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5 Matchups to Watch vs. Chiefs
The Kyle Hamilton vs. Travis Kelce matchup should be elite, and there are others.
S Kyle Hamilton vs. TE Travis Kelce
Hamilton has emerged as a first-team All-Pro in his second season. Kelce is a four-time, first-team All-Pro and future Hall of Famer who emerges on the biggest stages. This is the kind of matchup the Ravens drafted Hamilton for. Since NextGenStats launched in 2015, Hamilton has logged the fewest yards (4.2) per target of any safety in the league.
LB Roquan Smith vs. RB Isiah Pacheco
This is a matchup of two fierce competitors who go full tilt all the time. Smith loves laying big hits on opponents. Pacheco has a fierce running style that seems to invite contact. The Ravens shut down the Texans' running game last week and are hungry for a repeat. "I'm excited for the matchup," Smith said Wednesday. "I have to tip my hat off to anybody that runs the ball hard. He brings it every single game, every single play. I love that. But at the end of the day, one's going to have to break. I don't plan on being on that breaking end."
QB Lamar Jackson vs. LB Nick Bolton
No team has figured out how to contain Lamar Jackson this season. Jackson scorched the Texans last week with his legs. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Chiefs deploy a "spy" more often, and Bolton's sideline-to-sideline speed makes him a challenging foe. The Chiefs gave up 72 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to the Bills' Josh Allen last week and struggles against running quarterbacks has been a trend in Kansas City.
DC Mike Macdonald vs. QB Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes has seen it all – or has he? He's carved up the Ravens defense with a 119.1 quarterback rating and 12 touchdowns to two interceptions over their four meetings. But he hasn't tangled with Macdonald and this Ravens defense, which has thrived on giving quarterbacks fits by making it challenging to decipher coverages and rushers. Macdonald's task is to keep the two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP off-balance and under pressure.
TE Isaiah Likely vs. SS Justin Reid
While Mark Andrews is expected to make his return, Likely will still be a big part of Baltimore's game plan. The Chiefs' defensive strength is at cornerback, but their safeties and linebackers have been susceptible to tight ends. The Bills' leading receiver last week was tight end Dalton Kincaid. The Ravens' two-pronged tight end attack could give Kansas City trouble.
