3 questions facing Ravens in battle with the Chiefs

What are reasonable expectations for the defense?

The Ravens have to play the 2018 MVP of the NFL in Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs still have a good bit of weaponry in this offense without Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs offense is putting up big numbers already this season. The Chiefs are putting up 34 points per game. They are putting up 479 yards per contest. Mahomes has been unbelievable this season. Completing over 70 percent of his passes he has over 800 yards. Like Lamar Jackson, he has yet to be intercepted and he has seven touchdown passes notched this season. The only thing not impressive about the Chiefs’ offense is their running game. That just means the Ravens will have to deal with more Mahomes.

Hopefully this paints the picture of what the purple and black are going up against. This is much like an old school showdown between the Ravens and Peyton Manning. Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and he has the chance to have a legendary career. The Ravens aren’t going into the Chiefs’ house and shutting them out. This could be a high scoring game because both offenses are rolling and neither defense has played exceptionally to this point.

A reasonable expectation for the defense is good red zone defense and three or four key stops. They have to hold the Chiefs to field goals when they get the chance. They have to come up with three or four key stops in this game. If the Chiefs put up 350 yards or less and the score is in the 20’s, that’s a win for the defense. If that’s the case the Ravens have slowed down the Chiefs just enough to give the offense a chance to win this game. This is going to be a good one but win, lose or draw it’s going to be tight.