Let's Talk About Baltimore (AFC Championship)

[SHOWTIME]

Headed back to the AFC Championship Game!!!! Discuss.

[OneWinningDrive]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Yea, be careful there. If you win Sunday and the 49ers win, I will be rooting for you. If the Lions win, I gotta root for the Lions. If you do play the 49ers you have to assume Brock will throw 5 more picks? The 49ers rolled up 429 yards of offense in that game.

The Ravens have played four iterations of the Shanahan offense (Slowick x2, Shanahan, and McDaniel) and easily outclassed them all. It’s a schematic thing imo.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

Not sure what your point is anymore. I’ll leave you to pat yourself on the back about how singularly brilliant the Chiefs are and how the lowly Ravens can’t dare to dream of ever being on their level.

Only one saying that is you. At this point this season, we are on the same level. Vying for the Lamar Hunt trophy.

I'm grateful, because we weren't world beaters in the regular season, yet here we are.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

This is a reasoned take that I agree with overall. Seen some of your earlier posts in this thread and think you’re being fair.

DVOA isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the few metrics we have to adjust for a team’s situational success and quality of opponents. But like you’re alluding to, real-world considerations like matchups, scheme, and raw talent can upend the expectations DVOA would have you believe.

I do think that in this case, there won’t be a dismantling of the Ravens the way the Chiefs did to the Bills. Both because the Chiefs don’t have the same personnel as then (Tyreek) and the Ravens are just flat better than the Bills.

We were playing Dan Sorenson, Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann that game... WE DONT HAVE TYREEK...

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

The Ravens have played four iterations of the Shanahan offense (Slowick x2, Shanahan, and McDaniel) and easily outclassed them all. It’s a schematic thing imo.

The Niners had 429 yards...

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

Not sure what your point is anymore. I’ll leave you to pat yourself on the back about how singularly brilliant the Chiefs are and how the lowly Ravens can’t dare to dream of ever being on their level.

That's some midwest level passive aggressiveness right there, you're fitting in just fine.

[PurpleOrange]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

The Niners had 429 yards...

They also turned the ball over 5 times and allowed 4 sacks.

[Ebolapox]

let's be frank--- if we beat the ravens (in Mahomes we trust), how much do Ravens fans hate us? Is it 50% as much as the bills' fans do? This is the best ravens team we've seen since they beat kaep in the super bowl, and we've already had some big wins against them the last five years (I know, just like Buffalo has some big wins--- regular season).

I can feel the hatred burning under the surface if pat goes nuclear and we 13 second them.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

I won’t pretend to know exactly how DVOA works (and some of it is proprietary), but there is an emphasis on recency of games with DVOA. It’s meant to account for the idea that more recent results are more indicative than earlier games. It’s why the Ravens have the highest “weighted” DVOA ever, because the blowouts you’re alluding to have happened within the past month whereas their losses happened months ago at this point.

Makes sense to some extent, but like the Dolphins were always huge frauds and also known for late season collapses. I'd put beating the 49ers in December up there with impressive late season wins for sure, but if a metric props up wins like the Phins so much, they should tweak the metric a bit.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by PurpleOrange

I see many remarks about the Chiefs and Spags past success against Lamar and limiting what he was able to do. That's all well and good but almost all of those players are now gone. Outside of Andrews and Ricard, Lamar is working with an entirely new set of backs and a new OC with a completely new offensive scheme. Kansas City may slow him down, but this isn't the Ravens offense of past years.

Yep, and we are no longer rolling out Hitchens, Niemann, Sorenson and Fenton on defense, this is far from the Chiefs Defense of past years...

[ChiTown]

We’ve had this conversation every year with a different fan base for the last 6 years. Don’t believe me? Go back into the archives and pull them up.

Opposing Fan:
“Hi, Joe Fan Here from X. Just wanted to stop by and wish you guys luck and a great game Saturday/Sunday. Should be fun…”
(Reads board, can’t believe how confident Chiefs Fans are on a Chiefs MB)

“Have you guys even looked at our stats and who we played and beat? I mean, this team is different…”
(Reads replies and can’t believe the amount of disrespect he’s seeing)

“You know, Mahomes hasn’t faced a player like X or a Defense like ours. This isn’t going to be some BS D like the X that you faced in he Divisional Round.
(Reads replies and can’t believe he’s being ignored. The butthurt intensifies)

“Wow, I can’t believe you guys are so confident and arrogant! Do you even watch football outside of KC? Have you seen these stats? (Links numerous worthless stats that we’ve all seen before and waits for people to be impressed. No one is impressed)

“What the f is wrong with Chiefs Fans? You have NEVER faced an opponent like our Team! This is going to be Mahomes greatest challenge ever. He’ll have to have the Strength of Thor and the Wisdom of Solomon to even have a small chance of victory. You are doomed!” (Reads replies that everyone is now laughing at him. People have now stopped replying. He’s incensed)

“**** you, you bunch of inbred Missouri hillbillies! KC is a shithole and YOUR BBQ sucks!!! I hope our D rips Mahomes head off and shits down his neck. **** you!!! (Account deleted).

*RINSE. REPEAT. EVERY YEAR

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by OneWinningDrive

Respectfully, the Ravens are in a different class than those franchises.

