Chiefs' Key Matchups to Beat Ravens in AFC Championship 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs do not have to reinvent their approach for the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Patrick Mahomes will target Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice at a high rate and rely on Isiah Pacheco to pick up a ton of yards on the ground.
Kansas City's offensive strategy seems simple, but it works, and now it needs to be applied to the matchup with the AFC's top seed.
The defensive approach should be different from the divisional-round round win over the Buffalo Bills so the Chiefs can properly deal with Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's power-rushing attack.
Kansas City allowed 182 rushing yards last week and gave up over 100 rushing yards in all but four of its games this season.
An improvement in defending the run could be the difference between the season ending in Baltimore or continuing on to Las Vegas.
Travis Kelce vs. Kyle Hamilton
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Travis Kelce has had at least six catches and 70 yards in all five of his career meetings with the Ravens.
The Kansas City tight end's best game against the Ravens came in his last meeting with the AFC North side in 2021. He had seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown in that game.
Baltimore now has Kyle Hamilton in place at safety to deal with physical, high-volume tight ends, like Kelce.
The Ravens should stick Hamilton to Kelce in an attempt to slow down the star tight end.
However, that might not work because Kelce usually saves his best performances for the postseason.
Kelce recorded at least 70 receiving yards in his last 11 postseason games and he scored 12 touchdowns in that span.
If Playoff Kelce shows up in Baltimore, like he did in Buffalo, the Chiefs can beat one of Baltimore's top defensive strengths.
Isiah Pacheco vs. Patrick Queen, Baltimore Front Seven
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The Chiefs will not stray from the offensive strategy it used to reach the AFC Championship Game.
Pacheco should earn a heavy dose of carries once again to provide balance alongside Mahomes.
The Baltimore rushing defense only allowed 38 ground yards to the Houston Texans in the divisional round.
Patrick Queen and the Ravens front seven held nine opponents under 100 rushing yards this season.
If Baltimore slows down Pacheco, the Chiefs will be forced to throw the ball more, and that could mean Mahomes has to trust players in the passing attack outside of Rice and Kelce.
A strong rushing game would allow the Chiefs to assert their dominance and counter whatever Lamar Jackson and Co. throw at the Kansas City defense.
Rushing Defense vs. Lamar Jackson and Gus Edwards
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Kansas City's defensive strategy is not exactly rocket science either.
The Chiefs need to slow down Lamar Jackson's impact on the ground.
That could be a problem for Steve Spagnuolo's defense because it allowed a season high in rushing yards last week against Josh Allen and the Bills.
Jackson recorded over 60 rushing yards in three of his previous four meetings with the Chiefs. He had 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the last matchup in 2021.
Jackson is the No. 1 player the Chiefs must stop, but they also need to contain Gus Edwards' impact on the contest.
Edwards has the potential to wear down the Kansas City front seven in a similar manner that Pacheco could.
Baltimore could be inclined to run the ball around 30 times on Sunday if Jackson and Edwards find enough success, and if that occurs, it could mark Kansas City's playoff downfall.
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