Ravens Left With Interesting Dilemma Ahead of AFC Title Game Showdown
The Baltimore Ravens enter their latest AFC Championship game appearance with quite the dilemma facing them.
All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey is expected to return after missing the divisional round victory with a calf injury. His return crowds a secondary that has been elite throughout the 2023 season, even with the injuries it sustained.
Fansided's "Ebony Bird" suggested that, as part of a solution to the conundrum, the Ravens could even bench starting corner Brandon Stephens when Baltimore faces off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
Stephens has started every game except the final game of the season for the Ravens and has recorded two interceptions. His above-average 69.2 Pro Football Focus grade shows that the 2021 draft pick has enjoyed a solid season.
As of late though, he hasn't been Baltimore's best corner. Despite being an aging veteran with stints in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Washington, and Denver, Ronald Darby has played some of his best football with the Ravens.
In their 34-10 win over the Houston Texans last week, Darby gave up just 28 yards to Stephen's 60. Both numbers are elite, but it at least begs the question of whether a change is necessary heading into the AFC Title game.
An important factor in all of this is the Ravens' opponent on Sunday. Two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes leads a Chiefs offense that may not be the elite group they have been in the past but is still a strong group capable of out-witting any opponent.
It's for that reason that defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald may choose to stay the course on Sunday.
Continuity and communication are key in big playoff games like Sunday. Most teams won't make immediate changes this late in the year knowing that it's better to all be on the same page than bringing in new changes.
Baltimore has a wonderful problem on their hands. They have plenty of starting-caliber players in the secondary and should be trusted to perform at a high level against a strong Chiefs offense. They'll just need to decide who will be staying on the field during that time, though.
