Smash, steal, score: Keys to Baltimore Ravens win over Kansas City Chiefs

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes with the ball as Miles Boykin #80 blocks Justin Reid #20 of the Houston Texans during the second half at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes with the ball as Miles Boykin #80 blocks Justin Reid #20 of the Houston Texans during the second half at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

The Kansas City Chiefs come to town for an MNF square off with the Baltimore Ravens. Efficient performance required for a crucial Ravens win.

The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are coming to Baltimore for a Monday night battle against the Ravens, and beating them is always a tall order. But there is a roadmap to a win Monday night, and it focuses on three key components: Smash, Steal, Score. Let’s get into it.

Smash:

More from Ebony Bird

The Ravens showed in the second half of their win over the Houston Texans last week that they can still line up in a big formation and smash the ball down opponents’ throats. The Chiefs are giving up 150.5 yards per game, so they have shown some vulnerability on that front.

Let’s see tight end Nick Boyle, fullback Pat Ricard and a bevy of big bodies on the field to repeatedly slam that ball into the teeth of the Chiefs’ defense. With a deep rotation of running backs available to the Ravens, Baltimore can keep coming at the Chiefs in waves with fresh legs, eventually wearing down that defensive front. Watch for power runs by Lamar Jackson mixed into the formula, just to make those linebackers have to worry about more than one thing at a time.

The Ravens can run the ball against any defense. They’ve proven that ever since Jackson took the keys to the offense. In a game against a formidable offensive opponent like the Chiefs, controlling the ball and wearing down that defense is more important than ever. Keep the Ravens defense fresh, wear down the Chiefs defense and keep smashing the ball.

That is one part of the formula for success.