difficult than expected at the start of the year.
The Baltimore Ravens present the toughest challenge to the Chiefs strength: the offense. With great discipline and skill, the Ravens have managed to piece together an average offense to win seven games at this point of the year due to the strength of their defense. Here is how the Chiefs can defeat this team.
Offensively:
Get play makers into one on one matchups and iso plays
This is the key to attacking the Ravens defense: Get play makers with speed in one on one matchups with cornerbacks. With Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, this should be the focal point as it appears to be a strength. The Chiefs could be creative with these matchups and with the speed and agility that the Chiefs have, this could be a huge game for Hill and Watkins.
On this play, the Steelers run a little bubble screen to perfection. The receiver blocking does enough to wall off the defender and allows a window for Antonio Brown to do his thing. The Chiefs should do a lot of these isolation type plays.
Patrick Mahomes must fit the ball in tight windows
This may be a bigger challenge for the Chiefs. The Ravens have very good chemistry and work well as a unit. This is no exception when it comes to the safeties and cornerbacks. If the Chiefs are going to make plays, Patrick Mahomes will need to showcase his accuracy between defenders.
On this play, Andy Dalton put a pass right where it had to be to the outside shoulder of the receiver. This will be a consistent challenge throughout the game for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If the Chiefs want to move the ball, Mahomes will need to have a very good game, perhaps his best.
Hit WRs on crossing routes
For the most part, the Ravens are very good against receivers, however, they do struggle against certain types of routes. They struggle with “out and up” routes and simple crossing routes. The Chiefs can expose this with flood plays.
With defenders afraid to get beat deep, the Chiefs should have plenty of cushion. On this play, we see this from their defense of the Falcons. If the Chiefs can get make the defense nervous about getting beat deep, this will be open all game long.