Warpaint Illustrated: Bring on the Ravens

By Nick Athan
WarpaintIllustrated.com

January 2, 2011

In the aftermath of the Chiefs embarrassing 31-10 home loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Kansas City learned which AFC team they�ll host in the first round of the playoffs that begin next weekend.

On Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the AFC playoffs. The AFC North runner-up heads into the playoffs with a 12-4 record. The Chiefs finished the regular season as AFC West champions compiling a 10-6 record.

However, had the Chiefs had a better showing against the Raiders, they would have hosted the New York Jets as the AFC�s third seed. Instead, they come into the postseason as the fourth seed, while the Ravens are the fifth seed. These two teams didn�t meet during the regular season.

In games versus common opponents in the regular season, the Ravens were 4-1 sweeping the Cleveland Browns in divisional games, defeating Houston on the road and Denver at home. On the flip side, the Chiefs were 2-2 in common games, splitting their divisional games versus Denver, defeating the Browns on the road in week two and losing to the Texans on the road in week six.

But what happened in the regular season has very little meaning to either team as they prepare for Sunday�s playoff game. The Ravens come to Kansas City with one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Chiefs, even though they didn�t show it on Sunday against the Raiders, possess a very balanced offense.

And on the onset of the weeklong debate of which team has the advantage in this game, look no further than the final regular season game for each team to see which team might have the edge.

The Ravens gutted out a 13-7 win at home over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs arguably played their worst game of the season in losing to the Raiders at home.

Quarterback Matt Cassel threw a pair of interceptions and completed just 11 of 33 passes against Oakland. From the opening snap, he appeared to be out of sync against the Raiders aggressive defense. On the day, Cassel and his back-up Tyler Palko were sacked a season high seven times.

Running back Jamaal Charles ran just 14 times for 87 yards. He did find the end zone midway through the third quarter helping the Chiefs tie the score at 10. But after that point in the game, the Raiders turned up the heat on offense and defense.

The Chiefs never came close to scoring again and the Chiefs defense could do very little against the Raiders balanced offensive attack the remainder of the game.

But what�s troubling for the Chiefs as they head into their first home playoff game since January of 2004 was their overall lack of energy on Sunday. Sure they�d already won the division a week earlier. But the fact they�re a young team, it was important that they gain momentum heading into the playoffs.

However, on the plus side had the Chiefs gone 8-0 this season at home, they�d have matched the same feat as the team�s last three division winners. In 1995, 1997 and 2003, the Chiefs claimed AFC West titles by going undefeated at home. In each instance however, the Chiefs lost their playoff opener.

The Weis Factor?

After the game, Chiefs players were well schooled in addressing the inevitable departure of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. To a man, the players said his decision to leave the Chiefs to become the new offensive coordinator at the University of Florida had nothing to do with the team�s loss to the Raiders.

While some players took the time to answer the burning question from the media with tact, one player was very emphatic about Weis�s departure from the team after the playoffs.

Running back Jamaal Charles didn�t tote the company line when asked the question by the local Kansas City media. Instead he responded tersely by saying, �next question.�

That was the first clear sign from any player in the locker room that gave even the slightest of hints that some were not happy with Weis� decision to leave the Chiefs at the conclusion of the playoffs.