The Ravens have won 5 of their last 6 games and all of a sudden they have a chance to get home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs as they are only 1 game behind the Colts and Chargers.  The Chiefs have won 5 of their 7 games and are a solid 5-1 at home this season.

Look for the Ravens to lean heavily on the running game early on Sunday as Billick likes to establish the run game to slow the pass rush for Steve McNair.  Jamal Lewis (796 yards rushing) could find alot of running room against the soft interior of the Chiefs defense that is allowing 112.1 yards rushing per game.  After the running game gets going, look for Steve McNair to attack the slow defensive backs of the Chiefs with deeper throws to Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason.  Todd Heap also is a big mis-match against the safeties of the Chiefs.

The Chiefs will need Trent Green to have another game like he did last week against Cleveland or the Chiefs will be in trouble.  The Ravens are gonna key on Larry Johnson (1,312 yards rushing), but the Chiefs will try to match strength vs. strength.  The Ravens have one of the best run defenses in the NFL as they only allow 75.8 yards rushing and 3.1 yards per carry.  The Chiefs offensive line must give Trent Green time to throw (the Ravens have 41 sacks) or the Chiefs will be in trouble.  Tony Gonzalez against Ed Reed is the key match-up in this football game and whoever wins this battle will have a huge say in who wins this football game.

This should be a great football game.  With all things being equal, I will take Brian Billick over Herman Edwards any day of the week.

When the Ravens drafted Haloti Ngata in the first round they expected him to demand a double team and free up the linebackers to make plays.  It was another stroke of genius by GM Ozzie Newsome.  The linebackers have been fantastic for the Ravens this season and Ngata should get alot of the credit for that.  Ngata has played in all 12 games and has 22 tackles and an interception that he returned 60 yards before he ran out of gas.

The offense was moving the ball last night, but they just couldn’t put any points on the board.  Steve McNair completed 26 of 43 passes for 227 yards and a TD.  Jamal Lewis had a decent game with 17 carries for 61 yards (3.6 ypc).  Derrick Mason had a fine game at WR with 7 catches for 90 yards and a TD.

The defense was led by linebacker Bart Scott who had 8 tackles and a sack.  The Ravens held the Bengals to 67 yards rushing on 23 carries (2.9 ypc).  The Bengals did complete 21 of 32 passes for 227 net yards passing.

The Ravens had a chance to sow up the division championship, but that will be put on hold at least one more week.