Travis Kelce talking up 2023 Ravens makes AFC Championship loss hurt even more

The Baltimore Ravens still aren’t over the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, nor should they be. The Ravens had their best team in years, and the Chiefs had some serious flaws that made them a more vulnerable opponent than in past seasons.

Despite Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP level and the defense putting up insane numbers, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were able to make enough timely pig plays to squeak past Baltimore on the road and eventually topple the 49ers in the Super Bowl

The Ravens were the odds-on favorite to make it to the Super Bowl from the AFC, and Kelce is well aware of the fact Kansas City went into that game as the underdog. Kelce's praise of the Ravens rubs salt in the wound, as it becomes even more clear Baltimore wasted one of the best rosters the team has ever had.

"They are the bully," Kelce said, via the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast. "That was a [freaking] physical team. No. 1 defense in the league. They have the old-school Ravens [mentality] we grew up on." Kelce knows how good they were, making the loss sting even more.

Travis Kelce talking up 2023 Ravens makes AFC Championship loss hurt even more

The fact that Kansas City had a terrible receiving corps outside of Kelce and some schematic limitations put on them by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy made them a prime target to get rolled by the Ravens. A running team, it was their inability to power their offense on the ground that did them in.

Not only were the Ravens unable to get any breathing room against Chris Jones and the Chiefs defensive line, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken was criticized for abandoning the plan altogether.

The Ravens' defense had a fear factor to it last season, as they were ranked near the top of most statistical categories and saw elite quarterbacks continuously roll over when confronted with their overall strength. Baltimore's power has been sapped away by free agency and Mike Macdonald's departure, leaving the unit less sharp overall.

With the Chiefs bringing in more wide receivers and Kelce still as strong as ever, the Ravens will head into 2024 knowing they are no longer the favorite to win the AFC. Baltimore had a golden chance last season due to the hype surrounding this team, and they seem to have blown it.