Mahomes, the Better MVP, as Chiefs Humble Ravens, 34-20

Sep 29

Baltimore, MD: This was supposed to be the quarterback battle of the century. Football fans across the nation were expecting 2018’s NFL MVP winner, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to have an epic battle against 2019’s NFL MVP winner, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Fans wanted to see two of the most dynamic, revolutionary talents to play quarterback in this league to duke it out under the primetime lights of Monday Night Football.

What they got instead was a Ravens team that couldn’t get anything done on either side of the ball, as “Money” Mahomes rips the Ravens No. 1 ranked defense into shreds for a 34-20 win.

Patrick Mahomes. That’s it, that’s the title.

To say that Patrick Mahomes is one of, if not the best, football players in the NFL does not do the 25-year-old signal-caller. An MVP winner in 2018. A Super Bowl winner in 2019. And In 2020, he became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards passing (34 games), beating out Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner by two games. Against the Ravens, Mahomes played at a hall of fame level, completing 31/42 passes (74% completion) for 385 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks. And even though this wasn’t counted on the box score, Mahomes also broke out of three would-be sacks against the Ravens, who came into the game with six through two games. Mahomes’ best play of the game was one of his shortest; an underhanded throw to the fullback Anthony Sherman for a five-yard score early in the second quarter. He threw the ball like a softball pitch to Sherman, who was waiting on a short screen in the middle of the play. The Chiefs’ half-a-billion-dollar signal-caller is playing NFL football like he’s a grown man playing playground football against a peewee squad. It almost isn't fair. Almost.

Mahomes did his best to spread the wealth among his receiving corps, finding eight different receivers on the night, including left tackle Eric Fisher, who scored a two-yard touchdown. Against a top-ranked Ravens passing defense. As for Mahomes’ other weapons, wideouts Tyreek Hill (5-77-1) and Mecole Hardman (4-81-1) really torched the trail against the Ravens secondary, while tight end Travis Kelce (6-87-0) led the team in catches and yards. Even rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire got in on the fun, putting up a total of 134 total scrimmage yards on the night (64 rushing, 70 receiving).

On defense, K.C.’s unit was able to keep Jackson and the Ravens in check, but they still let a few leaks through. KC let the Ravens run the ball effectively, allowing 158 yards on the ground. But KC never wanted to stop the Ravens, just slow them down. On third down situations, KC kept Baltimore to only three conversions out of nine (33% conversion), with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo blitzing Jackson constantly. KC’s front seven got home to Jackson five times, with four of those hits resulting in sacks. Defensive end Chris Jones had two on the night while defensive end Frank Clark and linebacker Ben Niemann both and one.

Lamar Jackson’s still good, just not good enough

The reigning NFL MVP didn’t play like one. Jackson completed 15/28 (54% completion) for 97 yards and one touchdown. Jackson should have had two interceptions on the night, but both balls were dropped by defensive back L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward. Jackson looked uncomfortable in the pocket, often only reading his first option, then scrambling when it wasn’t there. The constant pressure had the man affectionately known as “Big Truss” running for his life, overthrowing passes; overall, just trying to do too much. On the ground, Jackson was again the team's leading rusher, with the next closest being third-year back Gus Edwards (4-39-0). Mark Ingram (7-30-0) was rendered obsolete by the end of the third quarter, while J.K. Dobbins (1-6-0) was the leading receiver for Baltimore (4-38-0). Tight end Mark Andrews, who’s been Jackson’s safety blanket since 2018, caught only three balls on eight targets for 22 yards.

On defense, the No.1 ranked unit that was supposed to stop the Chiefs' high-powered passing attack was embarrassed under the prime-time lights. The Ravens D allowed 517 total offensive yards against them, with Mahomes having 411 total yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns (four in the air, one on the ground). This was a unit that looked absolutely clueless on the field, with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid really turning up the trick plays. Reverses, counters, double screens, double passes; if Reid wanted to implement the Philly special on a third down and 30, he would have gotten 50 yards out of it. On third down conversions, the Ravens allowed 10 conversions out 13 attempts (77% conversion rate), while also failing to sack Mahomes even once. On the bright side, Baltimore’s special teams unit set a league first tonight, as rookie wideout Devin Duvernay returned a 93-yard kick return for a touchdown, the first kick return score of the season in the entire NFL.

What’s next?

Kansas City is set to face another test next week, as they host a New England Patriots team that smacked fellow AFC West resident Las Vegas Raiders in a 36-20 win on Sunday. As for the Ravens, they get what should be a gimme, as they travel down the Potomac River to play a Washington Football Team (still weird to say) that lost 20-34 to fellow AFC North resident Cleveland Browns. Two teams that lost 20-34 in week three set to play each other in week 4. That’s just funny.