How pessimistic has this place become?
 

I've gotta be the guy who posts WF's prediction that the Chiefs win.

http://www.walterfootball.com/nflpicks2012_01early.php

Atlanta Falcons (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0)
Line: Falcons by 2.5. Total: 42.
Walt's Projected Line (Before Preseason): Chiefs -1.

ATLANTA OFFENSE: This was supposed to be a great matchup. An improved Matt Ryan and a dominant Julio Jones versus a Kansas City defense that shut down Aaron Rodgers last December? Sign me up. Several weeks ago, this seemed like THE battle to watch on opening Sunday.

That's not the case anymore, unfortunately. Elite pass-rusher Tamba Hali has been suspended because of a marijuana arrest. Top cornerback Brandon Flowers will be a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. Stud inside linebacker Derrick Johnson should be able to play, but won't be 100 percent because of his own ankle malady.

With all of that in mind, it's difficult to envision the Chiefs having much luck against Atlanta's dynamic passing attack. Matt Ryan figures to have tons of time to throw without having to worry about Hali, and he'll easily connect with Jones on multiple occasions, thanks to the presumed absence of Flowers. Running the ball won't be much of an option because Michael Turner is completely finished, but the Falcons won't need to do that because their offense is now primarily aerially based.

KANSAS CITY OFFENSE: The Chiefs will have some issues defensively this week, but they should be able to move the chains pretty efficiently. They're going to run the ball as good as anyone this season, thanks to the dynamic tandem of the currently healthy Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis, as well as a bolstered offensive line with Eric Winston as a massive upgrade over the inept Barry Richardson at right tackle.

The Falcons were 12th in the NFL against the run last year, but that ranking will likely drop, thanks to Curtis Lofton's departure. Replacement Akeem Dent struggled a bit in the preseason, so I'm expecting the Chiefs to rip off big gains on the ground.

This will open up play-action opportunities for Matt Cassel, who will need them because he's not a good quarterback. He should at least be protected well, making the daunting task of battling cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Asante Samuel a bit easier. It also helps that starting receivers Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin have a very healthy size advantage over Atlanta's two corners. And not to be forgotten, Dexter McCluster is finally being utilized correctly out of the slot. I think he could be a PPR monster this year.

RECAP: This is a tough spot for the Falcons, who aren't nearly as good in outdoor games. Following this matchup against the "crappy" Chiefs, they have to deal with Peyton Manning's Broncos, Philip Rivers' Chargers and Cam Newton's Panthers. They won't be completely focused, especially now that Hali is out. And yes, teams do look past Week 1 games.

Despite missing Hali and possibly Flowers, I feel like the Chiefs are underrated. They run the ball extremely well, while Romeo Crennel is still a defensive mastermind who will have something up his sleeve for Ryan. I'd like Kansas City as my September NFL Pick of the Month if they were completely healthy, but this is still a multi-unit play for me.

The Psychology. Edge: Chiefs.
The Falcons have the Broncos, Chargers and Panthers after this battle against the Chiefs, who weren't any good last year. They may not be 100-percent focused.

Opening Line: Falcons -1.
Opening Total: 41.

Week 1 NFL Pick: Chiefs 20, Falcons 17

Nothing pessimistic about THIS place, the coalition is way less homeristic.
Posted via Mobile Device

Almost 20 years of being mind ****ed every season will do that to you. Join the club dumbass!

No idea why. /'93

CHIEFS BABY! CHIEEEEEEEEEEEFS!

http://i.imgur.com/m6Mju.jpg

Matt Cassel.

This read is right on.

23-20 Chiefs win

We *should* be pessimistic.

The "optimistic" logic for this team is based on a 5-game stretch from 2010 against bottom feeders.

That and some kind of baseless, blind hope that Romeo Crennel is a good head coach and Cassel can actually beat good teams.

We should be crossing our arms and furrowing our brows this year until the team proves it's worthy of any kind of hope.

I'm trying keep a ballancing act between being optomistic and pessimistic. I don't have expectations to win with Matt Cassel at least I figure the team will play tough and be respectful. Knock some heads off people *snap* peyton Mannings neck. Beat the ****ing raiders. That's my expectations but not optomistic about the post season with Matt Cassel. I hate to go 8 & 8 but that seems to be what this team is headed.

The last time the Chiefs won a playoff game, I was 11. The longer the streak continues, the more pessimistic we'll be.

It doesn't help that there's our QB to consider and that our defense is banged up. I think our offense will probably do better than we expect with Charles and Hillis, but I have trouble thinking we're doing to stop the Falcons offense with half of our backfield injured.

the key is to win.
nobody's gonna be happy pulling for a losing team.

We're probably better at pretty much every position than the Packers, and they might go 16-0. No reason for pessimism.

Or, we can just be a fan and not take this stuff so serious.

Your new persona isn't going to change Pioli's ways or get him fired any sooner.

All we can do is hope for the best, or ignore the team entirely.

Ummm...Aaron Rodgers.............

