Priest Holmes – Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/Allsport
Priest Holmes considers the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos to be the top teams in the AFC right now.
Even though it’s early on in the season, the Kansas City Chiefs great says those are the two teams in the AFC that have some “upside” and have caught his attention. The Chiefs are obviously off to a rough start at 0-2 at the moment, but both of those losses have come against elite competition in the Chargers and the defending Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles.
“I would be biased by saying the Kansas City Chiefs, I’d be very biased by that,” says Holmes in a one-on-one interview with RG. “Between the Denver Broncos, between the Chargers, those are two teams that definitely got some upside. They’ve been plotting, they’ve been scheming, and they’ve been building their teams and their organizations. One of those top teams are going to come out of the AFC and I think the Chargers are showing what they can do, and I think they’re moving in the right direction.”
Bills Will Fall Short, Says Holmes
When another annual AFC contender is brought up, the Buffalo Bills, Holmes says he “likes” the Bills, but that we already know what they’re capable of in the conference. The Bills have advanced deep in the playoffs during the Josh Allen era, but have yet to reach the Super Bowl. That’s in large part due to going 0-4 against the Chiefs in the playoffs.
“As much as I like the Bills and Josh Allen, we already know what they are capable of doing in the AFC,” says Holmes of the Bills. “Obviously, the Chargers, but the Bills definitely they’re a team that’s always been there. But they’ve always missed the dance, and we’ve seen that in almost two different eras of that team. Are the Bills a great team right now? Yes. Is Josh Allen playing incredible? Yes. But I think it’s going to be the same story that we’ve seen here over the past few years, where they get deep into the playoffs, and for whatever reason, that Cinderella slipper, they didn’t can’t put it on.”
While Holmes is best known for his tenure with the Chiefs (2001-2007) where he went to three Pro Bowls and once held the single-season rushing touchdown record, he spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (1997-2000), winning the Super Bowl during his final year in Baltimore.
Ravens Need to Execute
The 51-year-old great doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with the Ravens. He gives major credit to how they’ve built the team with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. However, he says the team needs to learn how to “execute” when the moment calls for it. They obviously came up short in that regard in their playoff loss to the Bills, where Mark Andrews dropped a wide-open two-point conversion attempt with the team trailing 27-25.
Holmes references the Ravens blowing a major lead against the Bills in their Week 1 loss, where they led by 15 points with just a few minutes remaining.
“With the Ravens, they just got to execute,” says Holmes. “We saw last year what happened on the goal line with (Mark) Edwards catching that ball and then dropping it. We’ve seen just here in this last week, what’s happened with the Ravens, where they melted in the very final innings.”
“I definitely think as a team, they have an opportunity as they always do,” says Holmes of the Ravens. “They’re a very aggressive team. They definitely lead with their defense, and they also have an incredible offense. That duo that they have there in the backfield makes for a great ingredient for the team to be very successful. There’s not anything different that the Ravens need to do. I just think that they need to continue to take that leadership and win ballgames, and I think they have the ability to do that.”
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year once again says there’s “nothing different” that the Ravens need to do.
“They have an incredible team,” says Holmes of the Ravens. “They’ve got one of the best running backs, one of the biggest running backs. Even though we’ve seen the running back position changing, like with (Saquon) Barkley and so many other running backs that have a smaller stature, faster, and get out to the perimeter. When I was in Baltimore, it was always three yards and a cloud of dust. It continues to be that way, it’s just that Derrick Henry can take it for 70 yards. He is the type of back that can break through on a game, deep in the game when Lamar isn’t executing. They still have the running game that can be a threat.”
“Defense has always been an aggressive defense,” says Holmes. “That mystique of Ray Lewis, when I had a chance playing with him during my first four years and in the NFL, Ray Lewis came in ’96, I came in ’97, we helped build that team. These young guys have taken over that city, and they’ve got an incredible chemistry, great coach as well, and I think that they’ll fare well. They just need to execute, and at the end of the day, that’s all they have to do.”
Holmes Rooting For KC
Holmes mentions that he’ll be in Kansas City for their game against the Ravens in Week 4. And he makes it very clear who he’s rooting for — the Chiefs.
“I actually will be in Kansas City on September the 28th for that matchup, two of my teams that are going to be facing off,” says Holmes.
“As much love as I have for my Kansas City fans, as much love as I have for my Baltimore, Maryland folks. At the end of the day, my loyalties lie with the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m excited to see what that matchup looks like. Incredible team, both quarterbacks are going to be able to excel in that game. I’m excited to be a part of it.”