Chiefs show 'Skins how to beat Ravens
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:22 pm
Chiefs show 'Skins how to beat Ravens
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BALTIMORE--Sometimes, when a football team is struggling and the coaches' vision gets fuzzy from analyzing too much game film, it helps to take a break and just watch TV. A good sitcom might be the ticket, but since there aren't many, Monday Night Football suffices.
If the Washington Redskins were paying attention last night, they learned a few things about the Baltimore Ravens in their 27-24 loss to Kansas City. It may come in handy, since the Ravens' next game just happens to come on Sunday night at FedEx Field.
On their first offensive snap last night, the Chiefs lined up and pushed Baltimore's defensive front backwards about five yards. Priest Holmes, quality back that he is, picked up three more on his own.
The tone was established. The Chiefs marched steadily downfield on an efficient 10-play, 60-yard drive, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from former Redskin Trent Green to tight end Jason Dunn.
Later in the first half, the Chiefs put on a clinic of a 14-play, 79-yard drive that consumed 8:08 and broke a 10-10 tie. The march featured plenty of power running by Holmes, with a couple of key passes from Green to keep the Ravens off balance. Holmes scored from 3 yards out.
Kansas City ate up most of the third quarter on a 13-play, 80-yard possession that ended with Holmes' second TD, a 1-yarder. In all, the Chiefs had held the ball nearly three times as long as the Ravens did.
Baltimore stayed close thanks to a flea-flicker touchdown pass, a punt-return score and a dubious pass-interference call that set up another TD.
The Ravens' defense is fearsome, but if there's a weak spot, it's the front three. When Baltimore won the Super Bowl four years ago, the unsung heroes were run-stuffing tackles Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has shifted to a 3-4 alignment to exploit the talents of his deep linebacker corps, but the result has been a sacrifice of beef up front.
A powerful offensive line and a shifty running back are always a good recipe for success (and the Chiefs have both). They work particularly well against a speedy, ball-hawking defense that loves to force opponents into third-and-long situations. The Chiefs also minimized Ray Lewis by putting a big body on him--and they don't come much bigger than Redskins guard Derrick Dockery.
As the Redskins will do on Sunday, the Chiefs faced the Ravens last night in crisis mode. Picked by some as a Super Bowl contender, they brought an 0-3 record to Charm City. Also, like Washington, Kansas City seems to go through timeouts like Gatorade; the Chiefs burned three in the first quarter.
There's one key difference between the Chiefs and Joe Gibbs' sputtering offense: Holmes routinely hangs on to the ball, while Clinton Portis' penchant for fumbles is becoming an epidemic.
To be successful Sunday night, the Redskins will have to control the ball--and the clock--and make sure that Lewis' tackles come five yards downfield. Sort of the way the Chiefs did last night. Kansas City went semi-conservative to take the heat off its pathetic defense, but it can mask offensive shortcomings, too.
See? Things can turn around when you execute. If the Redskins were paying attention, last night's game film could become this week's game plan.