Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs took a unique path to face the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC championship sport.
They’re happening the highway.
After internet hosting this sport 5 straight seasons, the No. 3 seed Chiefs needed to beat Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo and now journey to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (13-6) are in search of their third Super Bowl title in 5 years and try to turn into the primary crew to repeat since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it within the 2003-04 seasons.
They need to get there first.
Standing of their approach are the No. 1 seed Ravens, who’ve performed their greatest in opposition to powerful opponents. The Ravens (14-4) had 11 wins over successful groups, together with 9 by no less than 14 factors.
The Chiefs shut down Tua Tagovailoa and Miami’s potent offense within the wild-card spherical and sneaked previous the Bills in Mahomes’ first profession playoff sport on the highway.
The Ravens rolled to a 34-10 win over Houston after having fun with a primary-spherical bye. They’re 3 1/2-level favorites, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Chiefs had the league’s sixth-ranked passing offense behind Mahomes and nineteenth-ranked speeding assault. The Ravens gave up the fewest factors per sport (16.5) and have been sixth in opposition to the go and 14th in opposition to the run.
Mahomes is a magician and what he’s been capable of do with no professional No. 1 vast receiver has been spectacular. The two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP threw for 4,183 yards with 27 touchdowns, a profession-excessive 14 interceptions and profession-low 92.6 passer ranking. His receivers dropped 44 passes, most within the league.
Mahomes’ go-to possibility nonetheless is tight finish Travis Kelce. The Ravens have All-Pro security Kyle Hamilton to match up in opposition to Kelce so rookie wideout Rashee Rice, veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney, if he’s wholesome, must step up.
Kelce had 93 catches for 984 yards and 5 TDs within the common season and caught two scores final week in Buffalo. Rice had 79 receptions for 938 yards and 7 TDs.
The Chiefs will depend on working again Isiah Pacheco to stability the offense. He ran for 935 yards and 7 TDs within the common season, and had 97 yards on 15 carries with one TD in opposition to the Bills final week. Baltimore’s entrance seven led by All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, LB Patrick Queen and defensive sort out Justin Madubuike held Houston to 38 yards speeding final week and stored 9 groups underneath 100 this season.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is without doubt one of the NFL’s all-time nice offensive innovators and he’s been identified so as to add a couple of new wrinkles in massive video games. Injured All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney will drive Reid to make some changes to the sport plan. Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has turn into a scorching candidate for head teaching positions after Baltimore’s protection turned the primary in NFL historical past to steer the league in fewest factors allowed, sacks and turnovers.
The Ravens led the NFL in speeding and have been twenty first in passing behind the twin-risk Jackson. The Chiefs gave up the second-fewest factors (17.3), have been fourth in opposition to the go and 18th in opposition to the run.
Jackson is without doubt one of the league’s most proficient all-round offensive gamers so defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit could have its fingers full. The All-Pro QB and 2019 NFL MVP threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and likewise ran for 821 yards and 5 scores. Jackson excelled within the largest video games this season, outplaying Brock Purdy in a rout over San Francisco and tossing 5 TD passes in a win over Miami that decided the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Chiefs can anticipate to see a heavy dose of Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Dalvin Cook working the ball and need to be careful for Jackson’s scrambles. The trio of backs ran for 129 yards on 31 carries in opposition to Houston final week. Jackson led the best way with 100 yards speeding.
Rookie Zay Flowers led Baltimore with 77 catches for 858 yards and 5 TDs. Jackson additionally has veterans Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. Tight finish Mark Andrews is anticipated to return from an ankle damage, giving Jackson his favourite playmaker.
All-Pro slot cornerback Trent McDuffie in opposition to Flowers, who strains up all over the place, will probably be a key matchup. Blocking All-Pro defensive sort out Chris Jones, who generally is a sport-changer, is a prime precedence for Baltimore’s offensive line.
Jackson flourished in his first season in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system. Spagnuolo’s protection can perplex the perfect groups. His unit shut down Brady, Randy Moss and the undefeated Patriots when the Giants pulled off a shocking Super Bowl upset 16 years in the past.
Two of the perfect kickers within the NFL are on this one. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made 33 of 35 area objectives, together with all 5 from past 50 yards. Ravens 5-time All-Pro Justin Tucker had a down season by his requirements, going 32 of 37 on area objectives and lacking 4 of 5 from 50-plus yards.
Ravens punter Jordan Stout had a 39.1-yard internet common whereas Kansas City’s Tommy Townsend had a 41.9-yard internet common.
The Chiefs use Mecole Hardman and Richie James for returns. Hardman had the longest punt return at 50 yards and James had the longest kick return at 31. Devin Duvernay is a strong returner for the Ravens. He returned a punt 70 yards.
Reid is a possible future Hall of Famer. He already has two Super Bowl rings and is the winningest coach within the historical past of the Chiefs and Eagles.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh, a Reid disciple, additionally has a Hall of Fame-caliber resume. He’s solely had two dropping seasons in 16 years with Baltimore and led it to 1 Super Bowl title.
Reid and Mahomes are chasing Bill Belichick and Brady. They’ve obtained to win 4 extra Super Bowls to match them. Jackson and the Ravens try to silence the playoff narrative. The Ravens have been 1-2 within the postseason with Jackson earlier than final week’s dominant win. Losing this one can be a setback.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
