"How" do the Chiefs win?
 

Okay, so even the most optimistic person on here would have to admit that the Ravens are the better team, at least on paper.

Perhaps, by some strange turn of events, the Chiefs are very talented and have just been grossly under coached over the last two years, but that has yet to be seen.

So, the only weakness on the Ravens defense I see is the corners. Only, you have to actually pass protect to take advantage of that.

The only weakness on the Ravens offense I see is Flacco. This kid took advantage of a good running game and having very little asked of him. I think he will be a good QB, but not great. I think he was able to catch the NFL off guard a little. I think the NFL will have more of a read on what he can do.

Clearly, the Chiefs are not going to run up a ton of points against that defense. I think the offense MUST stay patient and play field position. If the Chiefs can establish the run, even if they aren't just blowing open holes and creating long runs, I think they can take a couple of shots downfield.

On defense, the Chiefs need to make the Ravens earn every yard. I think the secondary can get a couple of INT's at the expense of a young QB who may become impatient.

He is a big mobile guy, but he also fumbles. The Chiefs have to get a few shots on him and get their hands on the ball.

Hey, if the Chiefs offense can keep from making mistakes, and if the defense can force the Ravens into making a couple mistakes... this could be a good game.

Either way, I don't 'think' the Ravens cover the spread. Not in their first game.

I think the whole game depends on Ray Rice and how effective he is.

According to local papers and pre-season, the Ravens are going to try to win the games with Flacco instead of trying not to lose the games with Flacco this year. He also struggles with reading zone coverage. We have to try to confuse him.

Offensively, just don't turn the ball over, and we should have a puncher's chance.

This is a good point. We have a much more confusing defense now than we did last year. I think our defense is going to show up big on Sunday.

I hope so. If so, I think it will speak well of the future of the Chiefs.

I might even go out on a limb and say we will have a positive turnover ratio for this game, and if we do, we just might win!

Rice is very quick if he gets to the outside. however, he has yet to learn to run between the tackles. Rice is used much like Charles is for us. Anytime Rice is in the field, i would watch the flats as Flacco dumped the ball off VERY often in the pre-season if he felt even the slightest pressure.

stop the run and force flacco to win it
decent pass protection
win turnover battle

More points than the opposition at the end of the 4th quarter.

Easier said than done.

The right 4/5 of our line is going to have to find a way to keep from getting caved in whenever the Ravens bring 4. Waters and Goff have huge assignments, as they are going to need to help Niswanger on every play, as Ngata will basically jam a shovel up Rudy's ass on every play they are 1 on 1.

Albert has to be trusted to be able to take Suggs 1 on 1 without any chips or max protect.

We are going to have to find a way to run the ball, most likely on the left side of the formation. We aren't going to get more than 3 ypc, but we need to make them honest.

We need to go over the top early with play action, because if their safeties are allowed to cheat up, it's all over. Unfortunately, we don't have a single receiver who is a legit deep threat.

We should probably use a lot of boots and sprint-right-option type plays to string out their defense and mitigate the lack of ability of our line to protect the pocket at the POA.


Tank Tyler is going to have to have an out of body experience, because if he's getting handled in one-on-ones by Birk, the guards and FB are going to crush our inside backers, and they will gash us up the middle all day. If he doesn't, Mike Brown will die by the second quarter.

Our CBs need to make a play on a short passing route. Flowers needs to be able to shut Mason down in 1 on 1s. We need to get creative in our blitzing schemes, otherwise, they can flare out Rice and Heap, and abuse Vrabel and Hali on the edges.

We need 1 or 2 breaks (fumbled exchange, muffed punt, Aborton-esque interception) and our coverage and kicking units need to be perfect. We may need a call or two.


That's pretty much the "how", and even then, it's tenuous.

Win the game:

1. Special teams.
2. Run the ball.
3. Stop the run.
4. Hope Flacco has a bad day.
5. Be + in the turnover department.

Isn't Ngata a DE?

I hope so, I think that's the only way we have a shot. Them going ultra-conservative and trying to out-Herm us.

Unfortunately, my guess is they attack the linebackers with Heap and Rice and try to catch McGraw sleeping on deep balls to Clayton.

I'm not sure how the Chiefs come out on offense. They may try to do misdirection that we didn't see in the preseason. Screens and toss/play-action boots, draws, counters. Which I don't know will be all that effective against a defense that (as I recall) essentially sends 4 and drops everyone else back, maybe they can get the linebackers off balance in space. But I think there's also a chance they come out really conservative and try to shorten the game. I just don't know. They were so vanilla in the preseason I don't have any read on them.

I would say to win, they have to stop the run, hit Flacco hard early, and pound him the whole game. They need a pick or two. Keep it close and get points every time they have a chance. No missed field goals and any red zone trips have to end in TDs. And we can't turn the ball over. The Chiefs have no margin for error. If they make any real mistakes, they lose.

He's both. He played inside when Gregg was injured last year, but they'll rotate him along the line.

About the only think I don't agree with is using a lot of sprint outs and boots.

I think they should concentrate more on three step drops and getting the ball out quickly. When they go deep, I think it should be PAP, perhaps a misdirection bootleg, but then the QB's back is turned to the line on many of those plays.... I at least want Cassel to see the train coming.

If the Chiefs load up on the line with a two tight set, and then run a PAP... I think they can take a shot or two downfield.