Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahoms are both ranked in the NFL’s top quarterbacks – not just in 2020 but their time. But only one of them managed to close Week 3 in the prime-time lights of “Monday Night Football” L. Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens started hot with a promising opening drive to score first at home, but it was Mahoms who stole the show. In the fight, five touchdowns easily in his best bid to recapture hardware in 2020. By Chief Defense, who completely stabilized Baltimore’s passing attack, Mahoms and Andy Reid improved John Harby’s club in a potential AFC Championship preview. 20 claimed victory.
Here are some instant gifts of Monday night thrills:
Why Chief won
Patrick Mahoms, who became the fastest QB to reach 10,000 yards passing for a career (10,000) in the first half, was clearly determined to prove his superiority in a game featuring two former MVPs in the quarterback, and the boy did it. Number 15 just can’t be contained by a talented Baltimore “D”. His trademark arm was on display for a handful of full deep balls, and his legs were also an underrated factor throughout the night, contributing to a truly MVP-caliber fitch-touchdown night. It doesn’t matter who he’s throwing – Tyrick Hill, McCall Hardman, Eric Fisher (!). The accuracy was there. The touch was there. He was almost flawless. Casey also benefited from the apparent versatility of Clyde Edwards-Heller, when interest was on the ground and largely defeating the Ravens, when defense was practically only imposed, or at least when it was very important. Led by veterans Frank Clark and Chris Jones, who collected three sacks, Chiefs continued to disappoint Lamar Jackson, almost completely eliminating Baltimore’s downfield passing game.
Why Ravens lost
Lamar Jackson may be one of the NFL’s most talented electricians, but Monday was not his night. QB’s freakish speed was on display plenty of times, and from outside the gate, it looked like it could lead Baltimore to a big home win. By the air, however, it was virtually non-factor, which was best combined with Dobbins running backwards, while failing to hit on many late game deep deep shots. Jackson’s feet also worked against him in some cases, with QB basically running himself out of clean pockets and getting into trouble, especially when the end of the game was approaching. Somehow, in the beginning, despite the brilliance of both Marvin Ingram and Gus Edwards, the Ravens got away with their run-heavy attack, and they never recovered. Defensively, it’s hard to blame them for failing to slow down talent like Mahomes, but nonetheless, you won’t blow a lot of coverage and win a shootout. Allowing Casey to convert on almost all of his third downs, they struggled hard to keep the ball in Jackson’s hands as time went on.
Turn
The Ravens had all the momentum in the second quarter at about half speed. Devin Duver just returned a 93-yard kickoff for TV to bring the team into the team. The defense later forced three in and out. But then, despite a promising run-first drive to open the game and get himself on board, the Ravens were unnecessarily given three straight-passing plays. Jackson hit first, then adjusted the Ravens’ own punt by firing incorrectly at the targets of Marquis Brown and Mark Andrews. In the same way, the chance to actually flip the script was flattened, and Casey responded by opening things up with a six-play, 75-yard TD drive.
Play the game
You could have picked any of Mahoms’ TD passes, but his moon probably hit the hardman, though Tyrick Hill’s own scoring catch was a tougher reception. At first, Mahoms backplayed more than you would like to see your QB, but then came the second longest completion of the year in a trip to the Air Yards:
What’s next
The Chiefs (3-0) will return home in Week 4 of the New England Patriots (2-1), who had just dropped the Las Vegas Raiders. The Ravens (2-1), meanwhile, will face off on the road to the Washington Football Team (1-2), who have lost at least 30 points in two straight losses.
