Category: AFC Playoffs

AFC Championship picks: Who the experts are taking in Ravens vs. Chiefs

We’re looking at the NFL expert picks for the AFC Championship game and the Ravens are projected to defeat the Chiefs

We’re a little over 32 hours from one of the biggest AFC Championship tilts in NFL history when the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium.

Since becoming Kansas City’s head coach in 2013, Andy Reid has been 4-1 through the regular season against the Ravens, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been 3-1.

Last Sunday, the Chiefs defeated the Bills in Buffalo 27-24 to advance to the AFC’s final game, while Baltimore is riding high after a 34-10 win over Houston and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

With preparation for the matchup set to begin, we’re looking at one thing to watch at each offensive position group.

Chiefs rule out Joe Thuney and list RB Isiah Pacheco as questionable for AFC Championship Game vs. Ravens

Chiefs rule out All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and list RB Isiah Pacheco as questionable for AFC Championship Game vs. Ravens

The Ravens had all 53 players on the roster practice on Friday, but the same can’t be said for the Chiefs, who have an All-Pro offensive guard set to miss the AFC title game.

Joe Thuney has been ruled out for Kansas City, while running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle/toe) and wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hip/ankle) are questionable for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game vs. Baltimore.

Thuney, a Pro Bowl selection for the second straight season, is highly unlikely to be available for Sunday’s game because of a pectoral injury.

Pacheco insisted Wednesday that he will be on the field Sunday.

He led the Chiefs with 935 rushing yards in the regular season and added 97 more in last Sunday’s 27-24 divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps) and receiver Skyy Moore (knee) also missed Thursday’s practice.

Lamar Jackson talks about ‘heavyweight’ fight against Patrick Mahomes: ‘I don’t like competing against him at all’

Lamar Jackson ready for ‘heavyweight’ fight against Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are two of the most electric quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. Since entering the league just a year apart from one another, the two MVP quarterbacks have faced off four times, with Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs emerging victorious in three out of the four games.

Jackson can win his second game against Mahomes this Sunday, the biggest game of each team’s season. Jackson was abundantly honest earlier this week when asked what he likes about competing against Mahomes.

“I don’t like competing against [Patrick Mahomes] at all,” Jackson said. “But yes, he’s a great quarterback. [He’s] definitely a Hall of Famer. It’s a no-brainer; he’s definitely a Hall of Famer. But I believe [it’s] just two greats – up-and-coming greats – just going toe to toe, like a heavyweight fight [and] heavyweight matchup. That’s just what I see.”

Mahomes and the Chiefs have the edge in experience over the current iteration of the Ravens regarding the playoffs and Super Bowls, as this will be the sixth AFC Championship game in a row that Kansas City will play in and the first on the road in that timespan.

Conversely, this is Baltimore’s first trip to the conference championship since the 2012 season and the first in the city of Baltimore since the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-17 in January of 1971 with Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas at the helm.

Roquan Smith is confident against Patrick Mahomes: ‘He puts his pants on just like any other quarterback’

Roquan Smith is confident ahead of matchup against Patrick Mahomes

The Baltimore Ravens are getting ready to play in their first AFC Championship since the 2012 season this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to win his second MVP, but perhaps the Ravens’ defense has been the biggest driver of the team’s dominance this season.

Baltimore’s defense has faced a gauntlet of top offenses and quarterbacks this season, rising to the occasion game after game. Against the Houston Texans and red-hot rookie quarterback and potential Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, the Ravens’ defense allowed just three points and kept the Texans from ever reaching Baltimore’s 25-yard line.

However, the Ravens will face a different animal this Sunday when two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes comes to town to play in his sixth-straight AFC Championship.

Still, Baltimore inside linebacker Roquan Smith is confident in his unit against Mahomes.

“[Patrick Mahomes] puts his pants on just like any other quarterback,” Smith said. “Yes, he’s an elite quarterback, but at the end of the day, we’re an elite defense, and that’s our job – to stop the opposing offense. That’s our job, play in and play out, and that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Smith’s demeanor since joining the Ravens via a trade with the Chicago Bears last season has noticeably transformed Baltimore’s defense and team attitude as a whole, leading to comparisons to the legendary Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis with his physicality on the field but also his natural ability to get the most out of the players next to him and an infectious desire to fire his team up for any occasion.

Ravens activate TE Mark Andrews from injured reserve ahead of AFC Championship

Baltimore Ravens activate Mark Andrews from injured reserve ahead of AFC Championship

The Baltimore Ravens are getting one of their best players back in time for the most crucial game of their season this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens have activated tight end Mark Andrews from injured reserve with the expectation that he will play against the Chiefs this Sunday.

The All-Pro tight end has been out of the starting lineup since suffering a cracked fibula against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Second-year tight end Isaiah Likely has stepped up as one of the focal playmakers of Baltimore’s offense in Andrews’ absence. Getting both on the field together now would be quite challenging for opposing defenses to prepare for.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked earlier this week what it would mean if Andrews could return for Sunday’s game.

