Let's talk about the Ravens.

[Direckshun]

The Ravens are a uniquely weird team in Week 14 of the NFL season.

They're weird because their QB position is a great unknown.

Joe Flacco is, of course, the world's most underwhelming Super Bowl MVP, and has sucked this year. We know who he is, we have millions of hours of underwhelming tape to depressingly watch. And he returned to practice this week, but did not play, Eric Berry style.

But that might change. He may see the field.

Which is interesting, because their backup QB, Lamar Jackson, a 1st round selection by the Ravens (albeit with the 32nd pick), is a very weird player. He runs, and runs, and runs with the ball. His completion percentage is a not-terrible 60%. And he's only played three weeks, so tape on him is slim.

We know this: he is fast, he is not afraid to run the ball, and he's a damn gazelle when he does.

The good news: we can probably spy him. His weapons are bleak. Alex Collins is his #1 RB, and he's averaging 3.6 yards a carry. His #1 receiver is John Brown, who initially looked like Tyreek Hill when he first hit the league, but has since statistically slowed down and is now just a good receiver with very difficult speed to account for. Michael Crabtree is their #2 alongside Willie Snead, and Tyreek Hill has more yardage than both of those guys combined, but Crabtree has had good games against us in the past.

As a result, the Ravens are still somehow 13th in the league in yardage, they are averaging 25 points a game.

The Ravens have good pass protection, as they've only given up like 25 sacks or something like that. Ronnie Stanley is their LT.

But really, the Ravens offense wins by trying to run the ball, passing decently, and then letting Lamar Jackson get creative.

As far as the defense is concerned.................. biggest test of the year right here folks.

#1 rated defense in yardage (they're allowing under 300 yards/game).
#1 rated defense in points (they're allowing 17 points/game).

I think it's safe to say we're going to beat those averages but they should still slow us down pretty significantly. I don't know if Patty will have another 4 TD game here.

The Ravens get good pressure on the QB -- they're 9th in the league in sacks, and the pressure comes from everywhere. Suggs has always played well against us but he only has 5.5 this year. They blitz a good amount.

Simply put, the Ravens pass defense will be the biggest challenge Mahomes faces all year. They're allowing under 200 yards passing all season. Eric Weddle is a goddamn general at the back of their defense, and they've got a solid corner or two despite the fact that none of their corners are true ballhawks. Brandon Carr will make a rare appearance against the Chiefs, which is whatever, but he's apparently playing well.

The Ravens have a mean defensive line, and maybe the meanest NT in the league in Brandon Williams. I'm willing to bet they drop everyone in coverage, smother Kelce, and dare Spencer Ware to beat their DL. That's a very tall order, and I don't think our run game is up to the challenge. Mahomes will need to tap every ounce of his MVP talent to get yardage.

In special teams, they have arguably the greatest kicker in modern NFL history in Justin Tucker. They've had one punt return for a TD.

They're 7-5. They're on a three game win streak. Lamar Jackson has started all three games.

Their wins: Bills, Broncos, @Steelers, @Titans, Bengals (no Dalton), Raiders, @Falcons
Losses: @Bengals (Dalton), @Browns, Saints, @Panthers, Steelers

That schedule is all over the place. They beat Pitt in Pitt, but pathetically lose to the Browns. The most damning game on the schedule is the Saints game, where they only lost by a point.

How is this team so good? I've asked before. They have no elite talent on offense and are still racking up yardage and point. They have a damn good defense but don't intercept the ball and they don't have any sack masters like the Chiefs do.

What is going on?

[Coach]

Sutton better have a spy all times, because Jackson isn't a great passer by any means, but he definitely can run.

That being said, I have no confidence Sutton will even do it.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by Coach

Sutton better have a spy all times, because Jackson isn't a great passer by any means, but he definitely can run.

That being said, I have no confidence Sutton will even do it.

I think we should stick in base a huge chunk of this game. Keep 3 DL in there to keep the backers clean. Play as if every single play (outside of 3rd and long) is a run coming at your face. Because it probably will be.

Make Jackson beat you with his arm and their lackluster receiving options. If they do, so be it. But I do NOT want to see this defense bullied around their home field by a run dominant team like we have in the past.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We have to hook up at a tailgate before the game. Find some jaggerbombs to do.

Or dinner that weekend?

[jjchieffan]

Lamar Jackson will be the next Terrell Pryor. They'll try him at quarterback for a while. But eventually, he will be forced to play wide receiver if he wants to stay in the NFL. The guy just isn't an NFL quarterback. Teams just need to keep him from running and he won't win anything.

[PunkinDrublic]

Not only can we clinch a playoff birth, but every time KC beats a Baltimore team, Jason LaConfora dies a little bit more inside!

[Chiefshrink]

Praying that Jackson twists his ankle pre-game thus Flacco has to start BUT that ain't happening. And Sutton won't put a spy on Jackson. Why? Right now who in our defense has the athletic ability to shadow Jackson ? The only person I can think of that comes remotely close to doing a decent job is Dorian O'Daniel.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by scho63

I hate the Ravens and I hate Harbaugh, both of which have stuck it to the Chiefs too many times.

Time for a payback!

Of all the teams that stuck it to the Chiefs in the playoffs, I despise the Ravens the least. That 2010 Chiefs team was a smoke and mirrors joke.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

Lamar Jackson will be the next Terrell Pryor. They'll try him at quarterback for a while. But eventually, he will be forced to play wide receiver if he wants to stay in the NFL. The guy just isn't an NFL quarterback. Teams just need to keep him from running and he won't win anything.

Agreed. Jackson will go by the wayside as well either in injury or ineptness if he chooses not to be a student of the game.

Vick(early years),V Young,RG III,Kapernick, Newton,T Pryor.....running QBs etc.... have all refused to be a student of the game and it definitely has shown and is currently in the process of being shown as we speak(Newton).

I'll cut Vick some slack though that when he joined Reid in Philly his game got much better because he embraced the intellectual side of the game.

[KChiefs1]

https://youtu.be/dyu0JJ6D98c

[KChiefs1]

Whitlock at it again.

https://youtu.be/K9dMGsUNamc

[RunKC]

Mahomes had his worst game of the season against the Jags. Ravens have as good of a defense this year and Mahomes won’t have Hunt or Watkins in this game.

Hopefully we find a weakness and keep going at it.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Of all the teams that stuck it to the Chiefs in the playoffs, I despise the Ravens the least. That 2010 Chiefs team was a smoke and mirrors joke.

But you do remember what Harbaugh did as a QB to us right?

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Mahomes had his worst game of the season against the Jags. Ravens have as good of a defense this year and Mahomes won’t have Hunt or Watkins in this game.

Hopefully we find a weakness and keep going at it.

Mahomes has also matured a lot since that game.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by scho63

But you do remember what Harbaugh did as a QB to us right?

That was the beginning of the Marty curse for the franchise and the day I quit being a Ture Fan.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by scho63

But you do remember what Harbaugh did as a QB to us right?

Which harbaugh?