Five things to know about the Chiefs’ next opponent: Baltimore Ravens
This might be the most anticipated game of the young NFL season.
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens, who had a 14-2 record last season and were the top AFC seed. Like the Chiefs, the Ravens are 2-0. They beat the Texans 33-16 on Sunday in Houston. Baltimore also thumped Cleveland 38-6.
Each week I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here are five things to know about the Ravens ahead of next Monday’s game, which kicks off at 7:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.
1. MVP vs. MVP
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson was last season’s MVP, winning the NFL’s top award one year after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Jackson is off to a strong start to the 2020 season. He’s completed 78% of his passes for 479 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating is 134.6, and he’s the Ravens leading rusher with 99 yards on the ground.
2. The Karate Kid
Running back Mark Ingram, who had 1,018 yards rushing a year ago, is off to a slow start for Baltimore. He has 84 yards in 19 attempts, which is a 4.4-yard per attempt average. But he got 30 of those yards on this run Sunday, which he punctuated with a roundhouse kick:
“I punched like ... I think the Chiefs logo last year, we didn’t win, but I punched it,” Ingram told reporters. “And I was like lemme just go ahead and put a roundhouse kick. Fun fact, I was a first-degree black belt growing up.”
3. No. 1 defense
Former Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters still has a nose for the ball. He made this great interception in Sunday’s game:
The Ravens defense is first in the NFL, allowing just 22 points in two games.
Baltimore is already plus-four in turnover margin this season and the Ravens have six sacks. Rookie linebacker Patrick Queen is leading the Ravens in tackles (17) and he has a sack and has forced a fumble.
But the Ravens got some bad news during Sunday’s win. Cornerback Tavon Young sustained a left knee injury that will end his season.
4. On a roll
Including the postseason, the Chiefs have won 11 straight games. The Ravens have an impressive streak going as well. They have won 14 straight regular-season games, the longest in the NFL since the Carolina Panthers won 18 consecutive in 2014-15.
5. Special teams
The Chiefs wouldn’t trade Harrison Butker for any kicker in the league but the Ravens wouldn’t part ways with Justin Tucker either.
On Sunday, Tucker had four field goals and is perfect in five attempts this season. He was an All-Pro a year ago after making all but one of his 29 field-goal attempts. He also led the league with 57 extra-points.
Punter Sam Koch has already put three punts inside the 20-yard line this season.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
