A dozen (or so) tasks the Chiefs must accomplish to knock off the Ravens

10. Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo have to be the better coaches

This is a simple, but critically important point. The Ravens are one of the very few that are just as talented, if not more talented, than the Chiefs. That means coaching will be important and that needs to remain true.

In each of the three playoff losses with Patrick Mahomes (2018 vs. New England, 2020 vs. Tampa Bay, and 2021 vs. Cincinnati), one similarity has been Andy Reid being outcoached. Bill Belichick outcoached Reid as the Chiefs got shut out in the first half of the 2018 AFC Championship. Todd Bowles called the perfect defense against a decimated Chiefs team in Super Bowl LV. Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo stole Reid's lunch money in the second half of the 2021 AFC Championship.

That can't happen in this game. Andy Reid has to be the better coach against Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald if the Chiefs are going to move the ball and score points in this game. If not, this one could get ugly for the offense.

On the other side of the ball, Steve Spagnuolo has to be in his bag to limit a prolific Ravens offense led by offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Baltimore is going to run the ball and it's Spags' job to figure out how to stop it. If Monken is the better coordinator, the Chiefs are going to allow a lot of points, which is not a recipe for success with an offense that has struggled for much of the 2023 season.

Andy Reid needs to be better than Mike Macdonald and Steve Sapgnuolo needs to outclass Todd Monken. Let's also not forget that John Harbaugh is one of the most successful head coaches this century. The Chiefs coaching staff needs to be ready in this game. If not, this game won't go well for them.