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The AFC’s #1 Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs | Country crows
But is this wise? With a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and new explosive weapons in Odell Beckham Jr. , Nelson Agholor, and Draftee Zay Flowers Baltimore has the means to mix it up with the best…and NFL analyst Sal Paolantonio thinks so, too.
“I’m focused on this new form of offense for the Baltimore Ravens,” Paolantonio said on ESPN’s GetUp. “Starting with Boston College’s Zay Flowers. A smart, strong, quick, quick receiver will open everything up for this offense. Open it up for Mark Andrews, open things up for OBJ. Zay Flowers is the guy I’m going to watch in this training camp as Todd Monken pins this high-speed, high-energy offense for Lamar Jackson.”
“I think the Baltimore Ravens are the first team that can dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC as power AFC competitors”.
My ‘Madden’ 99 Club: Nine players at the height of their power in the 2023 NFL season | NFL.com
1 – Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs QB Age 27
There’s no one better – and Mahomes’ 2022 season may have been his best work yet, which speaks to the magical start to his career. Despite losing top wide receiver Terek Hill in an off-season trade last season, Mahomes easily eclipsed the NFL in passing yards (5,250; he was the only player in the top 5,000) and touchdown passes (41). He also finished second in passer rating (105.2) and yards per pass (8.1). Then he sprained his ankle in the playoffs, holding off the Jaguars and Bengals before his third Super Bowl appearance – where he played great ball.
Here’s how I do my math on this:
5 AFC title games + 2 Super Bowl wins + 2 MVP awards in 5 seasons as a starter = 99 rating without a doubt.
1. Patrick Mahomes
When it comes to sewing QB plays, there’s Patrick Mahomes, and there’s everyone else. He leads all current QBs in nearly every clutch category. He has converted 59% of potential game-tying attempts going forward in the fourth quarter or overtime of his career in the regular season. This is the best in the league and well above his closest contemporaries, Josh Allen (44%) and Joe Borough (41%). He converted 65% (11-for-17) of those chances in the playoffs, which is also the best in the league.
He also solidified himself as the game’s best (and most passable) quarterback with a first-down scramble on a bad ankle to make the game-winning field goal in Asian Championship Game against the Bengals. He had another long scramble in the winning drive in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. He also only had one shortfall in the second half of the Super Bowl.
He’s proven over and over in his career that, no matter a handicap, how much time is left on the clock, or an injury, he can pull off some kind of miracle. The Chiefs’ overtime drive in their instant classic win against the Bills featured the last starting time (13 seconds remaining) for a game-tying drive or going forward in game history. The guy has a career record of 14-10 when trailing by double digits at any point in a game. Just awesome.
Source – Ravens sign RB Melvin Gordon III to a one-year, $3.1 million deal | ESPN
Veteran free agent RB Melvin Gordon III reached agreement Friday on a one-year deal worth up to $3.1 million with the Baltimore Ravens, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gordon, 30, is a two-time professional bowler who is entering his ninth season in the NFL. He played five seasons with San Diego chargers and another 2½ with Denver Broncos. He rushed for 6,462 yards and 55 touchdowns and caught 309 passes with 14 touchdowns during his career, with his best year coming in 2017 with the Chargers.
PFF50: Top 50 NFL Players Right Now | pff
1. QB PATRICK MAHOMES, Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes is the NFL’s MVP and finished the season with his version of the Jordan Flu as he fought through the playoffs over an ankle injury that would have sidelined most quarterbacks. Across three playoff games, Mahomes managed a score of 85.1 PFF, recording seven touchdowns and no interceptions with only one play worth a turnover despite barely being able to run on his injured ankle. We already knew he had a signature ball that outdid any quarterback in the game, but last season we got a glimpse of his grit and determination, which proved equally impressive.
Madden NFL 24 Player Ratings: 49 Players Fred Warner Ravens Roquan Smith Top 10 LB | Ovarian report
3 – Lafonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (91 total)
4 – Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints (90 total)
5. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks (89 total)
6. Matt Millan, Buffalo bills (88 overall)
7. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs (87 OVR)
About the NFL
Panthers QB Bryce Young Agrees to Terms of Four-Year, $37.96 Million Rookie Contract | NFL.com
Quarterback Bryce Young agreed to terms with Carolina Panthers NFL Network Insider’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that his new, fully secured, $37.96 million contract is for four years. The contract includes approximately $24.6 million signing bonus per Rapoport.
The team later officially announced the news as the rookies arrived at training camp on Saturday.
Putting pen to paper is the next step in a process that began with the Panthers’ massive draft trade in March and that Carolina hopes will end with a triumphant return to the lead.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Hot Takes: Skyy Moore will be the #1 wide receiver
Skyy Moore will be the #1 wide receiver
Everyone seems to think Kadarius Toney is going to be the number one player on the team – but not so fast, my friend.
This is an exciting experience, but it’s not farfetched to believe that Moore could end up being the best wide receiver.
Look: I hope Tony stays healthy. However, his track record tells you that at some point this season, he’ll be running out of time. I really hope I’m wrong. But even if Tony played all 17 matches, I’m still willing to bet Moore would get more goals.
Why?
Because based on Moore’s skill set, I can see him as the primary driver of the series outside of tight end Travis Kelsey. He can beat covering man with his quick releases and good trail running ability. It is also able to find soft spots in area coverage.
I understand that’s asking for a lot for a guy who barely caught more than 20 passes last season. But the movie doesn’t lie: Moore has all the attributes to be a very reliable choice on the bosses offense.
This does not mean that Tony will not produce. In fact, I think he will. I think it will look different for him. It will be more than a big threat.
A tweet to make you think
Probably my favorite Arrowhead memory of all time: Divisional Round Returns #ChiefsKingdom
So many moments to highlight, but I’ll never forget the reaction to my first TD. We knew we only needed one.
(KR from Mecole helped tweak this, just didn’t want that long video) pic.twitter.com/T8yOEBl2wV
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) July 21, 2023