The Ravens have won more Super Bowls in their 28-year history than the Titans, Bills, Bengals, and Eagles have combined in their entire histories. And for as touted as San Francisco is as a franchise, they haven't won a title since the Ravens have existed, and the Ravens are 6-2 against them all time. The Ravens have a pedigree that those other franchises don't.

As to this season, the 2023 Ravens team aren't just a normal number one seed; by advanced metrics, they're historically great. Weighted DVOA has them as the best team ever tracked (the forum won't let me embed a link since I'm new, but here's the link: twitter.com/ASchatzNFL/status/1749454434705211633). The 2019 Chiefs are also on that list, and the 2020 Chiefs beat another team on that list, so anyone doubting the Chiefs is a fool. But again, the idea that the Ravens are no different than the Titans or Bengals is insulting.

As a Ravens fan, I was rooting for the Chiefs to beat the Bills last week. Not because I think the Chiefs are an easier matchup; to the contrary, the Chiefs are the boogeyman even in a "down" year. The reason why I wanted the Chiefs is because if this Ravens team wants to be remembered as historically great, I want them to go through one of the best QBs/coaches of all time who are defending their crown.

I'm confident in saying that the best team will win on Sunday; I'm just not sure which team that is.

I get what you are saying and when I was referring to the other teams, I was referring to their fanbases. The "We're gonna smash KC because we are awesome" mindset is not new and something we have heard many times before.

The Ravens are very good this year and there is no debating that. Games are played on the field for a reason. Even the best team of the modern era (2007 Patriots) did not win it all. They actually lost to an Eli Manning led Giants team that was a wild card.

I get it that this is a down year for KC and even in a down year, they are still in the AFCCG. Everyone thinks because the offense is not as explosive that it usually is that KC is weak. Their offense is not as elite as it has been in many years, but their defense (which I still think is overlooked) is elite this year with stars at all three levels.

I had mentioned on here before the playoffs started that the Chiefs are the most experienced team in the playoffs and that matters. They know how to win when the lights are brightest. They are not the Carolina Panthers.

For the first time since the 2018 season they are not the hunted (despite being the defending champs), but get to be the hunter. There is zero pressure on them to win. As such they can go out and play loose.

As I also mentioned, Baltimore could win, and if they do then awesome. I will pull for them over SF (but not Det). I actually don't have anything against them and I think highly of Jackson. I just don't think Baltimore is so much better than KC that they will blow them out.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by PurpleOrange

They also turned the ball over 5 times and allowed 4 sacks.

Yes, Brock Purdy threw picks... Purdy is not Mahomes. That's my point.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Johnny8

I actually think I've been really balanced here, so unsure where this is coming from. But yeah, is it irritating that all AA QBs are stereotyped as the same? Sure is. So when I see the same nonsense, I'm going to call it out, because that's what it is.

I can still have normal cross-talk and share objective opinions are also call out bullshit. Those two don't impact one another.

You've been balanced. But if the Ravens win you're going to FOR SURE say hell yeah we beat the Chiefs and after they talked mad shit all week!


Like, we know you're over here fishing for hot takes. As if we're Patriots fans screaming NEVER COUNT OUT TOUCHDOWN TOM I MEAN PENALTY PAT

It's just pretty transparent, that's all.

Chiefs could lose to the Ravens, it's true. Frankly this is our down year and we made it to the sixth straight AFCCG and it's house money at this point. Youngest defense in the league and set up for another five years of dominance.

[PurpleOrange]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Yep, and we are no longer rolling out Hitchens, Niemann, Sorenson and Fenton on defense, this is far from the Chiefs Defense of past years...

Fair point, besides personnel what is this years D doing that is different and/or better?

[RollChiefsRoll]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

We’ve had this conversation every year with a different fan base for the last 6 years. Don’t believe me? Go back into the archives and pull them up.

Opposing Fan:
“Hi, Joe Fan Here from X. Just wanted to stop by and wish you guys luck and a great game Saturday/Sunday. Should be fun…”
(Reads board, can’t believe how confident Chiefs Fans are on a Chiefs MB)

“Have you guys even looked at our stats and who we played and beat? I mean, this team is different…”
(Reads replies and can’t believe the amount of disrespect he’s seeing)

“You know, Mahomes hasn’t faced a player like X or a Defense like ours. This isn’t going to be some BS D like the X that you faced in he Divisional Round.
(Reads replies and can’t believe he’s being ignored. The butthurt intensifies)

“Wow, I can’t believe you guys are so confident and arrogant! Do you even watch football outside of KC? Have you seen these stats? (Links numerous worthless stats that we’ve all seen before and waits for people to be impressed. No one is impressed)

“What the f is wrong with Chiefs Fans? You have NEVER faced an opponent like our Team! This is going to be Mahomes greatest challenge ever. He’ll have to have the Strength of Thor and the Wisdom of Solomon to even have a small chance of victory. You are doomed!” (Reads replies that everyone is now laughing at him. People have now stopped replying. He’s incensed)

“**** you, you bunch of inbred Missouri hillbillies! KC is a shithole and YOUR BBQ sucks!!! I hope our D rips Mahomes head off and shits down his neck. **** you!!! (Account deleted).

*RINSE. REPEAT. EVERY YEAR