TNF: Ravens vs. Chiefs - Regular season is almost here!

[DarkVictory23]

Since I'll be able to watch the upcoming Ravens/Chiefs season opening game in its entirety (meanwhile, I now have to work during the Seahawks game... ), thought I'd just bring up some things I'm interested in watching for in this game:

1) Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Offense: It kind of got quietly ignored once the Chiefs won their Super Bowl, but last year, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense were surprisingly... ok? I mean, they were good, not at all bad, but they weren't what we're used to. Mahomes did not really put on a top 5 QB performance last year (and wasn't really in the conversation for that distinction) even though he still managed to do lots of 'Mahomes things'.

Are we thinking this was just an aberration? Is Mahomes going to jump right back to the top of the league like he was in '22? If this was about his receivers, did the Chiefs make the offseason moves needed to fix the issue?

2) Do we see any effect on the Ravens defense with their Defensive Coordinator jumping ship to become our new head coach? Or do they do what they've seemingly done non-stop in the Harbaugh era and just chug along?

3) Is this a preview of a likely repeat AFC Championship? If not, who do you see as usurping the spot of one of these guys?

 

[IndyHawk]

I really want to see Lamont suck since all the starters did not play in the preseason at all.
I can't stand watching that overpaid cuk.

 

[12AngryHawks]

Baltimore took quite a big hit on their defensive coaching staff this off-season, they not only lost MacDonald, but Anthony Weaver & Dennard Wilson as well. We'll see how much their defense is affected by those departures. If it takes a big step back, then is Lamar capable of putting the game in his hands week in & week out? This will be an intriguing season for Baltimore.

 

[Cyrus12]

Barf..skipping this one.

 

[MORGULON]

Amazon ? NFL network ?

 

[WmHBonney]

I really want to see Lamont suck since all the starters did not play in the preseason at all.
I can't stand watching that overpaid cuk.

Lamont! You big dummy!

 

[projectorfreak]

Didn't the queefs start out slow last year , if so who knows
First game is usually now a warm up game for many teams that don't play starters at all pre season
I would be surprised if the ravens D doesn't start a little slow so yay FOOOOSBALLLL

 

[keasley45]

1. I think 'top 5 numbers' dont necessarily indicate top 5 performance. Mahomes was outstanding last year on an offense that overall, was below what its been in years past. His ability extracted everything there was to extract from that side of the ball. Dont know where they'll end up this year though. Its hard to maintain such a high standard for what's going on 5 years now if for no other reason than opposing team's adapting, and trends transitioning.

2. Much like the Seahawks, the Ravens D got credit for being 'great', long after R Lewis, Suggs, and E Reed retired, despite their being for many years, very average. It wasnt until the last few years that they became dominant again, and last year was their best in a while. I dont think they'll be nearly as good overall this year. Playoffs? Sure. Much more? I think they've lost too much on both sides of the ball and on the coaching staff.

3. I honestly dont see either team in the AFCCG. Ravens because they've been drained personnel wise, chiefs because they'll have been drained emotionally this year in trying to maintain that razors edge in pursuit of a goal they already know theyve accomplished twice. Three in a row? I dont think even Andy Ried can make that happen.

 

[AROS]

Thank God the NFL Season is back!

 

[Ostatehawk]

The thing about Mahomes is that if you put another QB in that lineup - They are still a solid team and probably make the playoffs - but I doubt they win back-to back Superbowls without Mahomes. That guy is just different - he elevates that whole team.

 

[kidhawk]

I’m torn on this one. I’m kind of tired of the chiefs winning. Not to the point I was with the Brady led Patriots but it’s getting there. On the other hand I kind of want the ravens defense to stink it up so we can know it was all Macdonald

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

I think the Ravens defense takes a step back but the Chiefs usually start quite slow. Week 1 is weird

 

[knownone]

The Chiefs lack the snobbery of the Brady-led Patriots. They are just not as hatable. No controversy—a goofy, borderline-aloof QB and a likable head coach. They are the most vanilla dynasty in any major sport, and the most newsworthy thing about them is that their tight end is dating a singer whose prime demographic is twelve-year-old girls.

That said, I'd like to see the Chiefs get annihilated. The NFL needs parity to be interesting in the regular season, and the Chiefs look peerless in the AFC. Mahomes needs a foil—a Manning to his Brady. The NFL certainly wants that guy to be Jackson, so hopefully, Jackson can actually make things interesting tonight.

