NFL 2023 AFC Championship Game - Kansas City at Baltimore

[balmainforever]

MONDAY, JANUARY 29 @ 7:00AM (LIVE ON ESPN/KAYO AND 7MATE)
(3) Kansas City at (1) Baltimore

NB: VIC, NSW, TAS times
less 30 mins SA
less 1 hour Qld
less 1.5 hours NT
less 3 hours WA

 

[Broken]

Kudos to Andy Reid however, his 11th appearance in a championship game as coach (4 wins 6 losses so far).

 

[GreyCrow]

Of those cheering for a Ravens win this week. 1% are actually Ravens fans, the other 99% are hoping for a SB not dominated by Taylor Swift.

Nope I think the Ravens are the best team

 

[LittleG]

Ravens last chance:
They have at least 6 veterans who can’t return (unless they take massive pay cuts as a group). The team will lose starters from 3/4 of their best pass rushers. 1 of their middle LBs. 1 safeties & at least 1 CB. That is a lot of starters to lose in 1 off season. Maybe they keep one or two of the pass rushers but not all of them.

On offence they will lose 1 Tackles, 1 Guards, 1 WR and both starting RB.

That is a lot of players who know that the group won’t be together again and this is their shot.

Will lose 2 of their top 3 assistants to HC jobs.


Large team is hugely motivated and stacked for this year only.

 

[Mercurial89]

Chiefs fan, but Ravens are the better team, not too many holes on that roster.
No coaching mismatch this week for the chiefs unlike last week and this is a healthy team, we ain't moving the ball against 3rd string linebackers here.

The good thing is, history is littered with teams with a great defence and a great QB winning games even when they are outmatched roster vs roster so I'm hopeful we can at least give it a shot and not get blown off the park. The chiefs Defence has been pretty special this year, I'd put them up against the ravens group as comparable.

I think Ravens dominant league leading defence is slightly overstated, yes they have been good, the stats all say they have been. I also don't think they are bad by any stretch.
The quality of QB they have faced though dilutes the stats a bit. Against decent QBs they have been scored on, the true absolute blowouts against bad QBs have made it seem like they are more dominant than they are.

 

[Broken]

I agree with the above. While they've found a way in recent weeks, the Chiefs haven't impressed me, while the Ravens winning last week feels like the hump that they had to get over on the way to a championship.

If the Ravens win, I expect a Superbowl letdown. Lamars Ravens are 20-3 vs NFC teams, BUT they did play the 49ers a few weeks back, so the element of surprise might not be as big of a factor in a rematch. Against the Lions I'd expect a much more lopsided game (as much as I'd love a Lions win)

 

[LittleG]

Chiefs fan, but Ravens are the better team, not too many holes on that roster.
No coaching mismatch this week for the chiefs unlike last week and this is a healthy team, we ain't moving the ball against 3rd string linebackers here.

The good thing is, history is littered with teams with a great defence and a great QB winning games even when they are outmatched roster vs roster so I'm hopeful we can at least give it a shot and not get blown off the park. The chiefs Defence has been pretty special this year, I'd put them up against the ravens group as comparable.

I think Ravens dominant league leading defence is slightly overstated, yes they have been good, the stats all say they have been. I also don't think they are bad by any stretch.
The quality of QB they have faced though dilutes the stats a bit. Against decent QBs they have been scored on, the true absolute blowouts against bad QBs have made it seem like they are more dominant than they are.

Ravens had the 3rd highest strength of schedule this year. Chiefs had the 24th, so by that metric, the Chiefs had a much easier schedule. Not sure why you think the Ravens D is overrated…. It is ranked historically high by the DVOA system.

Chiefs didn’t play the 9ers and lost to the Lions. Lamar loves playing the NFC and beat those two sides comfortably.

 

[Angus Young]

This will be awesome. Flip a coin.

 

[revo333]

I feel like the Ravens can get away with cruising and will be able to flick the switch when seriously challenged.

 

[Exe Gesis]

What you're all forgetting is the effect of the officials on this game potentially. What would be a comfortable win for the Ravens turned into a close battle with dodgy calls (or no calls), and then on the final drive Mahomes with the ball of course.

