The Super Bowl is over, and the result is one of the most dominant performances we've ever seen in the NFL's biggest game. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.
Not many can remember the last time an NFL dynasty like the Chiefs got dominated in a Super Bowl the way they did. It was a game where, every AFC team that has had trouble beating Kansas City since 2019, should have taken notes. That includes the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore is 1-5 against the Chiefs since 2018 and will have to get by them if they want to win the Super Bowl any time soon. This is what the Ravens can learn from Super Bowl 59.
Shore up the defensive front with depth
The Eagles' biggest strength against the Chiefs heading into this game was always their defensive front seven against the Kansas City offensive line.
If they could take over this game, they would win, and they did. Patrick Mahomes was under a ton of pressure all game from Vic Fangio's defense. The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times and forced three turnovers. Mahomes threw two interceptions; One by Cooper DeJean, who returned it for a pick-six, and another from linebacker Zack Baun. Milton Williams also added a strip-sack. The Eagles defense hit Mahomes 11 times.
Overall, no matter how great your quarterback is, pressure and sacks will always be the key to stopping them. It's the same for Mahomes. The Ravens will have to create more depth on their defensive front seven with playmakers and disruptive guys all over the defensive line. Remember, the Ravens defense hasn't had a turnover in their last five postseason games.
Keep building talent around Lamar Jackson
It's been kind of a moot point for the Chiefs over the last three seasons because of their success, but they really don't have a bonafide no. 1 wide receiver — not since they traded Tyreek Hill. Part of it is because of coaching, guys stepping up, or Mahomes himself, but it showed on Sunday.
None of the receivers got open for Mahomes. Even when he did have time or was scrambling around trying to make a play, there was no receiver open. Props again to the Eagles defense. Aside from Xavier Worthy, who is talented and could become a top receiver, players like DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster are not the receivers they were before. Former Ravens and current Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown is still a decent deep threat, though.
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Eric DeCosta has done a good job building talent around Lamar Jackson since 2019. After Ozzie Newsome drafted Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews in 2018, DeCosta followed up by drafting three first-round wide receivers (Brown, Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers).
Brown was a favorite of Jackson for three seasons, Bateman broke out in 2024, and Flowers has produced in his first two seasons. Flowers became the first Ravens wide receiver in team history to make the Pro Bowl in 2024. DeCosta also drafted Isaiah Likely in the 2022 NFL Draft. DeCosta will have to keep that up in future drafts.
Protect your quarterback
The Chiefs offensive line was their biggest question mark all season and in the Super Bowl, they struggled against the Eagles. It wasn't the first time this had happened.
In the Chiefs Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, their offensive line struggled as well. After that, Kansas City committed to building the offensive line and won back-to-back Super Bowls in 2022 and 2023. It is safe to say they will commit to the offensive line again this offseason.
The Ravens have fielded overall solid offensive lines for Jackson, but there have been moving parts. Last offseason, the Ravens traded Morgan Moses to the New York Jets and let John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler walk in free agency.
After having a good group of veterans on the offensive line in 2023, Baltimore decided to go young. Early in 2024, the Ravens felt that youth and inexperience as the offensive line struggled. They did get better down the stretch. The Ravens could use some help this offseason at both guard positions, and there is also Ronnie Stanley's impending free agency. Baltimore will have to try to re-sign Stanley after a very good season.
As we know, the Ravens aren't that far off, and it's less about the talent and more about just going out there and doing it. If you're the Ravens watching the Super Bowl, though, it was a reminder of what they need to keep improving on if they want to hold the Vince Lombardi trophy once again.