Chiefs vs Doncos, who ya got?

[part-timer]

Undefeated KC in the AFC championship game vs the Patriots.....

the NFL would love that story line....

 

[BradyFTW!]

I would much rather the Chiefs win, but I think the Broncos' offense is too good. They've had some trouble protecting Manning though, so neither outcome would surprise me.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Broncos will be coming into NE at 9-1

 

[terabthia2]

The NFL scheduling for division games has been pathetic for the last three years.

They seem to be trying to backload division games at the end of the season as much as they can. This can be create really exciting races or backfire miserably. I prefer a season sked in which division games, conference games, and interconference games are spread out fairly evenly over the course of the season instead of one set bunched together over a short period of time.

 

[supafly]

alex smith is going to have to take some shots for them to even win one game. You aren't beating the broncos with 13 points

Yeah, it's funny how they chose to franchise Bowe and then give him a deal that pays him 5/56 (actually ends up at 6/66 with the tag from last year), and yet they NEVER target him or involve him in their gameplanning whatsoever.

Alex Smith refuses to even consider throwing the ball downfield more than 5-10 yards to anyone.

I've also noticed that teams seem to be keying in on Jamaal Charles, as he has had 3 straight games where his production has taken a pretty significant drop. It seems that defenses are finally smartening up and realizing that if you stop Charles, you are stopping 60% of their entire offensive production.

 

[kennyb]

If the chiefs win, they probably get the #1 seed. It would be hard to win there IMO.

 

[Ozymandias]

You have a 'Steelers suck' option in your poll, but not a 'JETS suck' option? I am disappoint.

Also, the Broncos got this, IMO. Neither team has beaten anyone of note so both are heavily overrated. So I'll go with the home team playing in a better spot.

 

[supafly]

If the chiefs win, they probably get the #1 seed. It would be hard to win there IMO.

You could be right that if KC steals one in DEN, they may be set up pretty nicely with a 2 game advantage in the standings heading into the last 6 games.

As far as worrying about having to go to KC with them as the #1 and us as the #2, I wouldn't even concern myself with anything like that at the moment.

KC has a tough defense and you're right--they do have a great home field advantage, but they can't score for anything. Eventually that may catch up with them as they face teams who aren't starting backup QB's like they've seen in the first half of the season.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I think KC is the real deal but they are not going 16-0 this will be one of at lest 2 looses on the season...Denver 20 KC 16

 

[crypto]

denver wins in denver kc wins in kc

 

[bostonia3333]

I think KC pulls the upset Sunday. KC is such a balanced team in all phases of the game...I know their qb is not elite, but their coaching does a great job of masking Alex Smith's weaknesses and utilizing his limited strengths. Andy Reid is not a careful coach like a **** Jauron or Herm Edwards...he'll definitely try to gets his guys punch DEN in the mouth early. KC will not play that soft zone that Manning pads his stats with either.

Obviously, the KC coaches will need to instill some offensive trickery to keep DEN on their heels a bit. Mix it up with some screens, reverses, maybe a fake punt(remember Harbaugh last year against us)possibly a WR throwing a long bomb down the field on an end around. That's what it takes to win games like this if Brady isn't your qb.

 

[supafly]

I think KC pulls the upset Sunday. KC is such a balanced team in all phases of the game...I know their qb is not elite, but their coaching does a great job of masking Alex Smith's weaknesses and utilizing his limited strengths. Andy Reid is not a careful coach like a **** Jauron or Herm Edwards...he'll definitely try to gets his guys punch DEN in the mouth early. KC will not play that soft zone that Manning pads his stats with either.

Obviously, the KC coaches will need to instill some offensive trickery to keep DEN on their heels a bit. Mix it up with some screens, reverses, maybe a fake punt(remember Harbaugh last year against us)possibly a WR throwing a long bomb down the field on an end around. That's what it takes to win games like this if Brady isn't your qb.

Through their first 7 or 8 games, Jamaal Charles was accounting for approx. 44% of their overall offensive production. If that can somehow keep up, then they can keep handing him the ball and throwing RB passes to him out of the backfield another 5/6 times a game, but once teams start keying in on him and stacking the box with 8 guys (since there's no reason whatsover to fear the pass), things may change.