 

[Mizak]

Chiefs in the regular season is kinda weak. Unfortunately, most of the time they have winning records and when they reach the playoffs, the Chiefs are a whole different team than the regular season Chiefs.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

The Chiefs lack the snobbery of the Brady-led Patriots. They are just not as hatable. No controversy—a goofy, borderline-aloof QB and a likable head coach. They are the most vanilla dynasty in any major sport, and the most newsworthy thing about them is that their tight end is dating a singer whose prime demographic is twelve-year-old girls.

That said, I'd like to see the Chiefs get annihilated. The NFL needs parity to be interesting in the regular season, and the Chiefs look peerless in the AFC. Mahomes needs a foil—a Manning to his Brady. The NFL certainly wants that guy to be Jackson, so hopefully, Jackson can actually make things interesting tonight.

I dislike the Chiefs kicker with his shitty viewpoints but...it's a kicker. I don't mind Reid, Kelce, Mahomes etc.

Couldn't even feel the need for them to lose their super bowls as 2 were against the 9ers.

I just find them a little annoying as our companies second HQ is near KC so deal with some cocky chiefs fans. They still aren't as bad as Broncos fans though.

 

[James in PA]

I'm just glad meaningful games are back. I'm a little burnt out on KC, but they earned this. At least Dallas isn't being forced on us (yet). I kind of hope Baltimore's D looks like crap to further support what a genius move the Mike Mac hire was!

 

[chris98251]

Would we see Taylor Swift if they didn't win Championships though?

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

One thing I will add. Every time Kelce makes a clutch play I cringe reminding myself we drafted Christine Michael over him

 

[DarkVictory23]

1. I think 'top 5 numbers' dont necessarily indicate top 5 performance. Mahomes was outstanding last year on an offense that overall, was below what its been in years past. His ability extracted everything there was to extract from that side of the ball. Dont know where they'll end up this year though. Its hard to maintain such a high standard for what's going on 5 years now if for no other reason than opposing team's adapting, and trends transitioning.

2. Much like the Seahawks, the Ravens D got credit for being 'great', long after R Lewis, Suggs, and E Reed retired, despite their being for many years, very average. It wasnt until the last few years that they became dominant again, and last year was their best in a while. I dont think they'll be nearly as good overall this year. Playoffs? Sure. Much more? I think they've lost too much on both sides of the ball and on the coaching staff.

3. I honestly dont see either team in the AFCCG. Ravens because they've been drained personnel wise, chiefs because they'll have been drained emotionally this year in trying to maintain that razors edge in pursuit of a goal they already know theyve accomplished twice. Three in a row? I dont think even Andy Ried can make that happen.

1.) True, numbers alone aren't the only measure, but I also do not think Mahomes was blameless in the drop off (again, they were still a good team and good offense, so this is very relative). I mean, part of this can be parsed in the numbers... he was the least likely QB to target tight windows, was near the bottom in Air Yards to the Sticks, and had his longest time to throw since becoming the Chiefs starter.

And the thing is, some of this shows up in the video, too. Watching his tight window throws, the placement routinely looks... ok? Even poor? Yeah, there were some questionable drops (surprisingly, a number of the most head scratching that I saw were from Kelce), but it's not like you can't easily find multiple clips where he's just not throwing a good ball.

Do I consider Mahomes a top 5 QB? Yeah, but the drop off in performance last year can't all be placed on his receivers' feet. (And he had the number one rated OL by Pass Block Win Rate, an RB who was top 10 in both success rate and Yards per Attempt amongst starting RBs, and a HOF TE). And if they really did get hurt by a talent deficit at WR, how do we feel about the moves they made there to get back on top?

2.) This is very fair. I'll admit to being mostly pretty uninterested in the Ravens in general (frankly, that applies to the Chiefs as well) so I'll be honest that I probably gave them the benefit of the doubt in terms of defensive prowess purely by reputation.

3.) I actually agree here as well, but I also don't know who I think will jump above these two in the AFC. I feel like Buffalo had a bad offseason, Miami got exposed every time they tried to take on higher level competition, Cleveland has questions at QB, and I'm not as sold on CJ Stroud in Houston as a lot of others. So, who steps up?

 

[Mizak]

Refs are calling illegal formations now. That’s two in the chiefs ravens game now.

EDIT: 3 illegal formations on Ravens.