Baltimore Ravens defense faces tough test against Kansas City Chiefs

The Baltimore Ravens defense faces a tough test against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Baltimore Ravens number one ranked defense is about to go against a juggernaut named the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat Mahomes has turned a decent Chiefs offense into one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL. Mahomes is close to the 4,000 yard mark and has thrown for 41 touchdown passes this season. The Chiefs offense puts up more points per game than any team in the league, even the New Orleans Saints.

The Ravens played an offense at this level earlier this season when they faced the Saints. Baltimore held New Orleans to 24 points. That stellar performance from the defense gave the Ravens a chance to win the game. They need a similar performance against Kansas City. If the Don Martindale’s defense can hold the defense under 30 points, the Ravens have a chance to win this game.

The Chiefs just got a little less dangerous. Kareem Hunt was released by the Chiefs after a horrible domestic violence video was released by TMZ. Without Hunt, the Chiefs lose a big element of their offense. Hunt had over 800 rushing yards and over 300 receiving yards this season. Spencer Ware isn’t a bad player, but he isn’t on the same level as Hunt.

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In their first game without Hunt, the Chiefs put up 40 points against the Oakland Raiders. This offense is still quite explosive. Speaking of explosive, that’s exactly what Tyreek Hill is. Hill can take the top off of any defense. Hill is a superstar, he isn’t catching anyone by surprise and he repeatedly gets open down the field. Hill accounts for 66 receptions this season for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Travis Kelce is an incredible tight end who leads the Chiefs in receptions. Kelce has a huge 6’5″ frame and he has more speed than the typical tight end. In his last two games, Kelce has tallied 22 catches for 295 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens have to have a strategy to make sure this game doesn’t become a game of pitch and catch with Mahomes and Kelce.

The two keys for the defensive performance are simple, but hard to actually execute. The Ravens have to find a way to limit Kelce and Hill. The Ravens need to make someone like Sammy Watkins or Chris Conley try to beat them. Marlon Humphrey is the best weapon the Ravens have in this game. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley were a good warm up for Humphrey before facing the most dynamic athlete at the wide receiver position. Humphrey, Jimmy Smith and the entire secondary are coming off a great game. They have to keep it rolling.

The Chiefs offense doesn’t have to prove anything. They put up 50 points in a game against the Rams where they turned the ball over multiple times. How does that even happen? Here’s the thing, the Chiefs have not seen a defense like the one Baltimore has. The Ravens could legitimately throw something at the Chiefs, that the Chiefs haven’t had to deal with all season long. If any team is equipped to beat the Chiefs, or at least slow them down, it’s the Ravens.

Michael Pierce has become the Ravens best force up front on the defense. The Ravens need to once again own the line of scrimmage. Making the Chiefs one dimensional is scary, because that one dimension is the gunslinging Mahomes. The pass rush is going to have to be a factor. If the Ravens defense from last week shows up the Ravens will be fine. The Ravens sacked Matt Ryan three times and forced a fumble that Tavon Young recovered for a touchdown.

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The Ravens have the number one defense in the league. They allow the fewest points and the fewest yards. There is a lot of focus on the Ravens quarterback situation and the idea that the Chiefs defense isn’t very good. Make no mistake about it though, if the Ravens win it will be because of the defense. The Chiefs offense against the Ravens defense makes for a very interesting battle.

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