 

[AJ_2000]

 

[LittleG]

What you're all forgetting is the effect of the officials on this game potentially. What would be a comfortable win for the Ravens turned into a close battle with dodgy calls (or no calls), and then on the final drive Mahomes with the ball of course.

Just like playing the Squeelers?

 

[AmericanCrow]

Ohhh and screw the Ratbirds

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Ohhh and screw the Ratbirds

John Dorsey's Chiefs.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

 

[drd23]

Ravens also made space on the roster today for a potential Mark Andrews return

 

[LittleG]

Ravens have played a lot of teams with a winning record. Adjusting to the other teams strengths, leads to stats like that.

Surprised neither coordinator got a HC gig yet.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Ravens have played a lot of teams with a winning record. Adjusting to the other teams strengths, leads to stats like that.

Surprised neither coordinator got a HC gig yet.

I'm pretty sure the NFL prohibits teams from negotiating with staff members (of other teams) still involved in the playoffs.

 

[Mercurial89]

Ravens had the 3rd highest strength of schedule this year. Chiefs had the 24th, so by that metric, the Chiefs had a much easier schedule. Not sure why you think the Ravens D is overrated…. It is ranked historically high by the DVOA system.

Chiefs didn’t play the 9ers and lost to the Lions. Lamar loves playing the NFC and beat those two sides comfortably.

I know they have played good teams, or should I say teams with winning records.
NFC teams don't know how to play Lamar, his record against that conference is silly.

What my post says and why I don't think their defence is as good as what some are making out (still good, and probably top 2-3 in the league) is the QBs they have faced aren't a murderers row of talent, imo.
The chiefs will move the ball.

Two best QBs they have faced are Stafford and Watson, both put up 30.
A lot of backups, and a lot of QBs that once they are pressured go to absolute water, Goff for example (check record outside vs inside and when pressured).

Mahomes will be the best QB they will have faced by a long way.
Mahomes history against the number 1 defences in football is very good, the numbers are cartoonish. Reid has schemed up top defences for years, I think the chiefs will be able to move the ball.

The chiefs Defence is number 2 in a lot of the numbers people talk about the ravens in (sacks, yards, points etc). I don't think it's a massive gulf in talent between that side of the ball.

Now ravens are the better overall team and are healthier. No question, they should be favoured, they are at home, a lot of things point to them being the team to win.

But I don't think it's a blowout, and if it's tight I trust Reid and Mahomes over Lamar and Harbough.

 

[AJ_2000]

I know they have played good teams, or should I say teams with winning records.
NFC teams don't know how to play Lamar, his record against that conference is silly.

What my post says and why I don't think their defence is as good as what some are making out (still good, and probably top 2-3 in the league) is the QBs they have faced aren't a murderers row of talent, imo.
The chiefs will move the ball.

Two best QBs they have faced are Stafford and Watson, both put up 30.
A lot of backups, and a lot of QBs that once they are pressured go to absolute water, Goff for example (check record outside vs inside and when pressured).

Mahomes will be the best QB they will have faced by a long way.
Mahomes history against the number 1 defences in football is very good, the numbers are cartoonish. Reid has schemed up top defences for years, I think the chiefs will be able to move the ball.

The chiefs Defence is number 2 in a lot of the numbers people talk about the ravens in (sacks, yards, points etc). I don't think it's a massive gulf in talent between that side of the ball.

Now ravens are the better overall team and are healthier. No question, they should be favoured, they are at home, a lot of things point to them being the team to win.

But I don't think it's a blowout, and if it's tight I trust Reid and Mahomes over Lamar and Harbough.

It's going to be a fascinating match up. The Chiefs have been ordinary by their high standards, but here they are in an AFC championship game after playing well enough to knock over the Bills.

The Ravens have been top shelf the last few months, but you're right about facing a top QB. Mahomes and Reid are a combination that can hang around and make you pay.

 

[catters078]

Think Ravens will comfortably.

27-10

 

[Constantgin]

 

[The hands of stone]

Ravens are pretty well rested and healthy , unless they bottle it they will win .

KC were good last week , it was against a pretty ravaged defence and on two day longer break in a tight game though.

Wouldnt put it past Reid and Mahomes but theyll need another 10-15% up to win.
Going Ravens 31-20 .

 

[drd23]

 

[AmericanCrow]

 

[drd23]

Hope the trend holds