Your "Honest Gut Take" against the Ravens

[Chiefshrink]

Try to be as 'objective' and 'non-homerish' as possible.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by BigRichard

Here is a break down of our wins and losses sorted by the record of the other teams at the end of the season. That shows me that we tend to win over the weak teams and tend to lose to better teams. I hate to say it but we are a mediocre team. IMO we are where many of us thought we would be this year. We are a middle of the road football team that got lucky with a weak schedule.

I think our delusions of grandeur get slapped out of us this weekend. It will be an upsetting loss to say the least. I think the Ravens win by more then 10 points. I hope I am wrong but...

Ind 10-6 Loss
SD 9-7 Win
SD 9-7 Loss
Oak 8-8 Loss
Oak 8-8 Loss
Jac 8-8 Win
Sea 7-9 Win
Stl 7-9 Win
SF 6-10 Win
Hou 6-10 Loss
Ten 6-10 Win
Cle 5-11 Win
Ari 5-11 Win
Buf 4-12 Win
Den 4-12 Loss
Den 4-12 Win

There's no question that the Chiefs beat weaker teams and lost to better teams. There's also no shame in that. They are what they are: the #4 seed, and weakest division winner, but nonetheless they WERE the division winner and made great strides from last season.

Yes, the Ravens are better on paper. Yes, they have more experience. But there are plenty of other factors which come into play. Homefield advantage. The weather. The bounce of the ball. Certain players just going insane (e.g. Charles).

[bevischief]

This is starting to sound like the MNF football game shit$y weather and all.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by denverdanchiefsfan

Twitter: Ngata, Suggs and Reed not present during the media portion of Ravens practice.

None of them practiced.

[michaelj_58]

I don't know,but something is telling me chiefs play a good game this week,they can fix that five man front and max protect cassel.I think the defense is going to show up big time in this one.The ravens haven't been tearing it up lately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YayMike]

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

My honest take:

I watch the Ravens almost every week - hard to avoid them if I want to watch football here in MD. They are good, but they are not the "defensive" juggernaut they used to be. Their secondary outside of Reed is shakey and he's actually been the recipient of a number of deflected/overthrown passes that he's intercepted. Only a few of them has he actually "stepped in front of them".

The Defensive line is damn good but prone to overpursue so cutback lanes are there if the back is patient. Linebackers are still the strength of the team. Suggs though is not having the year he had a couple years ago. (Picks up a lot of bonehead penalties.)

They rely primarily on Suggs to blitz to get sacks. Ngata is great at plugging the middle but they can be run on to the outside. Suggs can be succeptable to the screen - he rushes in and the back can slip out right to where he was.

Flacco can be brilliant one play and completely boneheaded the next. He can misread coverages and sometimes convinces himself he can make a play that's not there. How do you miss Pomalau standing on the line and have NO one block him? (result, fumble - score)

Ravens do have good special teams.

It won't be an easy game, but it is winnable and I see the Chiefs up by 3 - 6.

Best guess: Chiefs 20 - Ravens 16

Great points, and I agree with, I want to add a few things. The reason that I have a bad feeling is because the Ravens just seem to find ways to win. They seem to always be in the right spot (see Ed Reed). They believe their own hype. They know that if they play their game, (Run, Short Pass, leading toPunting and playing defense is a good thing) that they are still going to win. I don't think we are there yet. I really hope I'm wrong. I'll say Jamaal breaks a long one and we win 17-13.

[Halfcan]

16 to 13 Chiefs in OT

Just a feeling, but I think we break the playoff curse this week.

Chiefs seem to be at their best when they are Huge Underdogs at home.

[Mr. Kotter]

I'd like to believe we can win....and we might. That said, I thought we'd be a 7-9/8-8 team in August, and we exceeded that. Fortune smiled, and we eeked out a couple of close ones over bad to mediocre competition. We are pretenders IMHO.

We have taken a big step forward, but we are a year or two away from being a real contender IMHO. I just hope we take that next step to get there in the next year.

[TEX]

I don't really think the Chiefs have a chance. The Ravens have enough on defense to stuff the run and Bowe. I also feel they wil be able to run the ball all over us. It's not gonna be a pretty game. BUT you never know what's going to happen. That's why they play the games...

[gblowfish]

I think we have a chance. But I think it'll be a tight game. I'm thinking 3 to 4 point win for whoever takes it. Don't see a blowout for either side.
Weather may be a factor. The sloppier it is, the better for KC, same as it was against San Diego in the home opener.

[Extra Point]

CISCO's going to sue us for trademark infringement, if Ellison gets the smarts to (excuse me, hire someone else to) hold his monitor 90 deg CCW.

[Start Croyle]

You guys will think I'm crazy, but I really believe this is what is going to happen! I actually had a dream about it last night!

Arrowhead is packed and chiefs fans are going crazy at the prospect of their first playoff victory in years! The atmosphere is electric and tensions are high! The chiefs begin the game strong and score the first touchdown, followed by a field goal. They manage to get past the Raven's defense while preventing a score. Cassel plays impressively, and after the first quarter, the score is 10-0 Chiefs!

