BALTIMORE (AP) -- The beauty of Gunther Cunningham's approach to football is the sheer simplicity of it.

Cunningham, the workaholic first-year coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, is conservative by nature. So is his game plan.

"Their whole mentality is to play good defense, not turn the ball over, run the ball and when you get tired of that, run the ball some more," Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "It's a sound philosophy."

Billick used plenty of aerial weaponry last season as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. But in an effort to make things easy for inexperienced quarterback Stoney Case, he has employed a low-risk attack that would make Cunningham proud.

Ravens running back Errict Rhett had three consecutive 100-yard games before the Tennessee Titans brought eight men up to the line of scrimmage in Baltimore's last game, an ugly 14-11 loss.

"Their defense made it very clear that they were going to make it difficult for us to run," Billick said.

So when the Ravens (2-3) and Chiefs (3-2) play Thursday night, the sellout crowd at PSINet Stadium and a national television audience probably will witness a rugged game in which field position and field goals play a key role.

At least that's the way Billick sees it.

"I'm looking for a slugfest. Their games have been like our games, where it pushes to the edge and somebody makes a play to impact a 17-14, 20-17 game," he said.

While Rhett has received the majority of carries for Baltimore, the Chiefs have utilized several backs, including former Raven Bam Morris. Kansas City averages 135 yards rushing using an approach that is effective, yet far from scintillating.

"Somebody said this is a boring team, and they run the same plays over and over again," Cunningham said. "The more they say that, the better I like it."

Billick used a wide-open passing scheme with Vikings, who scored an NFL record 556 points in 1998. But Billick doesn't have Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter or Randy Moss anymore.

Case had one career NFL start before this season, and his inexperience showed against the Titans. With Tennessee daring him to pass, Case completed only 15 of 37 throws and failed to produce a touchdown.

The Chiefs would be silly not to use the same strategy, and Billick knows it.

"They're very aggressive and confident on defense," he said. "I would imagine he will bring his safety up for most of the game.

"The only way to combat an eight-man front is hurt them on the outside with it. That puts a premium on the receivers and Stoney being efficient out there."

The Ravens sure could use another wide receiver like Jermaine Lewis, who has a knack for finding a seam in the defense and is elusive enough to turn a short pass into a touchdown.

Lewis has been limited to 10 catches this season and has yet to score, mainly because he is the team's lone big-play threat and therefore usually must fight double coverage.

If only Baltimore still had Derrick Alexander, whose name is mentioned prominently under virtually every receiving category in the Ravens' record book. Alexander now plays for the Chiefs, and would love to show the Ravens exactly what they're missing.

"I'd love to have a big game," he said. "I don't think I have to prove anything, but I still see it as an opportunity for them to see what they let get away."

Alexander might get his chance, but he's hardly the main focus of the Baltimore defense.

"This is the type of game you don't have to even think about what they are going to do," middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. "You know they are going to run the ball. ... That is what they believe in, so it is going to be a very physical game."

KANSAS CITY Season schedule and results

BALTIMORE Season schedule and results

September 12 @Chicago L 17-20 September 19 Denver W 26-10 September 26 Detroit W 31-21 October 3 @San Diego L 14-21 October 10 New England W 16-14 October 21 @Baltimore 8:20pm ET October 31 San Diego 1:00pm ET November 7 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 14 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET November 21 Seattle 1:00pm ET November 28 @Oakland 4:15pm ET December 5 @Denver 4:15pm ET December 12 Minnesota 8:20pm ET December 18 Pittsburgh 12:40pm ET December 26 @Seattle 4:05pm ET January 2 Oakland 1:00pm ET

September 12 @St. Louis L 10-27 September 19 Pittsburgh L 20-23 September 26 Cleveland W 17-10 October 3 @Atlanta W 19-13 October 10 @Tennessee L 11-14 October 21 Kansas City 8:20pm ET October 31 Buffalo 1:00pm ET November 7 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 14 @Jacksonville 4:05pm ET November 21 @Cincinnati 4:05pm ET November 28 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET December 5 Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 12 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET December 19 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 26 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET January 2 @New England 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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