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Chiefs Vs. Ravens: Jamaal Charles, Baltimore's Defense Is Biggest Matchup

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The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens will meet on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium for the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Chiefs enter the game with little momentum having been blown out against the Oakland Raiders 31-10 in Week 10. The Ravens on the other hand have won four in a row and six of their last seven.

Whether there's momentum or not, there's one matchup with game really comes down to -- Jamaal Charles vs. Baltimore's defense. Sure, there will be other important factors like special teams, Matt Cassel-to-Dwayne Bowe and the Chiefs stopping Ray Rice.

But for the Chiefs to have a chance, it really comes down to Jamaal Charles. I think if he explodes, the Chiefs stay in the game and can potentially win it. On the flip side, if Charles is ineffective, I don't think the Chiefs stand a chance. 

With the Ravens big interior defensive line, it's going to be hard, I think, for Thomas Jones to be effective. That means the burden falls on Charles to make the Chiefs running game. And, as we've seen this year, if the Chiefs can't run the ball they don't stand a very good chance of winning.

Baltimore's run defense is a top 5 unit and the Chiefs rushing offense is the best in the NFL. This may be the best matchup in wildcard weekend.