Then it starts to go wrong! The Ravens return a punt in the 2nd Q for a TD! The Chiefs offense falls apart with sacks, a 3 and out, an INT and Cassel starts getting shaken up and making bad decisions! Now the Ravens are scoring tons of points and the Chiefs are down 21-10 at the half! Todd Haley yells and screams at Cassel during hafltime, which only makes the situation worse! At the beginning of Q3, he throws another interception and the score goes to 28-10! It is now halfway through the 3rd quarter, and just when Chiefs fans think the situation cannot become any worse, Cassel is sacked yet AGAIN and goes out of the game with a shoulder injury!

It looks dismal for the Chiefs! Some of the fans are filing out of the stadium in disgust! The Ravens players feel they have won the game. But there is still a quarter and a half left to play...After a time out, Haley decides to give the backup QB one last chance...CROYLE TAKES THE FIELD!

It's 2nd and 11, on the Chiefs 25 yard line. Croyle looks to throw but the Ravens break through yet again and the QB is sacked! The situation is bleak for the Chiefs. 3rd down and 15 yards to go. But suddenly, out of nowhere, Croyle heaves a monster pass to Dwayne Bowe! He goes all the way! TOUCHDOWN, KANSAS CITY! The score is 28-17, Ravens in front!

Two minutes left in the third quarter, and the Chiefs defense manages to get a critical stop! There's an 11 point deficit, but there is a deep stirring within the hearts of the Chiefs players and the remaining fans in the stands. They still believe! Go Chiefs! Let's do this!

The KC Offense takes the field and starts to get things done by moving the ball quickly up the field. Croyle moves with poise and precision while reading the Ravens defense. This time, he hits Moeaki for another quick Chiefs TD! Now the score is cut down to 28-24! Arrowhead is going crazy! Now the Ravens are in deep trouble and know they have to score or go home!

It's the 4th Q and the Ravens struggle to advance the football! After a long drive they are forced to settle for a field goal and the score goes to 30-24. The clock only has 5 minutes left in the game!

The Ravens man up and hold the Chiefs scoreless on their next drive. The chiefs get the ball back in their final posession with just one 1 minute left in the game. McCluster goes for an insane punt return and brings the ball all the way up to the Baltimore 48 yard line! The chiefs fight hard and get the ball to the 30. But the O-Line is getting tired and Croyle is sacked! After a short Jamaal Charles run, the chiefs are facing 3rd down with 12 yards to go, and just 15 seconds left in the game! Haley orders a time out and screams at Croyle until he's hoarse.

And then...IT HAPPENS! The ball is snapped and Croyle looks to throw. Two Ravens players break through the offensive line and the entire Chiefs season looks to be ended in a flash! But Croyle somehow breaks free from what would have been a sack and starts running downfield! Jamaal Charles makes a crucial block! Wait, no! It can't be happening! Can you believe it! CROYLE RUNS IN THE GAME WINNING TD! TOUCHDOWN! KANSAS CITY! After an easy PAT, the Chiefs are headed to New England! It's a PLAYOFF MIRACLE!

During the week, Cassel's shoulder turns out to be fine and he is okayed to play in the next game...But, after the heroic perfromance, Haley decided to go with a different QB against the Patriots!

[wheeler08]

Yeah your crazy

[bobbything]

I don't see this being a Raven's blowout. If a blowout is forthcoming, I could see the Chiefs winning by a healthy margin. The Ravens don't exactly light up the scoreboard. They have a good, solid running back, a good solid QB, and a bunch of #2 wide receivers who all bitch about not getting the ball enough.

However, realistically, I think we're going to come out throwing the ball all over the place, with lots of play action. Simply because the Ravens are expecting us to run the ball. This might just be the perfect time for the pass to set up the run.

I'm sometimes a conspiracy theorist, but I really think that last week, parts of the terrible play looked intentional. Not that we weren't trying to win, rather, I don't see how a team can lead the league in rushing, and block that poorly, at home. It's simply not possible. There were times when it looked as if the offensive line pulled a Finch from "Wildcats" and simply stepped aside.

I want, really want, to believe that the coaching staff is trying to out-think the Ravens coaching staff. And because I'm a blind homer, that's what I'm gonna believe.

We come out using play action against their weak(er) secondary, get a 10 point lead, Charles carries us the rest of the way, while the Ravens play from behind.

Chiefs 20
Ravens 13

I'm daring to dream. And when I'm wrong, I'm probably going to break a cell phone or something during the game.

[CupidStunt]

Gut feeling is that the Chiefs have no business in a defensive battle. We're not physical up front on either side. This time last year Baltimore went on the road and just beat the shit out of a better Patriots team. I literally cannot see how they'll block Haloti Ngata; I think he'll move across the line and disrupt every play, much in the same way the Raiders front did for, what, 6 or 7 quarters out of 8?

I also have a shitty feeling that they're going to run Jones just like it's a regular season game, and we simply can't afford 10 carries for 17 yards in the 1st half. Charles needs 10-12 carries, at least, while Jones is simply a breather.

It's hard to ignore last week. Say what you want about it, but the lines got thrown around like a bunch of bitches. Their OL just bulldozed our front backwards, while their DL literally gangraped our 5 softies.

It goes without saying that I'd love nothing more than to be wrong.

[Calcountry]

Its going to take an error free game by KC, plus a positive 2 in turnovers to eek out a win in this