Ravens vs. Chiefs, Week 5: Baltimore defense helps earn road victory

A tale of two halves was the story line Sunday in the Baltimore Ravens' Week 5 victory, 9-6, over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. After not having the defense or offense show up in the first half, both aspects appeared in the second to help the Ravens improve to 4-1 overall.

According to the SB Nation blog Baltimore Beatdown, the win wasn't pretty but its was a win nonetheless.

I can't say it feels like a win but I'll take it. The Ravens were able to trust in their defense in the second half and eventually were able to run out the clock because the Chiefs used their timeouts poorly.

The blog credits the Chiefs' strict game plan for keeping the game close, however, admits Baltimore's miscues had a lot to do with the lack of points -- Ravens' kicker Justin Tucker made field goals from 28, 26 and 39 yards.

The game's biggest swing was a fumble by Chiefs' quarterback Matt Cassell, who coughed up the ball near the goal line earlier in the third quarter and the Ravens recovered. In the end, the difference between a win and a loss was forcing Cassel to beat the defense, says Baltimore Beatdown.

After a completely uninspiring performance by the defense in the first half the Ravens came to play in the second half. They concentrated on stopping the run and made Matt Cassel beat them. Honestly I would have thought that would have been the game plan from the start but maybe they just weren't ready for the blocking schemes deployed by the Chiefs.

Next Sunday, the Ravens host the Dallas Cowboys. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET and it will be broadcast on FOX.