Film Room Addict: How the Chiefs can take down the Baltimore Ravens
By Grant Tuttle
The Chiefs look to beat another undefeated team in their home opener. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offer a unique challenge. Here is how the Chiefs can win.
When the Chiefs played against the Ravens last season, we got to see one of Patrick Mahomes’s best throws as a Chief. Now, Baltimore enters the game with an improved quarterback in Lamar Jackson, who is among the most dangerous playmakers in the game. Additionally, Baltimore has added Earl Thomas and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to their respective sides of the ball, making them one of the most interesting teams this season.
That being said, the Chiefs are difficult to slow down offensively. Safety Earl Thomas said recently that he plans on shutting down the Chiefs’ big plays. With improvement made on both sides of the ball for both teams, it has all the makings of being a collision of the NFL’s best.
Here is how the Kansas City Chiefs can remain undefeated.
Know where Marquise Brown is at all times
It cannot be overstated: Marquise Brown is a difference-maker. While there were injury concerns about him coming out of college, the Ravens went all-in on him and it appears to have paid off. On an offense that did a lot of checkdowns last season, they have morphed into something completely different with Brown on the field than where they were last season. Lamar Jackson is a more comfortable passer and Brown can stretch the field.
After watching the Ravens in the first two weeks, it’s easy to see that they love to stretch the field—or at least pretend they will by sending Brown deep. Many times, Jackson will make Brown his go-to guy in the middle of the field, especially against a zone look, as you will see here.
The cornerback plays way off of the line in fear that he will get beat deep and believes that he has help on the inside. Only, he doesn’t. For some reason, the linebackers have a bit of a mental lapse and are not aware of what is around them. This is way too easy and it happened more than once against the Cardinals. The Chiefs must know where Brown is at all times.
Stay aggressive and push the ball downfield
The Chiefs do not have Alex Smith at quarterback anymore. While Smith was incredibly effective at what he did, he would struggle against a team like the Ravens. Why? Because he checked the ball down and took the safe route over and over again. Against a team like Baltimore, that will not get it done.
The Ravens have good cornerbacks and safeties, but they are bound to make a misstep and when it happens, the Chiefs must capitalize. The only way that this can happen is if the Chiefs spread out the Ravens defense and continue to push the ball over and over again.