“It would mean a lot,” Jackson said. “That’s my – like I said – bread and butter, big bro, and it would definitely mean a lot … the type of caliber player he is, and what he brings to the table for us, it would definitely mean a lot for us.“

One thing to watch for in each Ravens offensive position group against Chiefs

We’re looking at one thing to watch at each offensive position group when the Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Baltimore for the AFC Championship Game to take on the Ravens.

Since becoming Kansas City’s head coach in 2013, Andy Reid has been 4-1 through the regular season against the Ravens, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been 3-1.

Last Sunday, the Chiefs defeated the Bills in Buffalo 27-24 to advance to the AFC’s final game, while Baltimore is riding high after a 34-10 win over Houston and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

With preparation for the matchup set to begin, we’re looking at one thing to watch at each offensive position group.

Isiah Pacheco plays angry but Patrick Queen is angrier

Kansas City Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco should know that Baltimore Ravens LB Patrick Queen plays angry on defense.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco should know that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen plays angry on defense.

Queen recorded 133 total tackles and 11 stuffs this season on a defense that allowed just six rushing touchdowns all year. 

Pacheco did not reach 1,000 rush yards this season but did average 4.6 yards per carry. Regardless, Queen and the Ravens will be looking to pummel Pacheco in the AFC Championship.

Stopping Pacheco as a rusher is only half of the battle. Queen will likely match-up as a pass defender on Pacheco out of the back-field on passing downs. With a 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds, Queen is well-able to go stride for stride with Pacheco if needed.

Kansas City will probably try to pull blockers and use counter schemes to create rush lanes for Pacheco. Pacheco better run his angriest if he thinks Queen and the Ravens are going to lay down in the AFC Championship.

Ravens All-Pro DB Kyle Hamilton is ‘part of the plan’ to take away Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

Ravens All-Pro DB Kyle Hamilton is ‘part of the plan’ to take away Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

The Baltimore Ravens will face their toughest season test this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Ravens’ defense has faced a gauntlet of top offenses and quarterbacks this season, but they have yet to face the best: Patrick Mahomes. While the Chiefs’ offense has not been as dangerous this season as in years past with Mahomes at quarterback, there is no denying the gravity of the task at hand for Baltimore this Sunday.

While he no longer has wide receiver Tyreek Hill at his disposal, Mahomes still has his go-to weapon in the passing attack in All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.    Like Kansas City’s offense, though, Kelce has seemingly taken a step back this season. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer recorded less than 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since his second season in the NFL in 2015.

Don’t let that fool you, though, as Kelce is still as dangerous as it comes at the position and will provide a sizable challenge for defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. One player who could be pivotal in slowing Kelce this weekend is second-year All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.

[Travis Kelce] is a great player in our league,” Hamilton said when speaking to the media on Wednesday. “He has been a great player for as long as I can remember, as long as I have been watching him at this level. He has earned every ounce of respect that he has received until this point, and it will be a challenge. I am part of the plan to hopefully take him away, but it is a team effort at the same time.”

Hamilton has established his presence as a physical playmaker and one of the league’s best safeties in his second season, with the versatility to move all around the defense. At 6-foot-4 with a massive wingspan and speed to match, Hamilton may be the perfect player to combat Kelce, though, as he mentioned, it will be a team effort.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews expected to play in AFC Championship

The Baltimore Ravens will get a major player back this week for the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, tight end Mark Andrews is expected to play for the Ravens this Sunday. From @GMFB: The …

The Baltimore Ravens will get a major player back this week for the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, tight end Mark Andrews is expected to play for the Ravens this Sunday.

The Pro Bowl tight end has been on injured reserve with a cracked fibula since Baltimore’s Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Andrews left the game on the team’s opening drive with what was initially feared to be a season-ending injury following a hip-drop tackle by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.

The Ravens’ offense did not falter without Andrews as the unit may have in past seasons, primarily due to a much-improved group of wide receivers and the emergence of second-year tight end Isaiah Likely as a pivotal playmaker in the passing game.

How much Andrews will play this Sunday is unknown.

Still, offensive coordinator Todd Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson must find a way to effectively reinstate him into the passing game while continuing to feature Likely.

Ravens announce Legends of the Game for AFC Championship matchup

Ravens announce that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are Sunday’s Legends of the Game. Jonathan Ogden will be the Honorary Captain.

With the Ravens set to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Baltimore is calling on the big guns and stars from the past for support.

The Ravens announced that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are Sunday’s Legends of the Game, while Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will be the Honorary Captain.

Michael Phelps will deliver the game ball, the offense will be introduced before kickoff, and T-Pain will perform at halftime.

Anquan Boldin, Dennis Pitta, Todd Heap, Matt Stover, and Terrell Suggs will also be recognized at different game points.