Quote:
Originally Posted by JPH83
Trey Smith, Creed and Thuney/Allegretti were outstanding against Buffalo, probably the best they've all played. I think that's where it's won and lost. If they have a similar game and stifle Madubuike, Pierce and Jones I think we win. Even if our WRs turn back into pumpkins and the OTs bleed penalties and our DL is run all over etc etc. If we can run on them a bit and if Mahomes has time to extend, I fancy our chances. If not, it's a long day.
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Agree that this is probably the single most important matchup in the game: Chiefs' IOL v. Ravens' DTs.
The Eagles got a lot of shine for their interior d-line, but the Ravens' is the best in the league. And they constructed it in large part because they knew they would need to go through the Chiefs and the best way to disrupt Mahomes is to be able to get pressure without sending blitz packages. The Ravens don't pick early enough to get dominant edges to generate pressure with four, so they instead built from the inside out and are absolutely massive on the interior.
The Ravens' gameplan will rely on Madubuike/Pierce/Jones collapsing the pocket and flushing Mahomes out of the pocket and having to make the decision to either make tough throws into a crowded/talelented secondary or else try to scramble on the best ILB duo in the NFL in Smith/Queen. But if the interior d-line can't get pressure and the Ravens can't get pressure, the blitz is as good as a death sentence against Mahomes.