Perhaps the loss in week 16 to the Oakland Raiders was not a fluke? The Chiefs struggled to move the football, made mistakes and couldn’t stop Baltimore’s offense when they needed a stop as the Ravens eliminate the Chiefs with a 30-7 win ending Kansas City’s second season under Todd Haley.
Baltimore doubled the time of possession and while the defense made some good plays here and there, they were just on the field too long. The Ravens started their scoring and capped their scoring with two long drives opening the game with a 14 play, 69 yard drive that resulted in a short field after the Chiefs stopped the Ravens on the goalline. After a three and out on their first possession, the Chiefs took the lead when Jamaal Charles busted through the line going 41 yards for a touchdown untouched to give the Chiefs a 7-3 lead.
That came with just 2:17 to play in the first quarter and it was just the Chiefs fifth offensive play of the game. It came after Tamba Hali stripped quarterback Joe Flacco two plays earlier near midfield.
Baltimore scored on an 80 yard drive late in the first to go up 10-7 at the break. The Ravens were 9 of 17, if that gives you any indication as to how dominating they were at keeping drives alive.
The game got away from the Chiefs in the third quarter. The Chiefs opened with the ball and got to the Baltimore 33 and went for it on 4th and one, but Charles was stuffed and it was at that point I felt the Ravens gain the momentum. Ray Rice, who caught the 11 yard touchdown pass to put the Ravens up, had two big runs of 32 and 15 which helped set up Billy Cundiff’s second field of the game.
On the next possession, after an intentional grounding and a fumble by Dexter McCluster, the Ravens took over at the KC 17, but again were held to a field goal making the score 16-7.
The game was not out of reach, but you could sense Baltimore’s defense was fired up by now. Just two plays later, Matt Cassel with all the time in the world to thrown, forced a pass that got picked off. A penalty gave Baltimore the ball at the Chiefs 31 yard line. Six plays later, Flacco found Anquawn Boldin for a 23-7 lead.
A three and out brought another punt and another long drive as Baltimore chewed up over 10 minutes going 76 yards in 15 plays ending it with a 24 yard touchdown run from Willis McGahee. Baltimore was 3 for 4 on third down conversions, twice, Flacco finding Todd Heap who finished with a career high and Ravens playoff record of 10 catches for 106 yards.
The Chiefs turned the ball over five times, the most in a playoff game. Baltimore outgained KC 390-161 and ran 78 offensive plays to the Chiefs 40. It was clear Baltimore’s patience and experience of playing playoff games on the road paid off. Once again, the Chiefs unable to win a playoff game, making it seven losses in a row.
