Ravens ought to win Tremendous Bowl, however rely out Chiefs at personal peril

We’re right down to the final four in the NFL. Regardless of Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco having been on this combine a number of occasions over the previous few years, easy logic points to Baltimore and Lamar Jackson lastly breaking via. We additionally know the NFL tends to go “off script” generally within the postseason. The Ravens appear like one of the best of who’s left, however that doesn’t imply it’s a foregone conclusion they’ll be the final group standing.

The Ravens haven’t been part of Championship Sunday in additional than a decade, going again to once they beat the 49ers in Tremendous Bowl XLVII. That sport was dubbed the “Blackout Bowl” due to the facility outage midway via the sport. That’s the final time Baltimore was ok to make it via and hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Many count on the Ravens to walk their option to the franchise’s third Tremendous Bowl, particularly since they dominated each NFC hopefuls in the course of the common season. In Week 7, they beat up Detroit, 38-6. Jackson was concerned in 4 complete touchdowns, throwing for 3 and dashing for an additional. He additionally torched the Lions for 357 yards via the air. Then on Christmas evening, Jackson and crew stormed into the Bay Space and gave the Niners a work-over, 33-19. The rating sounds rather a lot nearer than it ever was in real-time.

Seemingly the one factor standing between the Ravens and a Tremendous Bowl win is the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. A group that struggled all season (primarily on offense), however as soon as once more finds themselves within the AFC title sport. For the sixth consecutive yr, the highway to the large sport in AFC goes via the Chiefs, nevertheless for the primary time not in KC. One more reason most are taking a look at Baltimore and predicting them to come back out on high.

Baltimore and Kansas Metropolis haven’t confronted off in a few years, with the Ravens narrowly taking the final sport over the Chiefs early within the 2021 marketing campaign, 36-35. Taking a look at each squads this season, it doesn’t really feel like the sport ought to be that shut. The way in which the Ravens have dominated recently they need to be capable to deal with the Chiefs. However it’s awfully laborious to miss one of the best QB-head coach combo in the NFL with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

Kansas Metropolis has been a little bit of an enigma this yr within the sense that they flip-flopped. Their protection has improved a lot from the previous couple of years whereas the offense couldn’t appear to get out of its personal manner half the time. They actually benefited from a down yr within the AFC West. KC gained the division whereas dropping six video games, which is essentially the most they’ve misplaced since Mahomes’ rookie yr in 2017. He began only one sport that yr, going 1-0.

Assessing the remaining subject logically brings us to the Ravens being essentially the most possible group to deliver residence the Lombardi. However much like how everybody thought this was Buffalo’s best chance to usurp the champs, Baltimore has the identical alternative. Certain, they may do it, get to the Tremendous Bowl, and run via the NFC consultant. However there’s simply one thing about that tandem from KC that we’ve seen so many occasions now that it’s laborious to guess in opposition to them. Even when Las Vegas says the Chiefs are underdogs, it’s laborious to not see them as favorites as a result of they’ve nonetheless bought No. 15 below heart and “Big Red” calling performs.