The sports world has been put on hold during the Coronavirus pandemic. Hockey has a plan to get back on track starting with an expanded playoff to finish the 2019-2020 season, while the NBA and MLB are exploring their options. No rush, baseball. I’m not in a hurry to see the O’s lose 70% of their games, even if it is only 81 of them.
It’s been over two months of this “new normal” and of a lot of hypothetical scenarios are being explored in the unknown future of sport.
I’ve been thinking about our Ravens getting a piece of the Super Bowl Champions and hoping that the Ravens week 3 matchup versus the Chiefs takes place in a normal world where we have put this virus to bed.
Facilities are only starting to open up, without players and coaches yet. Not all the draft picks are signed. But I can’t wait. The Brady era is over. The AFC belongs to Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes for the foreseeable future, maybe for the next decade plus. It’s the new Manning vs. Brady. The matchup that must be slotted for primetime whenever they happen to meet on the schedule.
Jumping the gun? Sure. But in a time of hypotheticals, lets unit by unit breakdown the hypothetical matchup that the NFL universe has circled on their calendars. The matchup with the two hottest young stars in the league. The matchup that will be touted as a possible AFC championship game preview.
The matchup we hope, actually happens, and we can revisit when the time comes.
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Secondary
The Ravens secondary sent three members to the Pro Bowl last year, Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters who leads the league in INTs since making his pro debut, and Earl Thomas who had the best passer rating against when targeted in coverage of any defensive back in the NFL. Peters was not on the team yet when the Chiefs bested the Ravens in 2019.
For Kansas City, they will likely be without one of their starting corners, Bashaud Breeland, for this matchup. He should face a suspension to start the season for his role an altercation with South Carolina Police last month that included resisting arrest, driving without a license, marijuana, alcohol, open containers…he should be sitting this one out. 2019 sixth round pick Rashad Fenton sits behind him on the depth chart.
Both teams were in the top-10 in passing yards allowed per game in 2019.
Advantage: Ravens
Inside linebackers
Both the Ravens and Chiefs had to address this position early in their drafts, with the Ravens selecting Patrick Queen in round 1, and KC taking Willie Gay in round 2. Queen is expected to step in as a starter given the first-round selection and the lack of depth at the position. Gay might need some development before he steps into a starting role on a similarly un-impressive position group. He missed nine games in his final year at Mississippi State for NCAA violations pertaining to a tutor. He also punched his own quarterback in the face in practice, making both miss the teams bowl game.
The Chiefs picked apart the Ravens with screen passes in their last meeting. The Ravens just couldn’t get off the field on third downs with ease. Queen is the type of linebacker who can thwart that with his speed, sideline to sideline.
Advantage: Ravens
Edge rushers
Kansas City bolstered the unit by acquiring Terrell Suggs late in 2019 because of again, lack of depth on the outside. The 37-year-old Raven legend is currently a free agent and hasn’t yet considered retirement. Baltimore brings back Matt Judon on the franchise tag who ranked 17th among all front seven players in the NFL in pressures with 62 en route to a Pro Bowl spot in 2019. They also add Pro Bowler Calais Campbell via 5th round pick to Jacksonville, who notched 71 pressures last year. The Ravens will look for second year OLB Jaylon Ferguson to make an impact. KC’s Frank Clark and Tanoh Kpassagnon are no match for the vets on the Ravens.
Advantage: Ravens
Interior D-line
On the interior line, KC’s Chris Jones is one on the best young players in the league at the position. In 2018 he became the first player in history to notch a sack in 11 straight games. Next to him is Derrick Nnadi whom the Chiefs traded two picks to the Ravens in the 2018 draft in order to move up in the third round to select him. He’s a decent run defender.
The Ravens may have a different role for their interior linemen given the additions of Campbell and Derek Wolfe from the Broncos. Brandon Williams was a space eater in their base 3-4 defense, but the structure looks more like a 4-3, which gives Williams the chance to pad the stat sheet for once. We’ll have to see how the new look up front plays out.
Advantage: Chiefs
Offensive line
Both teams’ units are bookended by really good tackles. Smart, considering the talent they are tasked with protecting. Ronnie Stanley only allowed six pressures last season as both units were top-ten in sacks allowed on the year. KC’s Mitchell Schwartz ranked second behind Stanley in pass blocking productivity and hasn’t missed a single snap in his NFL career.
The interior of both lines sees a little shake up as the Ravens adjust the retirement of the great Marshal Yanda. Kansas City sees guard Stefan Wisniewski now playing in Pittsburgh. The loss of Yanda could be a huge blow but the Ravens have depth with a number of versatile players, interchangeable at guard and center.
Advantage: Push
Tight ends
Baltimore traded former first round pick Hayden Hurst as it is third round pick from the same draft, Mark Andrews, who took the reigns as the lead tight end on the roster. In year two he became a Pro Bowler and one of Lamar Jacksons most leaned on targets. But not as much as Patrick Mahomes leans on Travis Kelce. Both guys are really good, but Kelce has been good for longer, better in the blocking game, and moves more chains.
Advantage: Chiefs
Wide receivers
No on runs the ball more than the Ravens, meaning the wide receivers often take a back seat, and those in blocking roles are unsung heroes. Despite that, Ravens rookie Marquise Brown still racked up seven touchdowns, matching that of the Chiefs Tyreek Hill. Speed kills, even though the Ravens have the speedy “Hollywood”, the Chiefs just have more of it combining Hill with Mecole Hardman who is also their Pro Bowl kick returner. Hardman blew away other receivers in yards per catch (20.7) and YPC after catch (11.5). The Ravens look to bolster their group with a couple sure handed receivers in this past draft, Devin Duvernay and James Proche. Though neither figure to be factors this season.
Advantage: Chiefs
Running backs
The Chiefs offense is potent enough, the last thing you want to see them do as the opposition is to upgrade it through the draft. The Chiefs strike quick, and they used their first pick in 2020 on LSU product, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who took 36% of his carries for a first down or touchdown last year. He’ll battle with Damien Williams for the lead back position, who is one of the top backs in elusiveness and breakaway, though played second fiddle to LeSean McCoy, and was victim of a hot hand approach by Andy Reid in 2019.
The Ravens also added to their stable taking J.K. Dobbins in the draft, marking perhaps the final season for Mark Ingram, who is one of the most well-rounded backs in the league. Not going rush for 2,000 yards, not going to catch 100 balls, but completes all the assignments really well. Gus Edwards provides depth and the ability to step into the lead role, evident by his performance in week 17 last year when the Ravens rested starters. He rushed 21 times for 130 yards.
Advantage: Ravens
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson
A matchup of the last two NFL MVPs. Jackson won the award running away (literally) but had Mahomes not missed two games in the heart of the season, he’d have been in the conversation. Although stats wise, Mahomes wasn’t on pace for the nearly 5100 yards and 50 touchdowns he racked up in 2018, he walked off the field in Miami with the only hardware that mattered. The Lombardi trophy. Mahomes has also bested Jackson in their two prior matchups. Both in Arrowhead.
Now the game comes to Baltimore on a Monday night, I pray to God in front in of 75,000+ rabid Ravens fans and not an empty pit.
What else can be said about these two greats that hasn’t been said already?
Advantage: Push
Ravens Analyst
Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at mike.randall@baltimoresportsandlife.com.