NFL Preseason: Kansas City Chiefs Make Strides On Defense Against Baltimore Ravens, Despite Loss

You can't always judge a game based on the stats in the box score. Especially when you're talking about a preseason game. It was true last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when the majority of Chiefs defensive starters didn't even play. It was a little different story this week. The Chiefs starters did play on defense, but not quite as long as the Ravens starters played on offense.

The Chiefs had held Ravens starting running back Ray Rice to 18 yards on 6 carries before the 2nd team defense allowed a 26-yard touchdown run to Rice with 3 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. It was a big play for the Ravens and seemed as if no Chiefs players were around as a cutback opened up the entire right side of the field for Rice to easily trot into the end zone.

Chiefs fans got a first look at former Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Kelly Gregg, and he was everything he has been advertised. He consistently clogged the middle of the line of scrimmage staying on his feet, allowing middle-linebacker Jovan Belcher to run around and make plays and lead the team with seven tackles on the night.

Tyson Jackson also had a fantastic game for the Chiefs as he showed why the Chiefs coaching staff has been singing his praises so far in camp. The defensive line was once thought to be a question mark heading into the season, but Friday's game should bring a little optimism to Chiefs fans about what this group can accomplish this season. Rookie nose tackle Jerrel Powe showed again that he should not be pre-judged by his draft position (6th round), but from his performance on the field. For the second week in a row Powe gave Chiefs fans a few plays to remember heading into the regular season.

Despite the Ravens starting a rookie at right tackle in Jah Reid, the Chiefs defensive line did what they were supposed to do and held stout at the line of scrimmage for most of the night. Rookie linebacker Justin Houston picked up two big sacks for the Chiefs and was consistently around the ball making plays all night.

Rookie cornerback Jalil Brown did not impress Friday night like he had in the opener against Tampa Bay. The same goes for now-cornerback, once-wide receiver Quinten Lawrence, who is just trying to find a spot on the 53-man roster in some capacity. Brown got beat on a big pass play to Lee Evans that went for 43 yards to set up Rice's touchdown run. And a pass interference call later in the game on Brown, when helooked much like Brandon Carr of 2009 in which he didn't get his head around to see where the ball was coming from.

When it's all said and done it is still a preseason game, but the Chiefs should be able to take some positives away from Friday's game against the Ravens. They take on the St. Louis Rams next Friday in Kansas City.