Chiefs-Ravens 5 questions with the enemy: How much better is Baltimore with Derrick Henry?

We welcome Baltimore Beatdown for answers to five questions about the Ravens before Thursday’s Week 1 matchup.

On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens. We welcome Kyle Phoenix of Baltimore Beatdown — our sister SB Nation site covering the Baltimore Ravens — for Five Questions with the Enemy.

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1) Obviously, the storyline around this game writes itself and an almost immediate playoff rematch. How much does Baltimore see this matchup as a rivalry given the high stakes attached?

In talking with Ravens players this week, they’re all shrugging off the notion of a revenge game. However, I can’t imagine that’s not at the forefront of their minds for those who were on the field in January and I wrote as much earlier in the week. Some said it’s present but that it remains a new season, they’re records are all zero-zero and it’s about winning this first game and getting off to a 1-0 start with their opponent being the Chiefs.

It’s hard to label it a rivalry from the 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 the majority of rankings, it’s been the Ravens a step below the Chiefs and they’re looking to prove they can contend with Kansas City.

2) Chris Jones recently called Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry a “scary dynamic duo.” Baltimore running backs, however, already combined for 1696 yards on the ground in 2023. What are they hoping Henry adds that wasn’t there before?

The Ravens have had success running the football in part due to the threat Jackson poses. Defenses must account for him and that allows the Ravens to gain even a split second of advantage as defenses can’t come careening at the running backs. They’re hoping to maximize that moment of lapse in the form of arguably the best running back of this generation. Pairing Henry and Jackson together gives the Ravens a running combination most rare in the NFL with their speed and power. The strongest, most physical one-of-a-kind running back beside the fastest, most agile mobile quarterback we’ve seen in history.

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

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

Everything I’ve seen has shown a smooth transition. Players bought into Orr and his system from the moment it was announced he would be the next defensive coordinator. The players have a respect and affinity for him. His story, his playing career and character all give him the ethos, pathos and logos to have this defense buy in and believe in him. Fellow coaches have strong belief in him, too, with Harbaugh giving him nothing but positive remarks as to why he promoted such a young position coach into their defensive play-caller, and one who had never called plays before.

Now, he’ll have to prove it and his first test is quite a doozy, being the Chiefs, mastermind head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes. I believe there will be bumps in the road—after all, it can’t be perfect from the jump, can it? But, I have confidence in Orr as the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator.

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

Until proven otherwise, the Ravens’ offensive line is their greatest 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 at left guard Andrew Vorhees, who red-shirted last season after tearing his ACL during the NFL combine, right guard Daniel Faalele, who transitioned 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 each preseason game and left much to be desired. Running lanes were seldom generated behind them. Of course, 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 filled with mighty pass rushers and defensive lines as a whole — could be this team’s undoing.

5) Can you give a prediction of how this one unfolds?

I’m never one for predictions but I’ll give it a go with two different scenarios.

Chiefs victory — A message is sent by the Chiefs to the Ravens and NFL as they come out firing. Reid has spent the past couple months game-planning and he uncorks mayhem on first-time play-caller Orr, and the Ravens get trounced. Jones and the Chiefs defense have a field day against a porous offensive line, bottling up Henry and Jackson is sacked five or more times. The Ravens find a few late scores to put it within reach but each field goal by Baltimore is responded with a touchdown by the Chiefs and the Ravens are overwhelmed, 34-20.

Ravens victory —The Ravens defense comes out with physicality and clamps down on the wideouts. The Chiefs’ offense settles for field goals on the first three possessions, while the Ravens score two touchdowns and try to sustain lengthy, time-killing drives with Henry, Jackson and chain-moving catches from tight end Mark Andrews. They leave the first half up something like 17-9. The Ravens batten down the hatches and hope to survive a second-half surge from the Chiefs, but relinquish the lead the first play of the fourth quarter. Both teams go back and forth for 10 minutes, only gaining a first down or two. Then, Henry rips off a 20-yard run and puts them within field goal range as the clock dwindles and kicker Justin Tucker knocks through a 40-yard field goal to win, 35-34.

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