NFL Feature: Baltimore Ravens thrash the Kansas City Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens were so firmly in control of the game against Kansas City Chiefs today, that it made the clash almost boring. Almost….
The Ravens defence pummelled the Chiefs all day long. Quarterback Matt Cassel was able to pass only 70 yards and didn’t score a touchdown but he was intercepted three times in the game. It was simply no contest. Baltimore’s defence overwhelmed Kansas City.
The Chiefs have an odd mix for an offence. Under Matt Cassel their passing offence ranks 30th among the 32 teams in the league. In contrast, their rush is ranked first in the league. The AFC West division winners were able to put up a bit of a rushing
attack but with the complete failure of the pass, the rush was in vain. Running back (RB) Jamaal Charles ran for 82 yards in 9 carries and scored the only touchdown of the game and the only points for the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the entire second half of the game the Ravens allowed just 25 yards. Linebacker Ray Lewis had a sack and forced a fumble in the second half, contributing to the Chief’s collapse. Lewis articulated, “To set records is one thing. To come out and play the
way we've played in the third quarter all year and the last two weeks, just giving up seven points to opponents, that's championship calibre football.”
While the defence was clobbering the Chiefs into oblivion, the offence was busy racking up a lead over Kansas City. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw 265 yards on 25 completed passes. He threw two touchdowns passes and wasn’t intercepted in the game. At the same
time, Baltimore’s running backs were piling up the pressure on the Chiefs defence. Ray Rice led Baltimore with 57 rushing yards followed by Willis McGahee with 44 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Rice said, “Our defence played phenomenal. They came out
in the second half and gutted that offence. It was impressive. It's impressive to be a part of this.”
The offence fully exploited the turnovers that the defence created for them. Early in the third quarter Cassel was intercepted before the Chiefs could advance a single yard but a fumble put the ball back in Cassel’s hands. However, he couldn’t make anything
of it and the Chiefs took the punt. The next time Kansas’ offence stepped on to the field, Cassel was sacked on the second play and the Ravens forced a fumble out of the Chiefs on the third. The Ravens converted that turnover into a quick field goal. After
just one play, the Chiefs’ offence failed once again and Cassel was intercepted on the Kansas’ 31 yard line. This time the turnover cost the Chiefs a touchdown.
The losing team entered the fourth quarter on the offence but were forced to punt the ball as the yards weren’t coming. Baltimore scored a touchdown of this possession. By this time the Ravens had secured a 23 point lead over the Chiefs. With three minutes
remaining Cassel was intercepted again but the Ravens just let this turnover slide. Running back Jason Parmele rushed the ball four consecutive times to run the clock down till the last minute. Flacco kneeled twice to end the quarter and Baltimore won. While
the offence held its own, it was the defence that unquestionably won the game for the victors and leading that defence was safety Ed Reed and of course Lewis. Lewis expressed,
“You just come in and make up your mind when things start going your way they start going your way. We knew that this was a very tough place to come play. They have a very talented ball club. We were able to show them and that's kind of how we are built.
We are built for 60 minutes.”
Reed is fighting through a family crisis. His brother has been missing for the past few days and as a sign of support to him and his family, the Ravens gave him the game ball. Baltimore will now face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, 15th January.
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