Grant’s Slants: Tyreek Hill is already best wide receiver in KC Chiefs history

Week 2 Preview: Chiefs vs Ravens

The Ravens and Chiefs will meet again for the fourth time in five years. In these meetings, Andy Reid and the Chiefs have dominated Baltimore. On top of the Chiefs owning Baltimore, Patrick Mahomes continues to dominate in the month of September. I would expect more of the same this week.

As the Ravens failed to put the Raiders away in Week 1, it is hard to see them as a real contender at this point in the season. With a blitz-heavy defense and rush-heavy offense, the Ravens seem to be “zigging” while the rest of the NFL is “zagging.” This could present a challenge for the Chiefs defense who allowed Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to terrorize them for nearly 6 yards per carry.

The Kansas City offense has terrorized Wink Martindale’s defense time and time again. Mahomes eats their blitzing scheme alive by hitting Kelce over the middle and Tyreek Hill deep. In fact, Mahomes’ best no-look pass was made in a game against the Ravens. These are different teams at a different moment in history but I expect this one to end the same way as the last four: In a tight Chiefs victory.

Prediction: Chiefs 34, Ravens 28

The Chiefs will likely come out swinging on offense as they try to pick apart the man-to-man coverage that Baltimore will show throughout the game. Mahomes will look to hit Tyreek Hill on every mismatch and the Chiefs will try to use Clyde Edwards-Helaire on counters and screens early and often.

Defensively, the Chiefs will have to play quicker and stronger than last week when the Browns bullied them for the entirety of the first half. Lamar Jackson is a threat on the ground and Sammy Watkins could play his best game against his former teammates. However, Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark likely being back will help a lot.

I expect the Chiefs to come away with the victory here due to the Chiefs dominating them in recent history and of course, Patrick Mahomes. This game should not feel quite as unsteady as the Browns game in Week 1.

Player of the game: Tyrann Mathieu

Why not? Without Honey Badger, the defense looked out of sorts. After a terrible first half, Mathieu was likely gaining leverage in a new contract. As the great Terez Paylor would remind readers and listeners, the contract year is undefeated. Expect the badger to come up big here with a pick and some big-time tackles in the middle of the field.