Can the Chiefs correct early season issues against Ravens?

Final Thoughts

The Monday night game between the Chiefs and Ravens has the potential to be the best game of the regular season between the top two teams in the NFL. Baltimore has hit the ground running and is firing on all cylinders, while the Chiefs barely put together a win in overtime due to sloppy play. K.C. will have to be more disciplined and focused if they want to start the season 3-0.

Expect for Andy Reid to get more creative this week with the offense. When it comes to big games, Reid tends to dial up plays that no one has seen before and does a better job of attacking weaknesses of opposing defenses. A slow start would not put the Chiefs out of the game, no matter how many analysts try to say it will, as we saw throughout the postseason that Mahomes and company can play catchup at any time.

However, starting slow on offense would play right into Baltimore’s style of play. The Ravens have led at halftime for 11 straight games, ever since they last played the Chiefs in 2019.  Putting up points early and deploying a top-five defense allows them to run the ball and stick to their gameplan. The Chiefs are one of the few offenses that can exploit that by getting ahead early and forcing the Ravens out of what they do best and pass the ball more consistently.

By jumping out to an early lead in 2019, the Chiefs put the game out of arm’s reach even if you include the garbage time scores in the final quarter. The offense will have to come up with a gameplan and maintain the discipline to take what the defense gives instead of playing the way they want to play. The offensive line will have to play better, Mahomes will have to maneuver the pocket better, and receivers must find ways to get open and hang onto the ball.