Ravens' Experience Beats Chiefs' Youth In the End

January 9, 2011

Ravens 30
Chiefs 7

The 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs, being the AFC West Division Champions, hosted the 12-4 Baltimore Ravens. Although he watched and learned from his former Patriot teammate Tom Brady, this was Matt Cassel's first ever NFL playoff start. As for Chiefs' offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, both formerly employed by the New England Patriots during their Super Bowl runs, they both had experience in this type of playoff pressure. Even Chiefs' head coach, Todd Haley, had been there before; he was on the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff during their 2008 playoff run. But experience on the coaching staff doesn't easily translate to the field.

Seasoned veterans and Ravens Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs were ready to slug it out for sixty minutes. This postseason game marked the 7th playoff appearance for Lewis out of fifteen seasons in the league. The week leading up to the game, Lewis was wearing his 2000 Super Bowl ring, which most likely served as inspiration for the rest of the Ravens. Even quarterback Joe Flacco was better prepared this time around. Through three seasons as quarterback of the Ravens, he has helped them to 35 wins--one less than Miami Dolphins' Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.

The Chiefs had only allowed 14 turnovers in the 2010 regular season, and they had four in this game. Cassel was sacked three times (once by Ray Lewis and twice by Terrell Suggs) and was intercepted three times. Their only points scored occured in the first quarter. The Chiefs' touchdown was also the most rush yards given up by the Ravens at one time--41 yards by running back Jamal Charles. This was the first touchdown of 30 yards or more allowed in the last 2,484 opponent rushes.

Ravens Flacco had a career postseason high in completion, yards, and touchdowns in this game--he was 25/34 for 265 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs were making many Raven drives longer by penalties alone. Chiefs secondary, especially corner back Brandon Flowers, made it hard for Flacco to throw passes down the sidelines, so he had to rely on running back Ray Rice and throw inside to wide receiver Anquan Boldin and tight end Todd Heap. Heap performed well, with a season high ten receptions and 108 yards, making him the first Raven player with 100+ yards receiving. With the Ravens win, the Chiefs lose in the postseason for the 7th straight year. The Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh to face the AFC North Division Champion Steelers next weekend.