Thursday is the Kansas City Chiefs face the Baltimore RavensWe warmly welcome you Kyle Phoenix by Baltimore Punishment — our sister site SB Nation covering the Baltimore Ravens — for Five questions to the enemy.

1) Obviously, the storyline surrounding this game writes itself into an almost immediate playoff rematch. To what extent does Baltimore view this matchup as a rivalry given the high stakes?

In conversations with Ravens players this week, they all dismiss the idea of ​​a revenge game. However, I can’t imagine that it’s not at the forefront of the minds of those who were on the field in January, and I wrote about that earlier this week. Some said it’s there, but it’s still a new season, their records are all nil-nil, and it’s all about winning this first game and getting off to a 1-0 start with their opponents, the Chiefs.

It’s hard to call it a rivalry from a record standpoint. The Ravens have won just one of the five games they’ve played in the Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes era. But this is certainly a rivalry between two of the best in the AFC. In most rankings, the Ravens are a step below the Chiefs, and they’ll be looking to prove they can take on Kansas City.

2) Chris Jones recently named Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry a “scary dynamic duo.” Baltimore running backs have already accounted for 1,696 yards on the ground in 2023. What are they hoping Henry adds that wasn’t there before?

The Ravens have had success running the ball, in part because of the threat Jackson poses. Defenders have to be aware of him, and that allows the Ravens to gain even a split-second advantage when defenses can’t get to the running backs. They hope to maximize that moment of slump in the form of perhaps the best running back of this generation. By pairing Henry and Jackson, the Ravens get a running combination that is rare in the NFL with their speed and power. The strongest, most physical, unique running back paired with the fastest, most agile, mobile quarterback we’ve ever seen.

Last season the Ravens had Gus Edwards, who was compared to Henry as a “Henry-lite.” Now they have the man himself, and with that comes a (hopefully) more committed run game.

3) The biggest change in Baltimore is the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks. Is there any sign of anything other than a smooth transition to Zachary Orr leading the unit?

Everything I’ve seen shows a smooth transition. The players have been into Orr and his system since he was announced as the next defensive coordinator. The players have a respect and affinity for him. His story, his playing career, and his character all give him the ethos, pathos, and logos to get this defense to buy in and believe in him. Fellow coaches have a strong belief in him as well, with Harbaugh giving him nothing but positive comments about why he promoted such a young position coach to their defensive play-caller, and someone who had never called plays before.

Now he has to prove it and his first test is going to be tough, as Chiefs, mastermind head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes. I think there will be bumps in the road, it can’t be perfect from the start, right? But I have confidence in Orr as the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator.

4) The Ravens rightfully enter the season with high expectations and Super Bowl aspirations. Which position group is likely to hinder them the most from achieving their goals?

Until proven otherwise, the Ravens’ offensive line is their biggest weakness. The team parted ways with left guard John Simpson, right guard Kevin Zeitler and traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets. Now they have left guard Andrew Vorhees, who redshirted last season after torn his ACL at the NFL combine, right guard Daniel Faalele, who moved from right tackle last season, and either veteran and super sub Patrick Mekari or second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten at right tackle.

These three played in every preseason game and left much to be desired. Running lanes rarely generated behind them. Sure, they were without left tackle Ronnie Stanley, center Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson, Henry and others, but they didn’t get much push against backups in the preseason. The Chiefs — and an AFC North division loaded with potent pass rushers and defensive lines as a whole — could be the undoing of this team.

5) Can you predict how this will end?

I’m not really into predictions, but I’ll give it a try with two different scenarios.

Chiefs Victory — The Chiefs send a message to the Ravens and the NFL as they get out of the blocks. Reid has spent the last few months game-planning and causing chaos for first-time play-caller Orr, and the Ravens get hammered. Jones and the Chiefs defense feast against a porous offensive line that keeps Henry in check and Jackson is sacked five or more times. The Ravens find a few late scores to pull it within reach, but every field goal Baltimore tries is answered with a Chiefs touchdown and the Ravens are blown out, 34-20.

Ravens Victory —The Ravens defense comes out physical, holding off the wideouts. The Chiefs offense settles for field goals on its first three possessions, while the Ravens score two touchdowns and try to sustain long, time-consuming drives with Henry, Jackson and chain-moving catches by tight end Mark Andrews. They leave the first half with a roughly 17-9 lead. The Ravens batten down the hatches, hoping to survive a second-half surge from the Chiefs, but surrender the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Both teams go back and forth for 10 minutes, gaining only a first down or two. Then Henry rips off a 20-yard run to put them within range of a field goal with the clock ticking down and kicker Justin Tucker knocks in a 40-yard field goal to win, 35-34.

Be sure to check out the answers I provided to their questions by clicking here.