FOX45’s Morgan Adsit and AJ Gersh preview what the Ravens need to beat the Chiefs in Week 4.
Morgan’s Keys
Stop the Run: The Ravens’ defense is a mess through three weeks when against playoff caliber teams like the Bills and Lions. Against Detroit, the Ravens defense never stood a chance, thanks to the run defense. In turn, the Ravens being the league’s best scoring offense (averaging 37 points a game) should be more than enough, and it is not with this defensive struggle. The Ravens allowed 224 rushing yards last week with more than 200 of those between the tackles. The Ravens didn’t tackle well, were not physical, and it was unusual to see a Ravens defense get pushed around like a little brother. The Ravens missed veterans on defense in Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy against the Lions, but with or without them in KC, it’s next man up and the Ravens have to find a way to stop the bleeding. While the Chiefs have struggled this season offensively amid a 1-2 start, KC found its rhythm on offense against the Giants in their first win of the season Sunday. You can’t let them get hot or find balance as the Chiefs rank 17th in running the football and 15th in passing. The Ravens pass defense isn’t much better (ranked 31st). But you can’t do both poorly. Right now, the Ravens do. And they are who they are one month into the season: the worst defense in the NFL in total defense.
Offensive Line Step Up: Lamar Jackson was sacked seven times by the Lions on Monday night. He had zero running lanes when he needed to buy time or get loose. The Lions found the cheat code to stopping the Ravens offense and they still scored 30 points. Jackson can’t be stopped, only contained. But he needs his offensive line to do its part. The Lions pressured him 30 times. The Chiefs will be trying to do that with Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and Drue Tranquil. The Ravens’ rushing attack was also stifled by Cleveland and Detroit. Not to mention Derrick Henry’s fumbling issues, but for now, I’ll leave the Ravens issues on offense to their o-line that must step up on the road in a hostile KC environment.
Stay within yourself: The Ravens do not need to make this game any bigger than it will be come Sunday. On the road, both teams are facing a 1-3 record with a loss. Safe to say this is not how either the Chiefs or Ravens planned to start the season. However, the Super Bowl won’t be won in Week 4. There is plenty of time left. The Ravens need to keep their emotions and body language in check, which wasn’t the case Monday night or in Buffalo. The Chiefs are their dragon, with only one win against them in the last decade (2021) in the regular season. Not to mention the heartbreaking AFC Championship loss two years ago. The Ravens need to flush the past with Kansas City and keep this game what it is: one regular season game and a chance to get to 2-2. That hasn’t been the case in the last few meetings because this rivalry has turned into the Chiefs standing in the Ravens’ way for their ultimate February goal. Playing with that in mind only leads to poor plays and turnovers.
X-Factor – RB Derrick Henry: Oh boy. Henry needs to hold onto the football and run all over the Chiefs. Two things he is more than capable of doing. We know the Ravens go as their offense goes this season due to poor defensive play. The Ravens need to be production in the ground game, put points on the board and control the game clock.
AJ’s Keys
Hold on to the ball: Derrick Henry fumbled his league-high third football on Monday night and, much like his fumble in Week 1, it came at a very consequential point in the football game. He’s had one each week of the season so far. Naturally, it will be hard for Henry to completely focus on playing his brand of football while still focusing on securing the rock, but that needs to happen (bare minimum). If any other player on the Ravens (not named Lamar Jackson) fumbled three times through three games, they’d immediately enter the Harbaugh doghouse and lose playing time. That won’t happen to Derrick Henry, but he can’t afford another consequential fumble. That being said, the Ravens need to win the turnover battle in general. They did against the Browns and look at the result. It can’t just be on Henry to keep the ball in his hands the defense needs to step up, as well, and take the ball away from Patrick Mahomes and company.
Secondary get-right game: We’ve seen it in two out of three games this season: Lamar Jackson and an explosive offensive performance alone cannot win football games. The defense must stop their opponent, it’s that simple. And, yes, the defensive line is a massive issue against the run game. They were torn to shreds against the Lions rushing attack. Admittedly, it will be tough for the Ravens to succeed against the run without Nnamdi Madubuike, so defensive success must start with a turnaround from the defensive backs. The Chiefs wide receiver room is banged up, suspended, and led by a former Raven (Hollywood Brown). This is the perfect week for Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and the rest of the Ravens defensive backs to lock down their man and force some turnovers. A good game from the secondary can spark a streak of success – just look at what happened last season from Week 11 through the end of the year. One good week can create a snowball effect of effective defensive football – and that is so very clearly what the Ravens need right now to right the ship.
Take down Mahomes: The Ravens have three sacks through three weeks of football. Two of those belong to Nnamdi Madubuike, who is out with a neck injury. Take away the star DT and the Ravens are the worst team in the NFL at taking down the quarterback. They were unable to even get one sack against Jared Goff and the Lions. Something needs to change, whether schematically or through personnel. The best way to force mistakes from one of the best QBs in the league is to pressure him. Guys like Odafe Oweh, Tavius Robinson, and Mike Green are out there pressuring the QB, but need to do more to put sacks on the board. The Ravens cannot afford to lose another sack-battle 7-0 like they did against Detroit.
X-Factor – QB Lamar Jackson: It’s easy to say that Lamar is the X-Factor, he could be listed here every week. Through three weeks, there’s not much about the defense that inspires confidence. Meanwhile, Jackson has continuously looked like one of the best players in the league. This week, he’s going up against one of his kryptonites in Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. I think Lamar will be playing angry, clearly looking to prove not only to himself, but also to his teammates and the Baltimore fans that he is a better signal caller than his opponent. Jackson needs to do a better job this week of either getting rid of the football if there’s nothing going down the field or being the elusive version of himself that doesn’t allow sacks, extending plays outside of the hashes if no one is open.