During his decorated 15-year NFL career, quarterback Matt Ryan was at his best when facing the Chiefs.
In five games against the Chiefs, Ryan had a 113.1 quarterback rating, the highest against any opponent he ever faced. That included two games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, a place where he’ll return on Sunday.
Ryan, who was the 2016 NFL MVP, is now an analyst with CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today.” The studio crew will be outside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday doing the pregame show from 11 a.m. to noon near Founders Plaza.
Being at Arrowhead Stadium will afford Ryan an opportunity he didn’t have when he was playing.
“There’s an energy when you’re there live on site, and I think Arrowhead in particular, coming in there as a player you’re on your bus, and you see these tailgates, and you see kind of the great fanfare and kind of the energy, but you don’t really get to experience it,” Ryan said. “You’re kind of off that bus and into the stadium as quickly as possible.
“I think one of the cool things of going to the sites, like we were in Green Bay Week 1, in Buffalo last year, in Kansas City at the end of the year (at the AFC Championship Game), you really do start to get a feel for the fan bases and their level of passion.”
One passion Chiefs fans share while tailgating is the food. Ryan never got to sample the barbecue when he was a player.
He hopes to change that Sunday.
Ryan will not only be part of “The NFL Today” show with James Brown, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher, but Ryan is part of the online “NFL Today+” show that will be at Arrowhead from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“It always smells good there, you know, the barbecue and those things,” Ryan said. “So I’m hoping to be able to sneak out and find a little barbecue, and maybe drop in on a tailgate.”
Ryan, who had 62,792 passing yards with 381 touchdown throws in his career, knew some good and bad times. And that gives him insight into the Chiefs woes this season.
The Chiefs’ offense has struggled at times to find its footing without suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice and injured wideout Xavier Worthy. Ryan noted a similar situation once happened with his Falcons, but it’s been more difficult for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
However, Ryan believes the Chiefs, who are 21st in scoring, are close to turning a corner.
“It’s always tough, right?” Ryan said. “In 2016, the year we made it to the Super Bowl, we had a four-game stretch in November and December where Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu were out. I feel like it’s different when it’s late in the year, where you’ve gotten more reps with these guys in practice, and there’s a little bit better familiarity. I think it’s difficult when it happens as early as it did for the Chiefs, right?
“I think other receivers were thrust into it faster, and so I think it’s more difficult early in the year as a quarterback to make those adjustments, because there’s just not as much time on task. But I think you’re starting to see it come, right? I think you’re starting to see a little bit better rhythm and timing from those guys.”