The Chiefs lost to their division rival, the Oakland Raiders, 31-10 last week and the Colts defeated the Tennessee Titans, making the Chiefs and Colts swap third and fourth seeds in AFC playoff race. The fifth seed, occupied by Baltimore, always travels to the home stadium of the fourth seed in the wild card round so the Ravens are Missouri bound next weekend.
The most intriguing aspect of this game is the level of unfamiliarity between the two opponents. The Ravens have lengthy experience playing against every other team in the AFC playoff race. The Ravens saw the New England Patriots twice last year and once earlier this season, play the Pittsburgh Steelers twice a year in AFC North divisional showdowns, take annual spankings from the Colts and opened this season of Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.
These two teams last played in each’s 2009 season opener but have not faced each other in Arrowhead Stadium since week 14 of 2006. The only remaining offensive cornerstones of that Ravens team are Derrick Mason and Todd Heap, both of whom were outshined by Mark Clayton (hard to believe, I know). Neither Joe Flacco nor Ray Rice have ever played in Arrowhead, a stadium considered to be as raucous and lively as any in the league.
Ray
Lewis may still remember his visit rather vividly. In that game, the defense allowed Larry Johnson to run for 120 yards but used Ed Reed’s two interceptions to restrain Trent Green from racking up points. They rode a solid defensive performance to a 20-10 December win against the Chiefs, the first to accomplish such since 1995.
Flacco and Rice can brag about their extensive playoff experience. Flacco has started in five playoff games during his short three year career, Rice only in two because the ankle injury he sustained his rookie year kept him out of postseason action. The atmosphere that will reside in Arrowhead Stadium come Sunday at 1pm will among the most intense the Ravens have experienced this year. Despite that,
they should be up to the challenge. The Chiefs, on the other hand, may not be so prepared to rumble.
Most of their top performers have yet to experience a playoff game. Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry have all been deprived starting in the playoff experience so far mostly due to their age. Players like complimentary running back Thomas Jones and linebacker Mike Vrabel will help balance out this influx of talented but novice players. Not to mention Chiefs head coach Todd Haley earned the job not long after coordinating the offense of 2007 NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals.
Best believe the pressure will be applied to this Chiefs team that is not used to playing in January by this veteran Ravens team that has made a habit of dominating in the wild card round of the playoffs.
