The full Week 2 Battle Plan can be found here, but as usual, read on for the abridged Keys to Victory version.
Offensive Keys
Run. The. Ball.
Last year the Chiefs were 31st in Football Outsiders’ DVOA efficiency measure at defending the run.
The Ravens are ideally suited to running the ball against the Chiefs schematically.
Depending on Chiefs defensive personnel, they should look to run various running plays with their backs including their usual power run game alongside some Inside Zone plays and feature Trap concepts.
The Ravens’ interior Offensive Line needs to fit and finish blocks at the second level in their mismatches against KC Linebackers.
Run. The. Ball. (Part Deux)
Running the ball doesn’t have to be the running back’s domain. Not in this offense, and also, not against this defense.
Get more committed to the Inverted Veer, possibly running it with Devin Duvernay in the backfield as the decoy to Lamar Jackson.
Use misdirection, pre-snap motion and reverses. Pre-snap motion won’t identify coverage as well this week, but it will be a way to keep Chiefs defenders off-balance and off the power running game.
Attack Spagnuolo’s Coverage Plan
The Chiefs use a lot of roll coverage, as well as pattern match and man match coverage.
The main reason this scheme works, is Tyrann Mathieu. Lamar needs to always know where he is and what he’s doing.
Attack the overhang defender in the Chiefs’ pattern match coverage with their personnel. The Browns did this expertly with David Njoku.
Defensive Keys
Curb your enthusiasm, Wink
Patrick Mahomes is built to face the blitz. The Ravens may need to blitz less than Wink is accustomed to.
It’s simple numbers; the more people you have dropped into coverage the more equations he has to solve in his brain before pulling the trigger
The Ravens are who they are though, and must balance their defensive identity with the needs of facing a QB such as Mahomes.
When they do blitz, they should stay away from the zone blitz specifically.
Cover Kelce and Hill
Patrick Mahomes will carve up zone and mad coverage alike. So, you have to pick your poison.
Andy Reid’s offense is predominantly built around speed and spacing, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are used in tandem with each other very effectively.
The Ravens should stick to their man principles and ask Patrick Mahomes to make crazy throw after crazy throw to win the day.
Playing man coverage is not the perfect bet but it is the best bet for this team to beat the Chiefs.
The Ravens should also use a heavy dose of funneling.
How to attack the Chiefs’ Offensive Line
The interior of this Chiefs new-look Offensive Line was remarkably stout.
Mahomes is outstanding rolling to his right and throwing deep, off-platform.
If your pass-rushers both challenge the edge with a speed rush and meet in the middle, Mahomes can step up and often out to the right.
Odafe Oweh to challenge Orlando Brown Jr.’s edge with speed, while Justin Houston/Pernell McPhee try to go through Lucas Niang, replicating the Browns’ Week 1 pincer movement with their edge rushers.
Key Matchup
Sammy Watkins vs L’Jarius Sneed
The Chiefs have never respected the Ravens receiving options. They take away Andrews and Marquise Brown, betting that Lamar’s other options won’t win in man coverage. They’ve been right before, but Sammy Watkins could buck this trend.s