I actually think that we're starting the see that change, as Charles' production has dipped now for the last 3 games on a pretty major level.

Take a look at their defensive/special teams scoring this year. It's absolutely insane!!! If they can keep that up, they have a chance--but it's hard to imagine something like that happening. They are getting almost 50% production on defensive/special teams scoring vs their offensive scoring!!! They've actually only scored a grand total of 16 offensive TD's throughout their first 9 games.

 

[BingoBrown]

I think KC wins a close one.

1 KC is well rested and coming off a buy
2 Andy Reid is 13-2 (I believe)after a buy
3 KC wants a statement game(this would be it)
4 Manning is gimpy( bring out the gimp )
5 Manning with bad wheels will try to get his running game
going with quick strikes to avoid KC pass rush(KC will game plan this)
6 Pressure on Manning (TD record)?
7 Del Rio(nuff said)



20-16 KC

 

[supafly]

The KC Chiefs have scored 7 TD's throughout the first half of the season on defense/special teams.

That's almost unheard of, and has not only allowed them to take advantage of a very feisty defense (vs a lot of backup QB's, mind you--a lot), but has also helped to mask their obvious weaknesses on offense. If that can continue, they can be some serious contenders--but the odds of them being able to replicate 7 defensive/ST touchdowns through their last 8 games is probably slim to none.

I think they can still be a very tough out due to that punished and opportunistic defense, which has now been helped by a healthy Jamaal Charles and a QB who doesn't take chances on any level.

 

[AzorianPats]

Broncos roll this weekend in Denver. The game @ KC will be a different story IMO.

This!

Not for nothing, am I the only one that misses these prime time showdowns with divisional opponents that actually mean something?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Alex Smith on the road vs. a HOF QB?

The Broncos proved they were a top team last season so despite their weak schedule, they get the benefit of the doubt.

The Chiefs are coming off a 2-14 schedule and haven't beaten anyone yet. And even against the dregs of the league, they got lucky enough to play second and third-string QBs and still barely pulled off some wins.

The Chiefs might be legit, but they'll have to prove it first. Sunday night would be a good place to start.

 

[patsox23]

Broncos will torch KC - hope I'm wrong.

 

[PatsDeb]

I say Chiefs. I want Denver to have to be a wild card for the playoffs...

That being said, I think Manning & Co. take both games (durn it!!).

 

[everlong]

The Chiefs have the best defensive passer rating in the league at 67.8 and are tied for the worst rushing yards per attempt at 5.0. It's hard to know the context of those run but they're also in the bottom third in rush yards per game given up. So it should be a strength against strength matchup. As long as the Broncos are willing to stick with the run I would give them the advantage. If they start getting in 3rd and long and the Chiefs start unloading hits on Manning that could change quickly.

The Broncos surprisingly are second in rushing yards per attempt at 3.4 and a mediocre 83.7 defensive passer rating. KC is only at 4.2 YPC which is 14th and 119 yards per game which is 12th. Passing they're 27th in YPG at 198 and 20th in QB rating at 81.4. Unless Smith busts out this is a clear advantage to the Broncos.

Special teams according to the Football Outsiders rankings the Chiefs are 4th and the Broncos 8th so a slight advantage Chiefs.

Broncos are +2 in TOs with 16 created and 14 given up and the Chiefs are +15 with 23 created and 8 given up. Large advantage Chiefs.

The game is in Denver but the Chiefs are coming off the bye so we'll call that a wash.

I think the game will come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage and if the Chiefs and turn the Broncos over. If they weren't coming off a bye I'd pick the Broncos but I have a feeling Reid will have some wrinkles and his record after the bye is 13-1 and after a Thursday night game 4-1. So he takes advantage of the extra time.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

You have a 'Steelers suck' option in your poll, but not a 'JETS suck' option? I am disappoint.

Also, the Broncos got this, IMO. Neither team has beaten anyone of note so both are heavily overrated. So I'll go with the home team playing in a better spot.

To be fair though, putting in Jest suck as an option would just be a landslide in favor of that - derails the whole thread... it's a genie that doesn't go back in the bottle.