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After the Kansas City Chiefs loss to the Oakland Raiders in Week 17, we wondered whether the Chiefs have the ability to bounce back after a big loss. They've shown they can in their previous two blowout losses this season but the playoffs are a different ball game.
The Ravens have won four in a row -- what we call momentum -- and RB Ray Rice said on ESPN's First Take (via Baltimore Sun) Tuesday morning that it definitely matters as you head into the playoffs.
"Momentum definitely matters going into the playoffs, especially with the playoff experience that our team has," Rice said. "For me, it's my third crack at it, and it just feels good to know that we're going to the playoffs with confidence right now and that we're going to go in there and take care of business."
Momentum in the wrong direction is probably easier to overcome with veterans in the locker room. That's probably the reason we saw Todd Haley on Monday note the Chiefs had 21 guys with playoff experience in addition to much of the coaching staff.
Rice also said, looking at the tape in Week 17, you have to "pick and choose when you and when you pass." I'm not sure exactly what that means but the Chiefs had, statistically, their worst day against the run last week and only five teams rush the ball more than the Ravens. Maybe that was a hint of what's to come.