That is why the Ravens repeatedly received penalties against the Chiefs for illegal positioning

The Baltimore Ravens received three illegal lineup penalties on their first drive against the Kansas City Chiefs because the emphasis was on the lineup of offensive linemen – ironically because of the Chiefs.

Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley was penalized four times in the first half for the same offense. NFL rules require that seven players be on the line of scrimmage before the snap – almost always a combination of five offensive linemen plus two receivers, running backs or tight ends.

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For offensive tackles, this usually means they must have their helmet level with the center's waist before the snap to be considered standing at the line. This effectively allows them to stay a step or two behind the line and anticipate a pass rush. Stanley, like many offensive tackles, took an extra step back to gain an advantage over opposing pass rushers.

You may remember the story from last In the season opener of the current year, the Chiefs' right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, was criticized for an illegal lineup – but the referees did not show him a consistent penalty.

“To stand at the line of scrimmage, his helmet has to break through the center's waist. And to be honest, we watched him all game, he really isn't anywhere near that,” NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said in last year's opener. “And it really puts the defender at a tremendous disadvantage to be able to stand that far back.”

This year, the NFL has made it its mission to have referees penalize offensive tackles who attempt to gain more space at the line of scrimmage.

And the Chiefs were ultimately the first to benefit.