Baltimore felt the pain of their team crashing back down to earth on Monday night. The Chiefs delivered a humbling loss to the Ravens, with a final score of 34-20. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes put on a show, throwing four touchdowns and running another in himself. Coach John Harbaugh admitted that the team got beat in just about every way. This is a night the Ravens would like to forget, yet still learn from. A playoff rematch between these two juggernauts seems imminent.
Rebounding from the loss on a short week shouldn’t be too high of a task against the 1-2 Washington Football Team this Sunday. Washington has struggled with second year quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. and an offense that seemingly hasn’t found their groove. A bright spot lies in promising receiver Terry McLaurin, earning the nickname Scary Terry.
Washington’s defense has the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, defensive end Chase Young from Ohio State University. Young was the consensus top defensive player of the draft this year, with college game tape and accolades that were too impressive to pass up. The rookie has proved his worth, consistently pressuring quarterbacks this season and disrupting any offensive lineman in his way. With the help of stud outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, Washington’s defense has the pieces to build around for years to come.
Regardless of any defensive star from Washington, expect the Ravens to get back to their bread and butter of running the football. Lamar Jackson and company were caught playing from behind against the Chiefs on Monday night, forcing a more pass-heavy attack to catch up. Playing from behind and abandoning the running game has proven to be Baltimore’s kryptonite, with flashbacks to their recent playoff loss versus the Titans. In order for the Ravens to beat elite teams, they’ll need to figure out a way to balance their offense regardless of the score.
Although the defense let up five touchdowns from Mahomes on Monday, the unit should remain a confident bunch. Patrick Queen continues to improve and make impressive plays as a rookie linebacker. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey just broke the bank with a new contract, well deserved after locking down a plethora of top receivers. The defensive line consistently generates pressure with studs Matt Judon, Calais Campbell, and Brandon Williams leading the charge. This unit is filled with talent and will surely look to rebound against Washington.
Expect to see some angry Ravens bursting out of the tunnel on Sunday, seeking revenge for the embarrassing Monday night loss. Several stars did not play up to their expectations against the Chiefs, and should arrive with new chips on their shoulders. Experiencing a rough loss may very well be a blessing in disguise for the Baltimore birds. Final score prediction: 31-13.
