Rich Gannon believes Chiefs’ third-down defense could be key to winning Sunday

Much of the focus on Sunday’s AFC Championship Game has been on the quarterbacks, and with good reason. The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson are two of the best at that position in the NFL.

But both defenses have caused problems for opposing quarterbacks this season.

The Ravens allowed the fewest points in the league (15.6 per game), ranked third in yards per play allowed (4.6). Baltimore’s defense also had the best quarterback rating (74.6).

The Chiefs were second in points allowed (17.3), gave up the fifth-fewest yards per play (4.7), and were ninth in opposing quarterback rating (83.6).

Former Chiefs quarterback Rich Gannon, who is now working as an NFL analyst, said the Ravens had a prime objective heading into the postseason.

“You’re going up against one of the best defenses in football, led the league in scoring defense, doesn’t give up a lot of big plays,” Gannon said earlier this week in a phone interview. “I just talked to one of the (Ravens) players a few minutes ago, the big focus during the bye week was limiting the explosive plays.

“They held the Houston Texans essentially to a field goal with the defense so they did a really good job keeping the lid on the explosives. And they led the league in sacks with 60. So they’re gonna give the Chiefs all they can handle.”

Gannon, who is on SiriusXM NFL Radio, didn’t just praise the Ravens. He believes the Chiefs have multiple playmakers on defense and commended the work of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

One key to the game could be when the Ravens are facing a third down. During the regular season, Baltimore’s offense had a 42.0% success rate in such situations (ninth in the NFL).

“If they can have success on third down then there’s a good chance the Ravens can win,” Gannon said. “But that’s going to be a challenge because Spags is as good as there is in the NFL with all these different looks, his overloads, his double-A gaps, showing you pressure dropping, showing you pressure bringing it, a lot of the looks are very similar.

“They do a great job disguising their intentions and not a lot of tells when you study the tape. And that’s going to be a real challenge for the Ravens.”