Ravens Vs. Chiefs: AFC Wildcard Sunday Comes Down to Attitude!

The Chiefs average 22.9 points per game. The Ravens average 22.3 points. The Chiefs rush for 164 yards per game, the Ravens 114. When it comes to passing, the Ravens lead the Chiefs, 208 to 186.  Time of possession, 31:38 to 31:20. Third down efficiency, 39 percent to 37 percent.

The only real glaring stat that differentiates these two teams is the Chiefs rushing game. That is significant, but will it overcome the fact that the Ravens are fourth in the AFC against the rush?

Defensively, the Ravens have the edge statistically, but the Chiefs lead in a few important categories such as sacks and passing yards allowed.

The analysts are picking the winner in this AFC Wildcard game, and officially the Ravens are favored by three points.

There are a lot of ways to analyze the likely winner of a post-season football game. Statistically, home field advantage, wins and losses, strength of schedule. People place their bets and wait.

I don’t care about any of that. I believe that there is one factor that makes the difference in every NFL football game, especially in the playoffs, that cannot be measured. I am talking about attitude.

Attitude wins and loses more games than any other tangible asset. Attitude raises an inferior team to pull off an upset, and brings down the better team. Talent is important, but attitude is essential.

The Chiefs have the talent to win any game against any team. Talent is not enough!

When the Chiefs run out of the tunnel this Sunday at Arrowhead they will have already won or lost the game. It will be what is in the deep parts of each players head that will determine if they will move on in the playoffs or go back home and think about next year.

Carry a chip on their shoulders after getting stomped by the Raiders last week—feel the momentum of going from last place to division champs, let the energy of that home field crowd put an extra charge in the battery, or just want a playoff win to prove a point and shut up the naysayers! They will walk away from Arrowhead a winner and live to play the following week.

Let the magnitude of their first post season game overwhelm them—doubt, for any reason that they can win! They will walk away and pack to go back home.

We are going to play a good team this Sunday. Everyone knows that. The Ravens have attitude. It’s name is Ray Lewis. But that is not where it ends.

Our head coach has an attitude.

Our fans have an attitude.

If our players carry the same attitude into Arrowhead Sunday, we will be traveling next week to play another game.