This game will be won by our two headed running monster.

Our five-headed running back monster can take him down. Our backfield is like Voltron. Hard to kill, and ready to strike. With Matt Cassel as the pilot, what can go wrong?

Cassel can't even form the head, he'll just miss. What good is Voltron without head? No head, you dead. Simple.

o0r lost by cassel

I think everyone has written this season off as a failure already.

Shit, even the Coalition is doom and gloom.

We're not so much pessimistic, but rather realistic. We realize that in today's NFL, you need a franchise QB for a legit SB chance. And Matt Cassel is anything but a franchise QB. We know that as long as he is "leading" this team, we aren't winning shit, and wasting the prime years of our most talented players.

I love the knee jerk reaction to blame Cassel. Like the defense is fine.

Am sorry. I would have been plenty happy going 1 & 15 just to draft Luck for this year.

I'm bored of the "Cassel sucks".

When you have owners like Hunt and Glass (the only common thread in decades of fail), who A) won't live in the city where their teams play, B) be think those who do are a joke (evidently), and C) will always put money ahead of their team winning, you get pessimists. But when you you can bank $85M for doing nothing, and money is your only true love.....it's sort of hard to say it's a mystery. Look, Lamar was a nice fellow, but read about him, he was a money man. HE wanted CP, and CP did just enough to keep butts int he seats at Arrowhead. Nothing more! Glass, being Wal-Mart won't ever deal with top-paid employees who don't wear a suit. I'm sure the union just burns him up to no end too! The Hunts are the same thing, just the 90210 version of it. Clark;s a silver-spoon boy, but he's the same way, maximize free money, and if you win a game or two, that's good too. But make the money first by God!

So yeah, years of professional sports fail in this city has lead to this. Give us a Mark Cuban and you might find a different story. Until then, they make the money, and we're supposed to be happy that we still have teams! Yeah...

Cue "Hunt needs to sell the team to Cuban" petition?

Get back to me when there's a defensive player who has under-performed for 4 seasons without any attempt by the team to create competition at his position.

No Hali, no Lewis, injured Flowers, DJ and Toribio.

I doubt it's Cassel that is going to set the team back in week 1. This is going to be a run team.

That doesn't mean that Matt can't/won't be part of the issue Sunday.

Well, sure. I assumed we were talking more globally than about just the one game, but you're right - Cassel won't likely be the main reason we lose (if we do) Sunday.

If you are not a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem.

LMAO

Getting the Cassel apologist engine fired up already.

Just admit you're a fan and get it over with.

Wuss.

Also doesn't an NFL team need their QB to step up when other players are out? If Matt is supposed to get a bye from the fans because other players are out why is he our QB?

Also, its Cassel's job to keep the chains moving and scoring points.

Nope. Its the teams job to carry him and when those players are hurt or out then its not Cassel's fault for not helping the team overcome that. Starting Pitchers, Goalies, QBs are all in a position to help overcome a teams problems. Especially in todays NFL. Not in KC though.

It's almost "cool" to try to be the most negative. Sad really.

/thread

I HATE HIS ****ING FACE.

I actually think this place has more "homers" than at any time I've been here. Or maybe the homers are more vocal now that a few people have left. I don't know.

Which is another reason you shouldn't ****ing be here.

You're calling out people for homerism LMAO

I try not to be pessimistic, but when I look at facts it makes me pessimistic.

I have no problems with people having a positive outlook on their team. That's fine with me. I just have seen a lot more homer type posts the past year or so. Maybe it's because you guys won the division in 2010 and not certain people leaving. I don't know.

Maybe they see all the people picking them to win the division and see all these young, ascending players on the team. The hopes of winning games doesn't lie on a 40 year old with a broken neck magically regaining his arm strength.

Why fans of teams not the Chiefs, continue to come on a Chiefs board amazes me.

To be fair the division rival forums are pretty big piles of shit.

It doesn't have anything to do with going 7-9 last season sans Charles, Berry, and Moeaki with Palko starting games when most people thought that would be our record without the injuries?

That is the Caleb Hanie/Curtis Painter/Kyle Boller/Donovan McNabb/Tim Tebow reasoning that some reeruns use, yes.

I too am anticipating a good season in the event of facing five terrible, legitimately-competing-for-the-worst-QB-in-the-NFL-trophy quarterbacks this season.

You are right I suppose. They didn't win any of those games. The other team lost them. KC just happened to be there.

Btw week 1 hasn't started yet...wasn't that the deal?

Week 1 started yesterday, bro.

There are 7 days in a week.

Thank you for not throwing Thigpen's name in there. It is little things like that that make me love you.

Better than the Packers?

"You are what your record says you are". Words to live by in football.

Pot meet Kettle.

You are NEVER allowed to use that word, ever again.

yep, I've pretty much gone all the way down to "expect the worst and hope for the best" anymore.

I blame cAssHole, kHuntHole, and poilleHole.

But Justin Houston was elite last year? Does that count or not?

LOL, I'd say so!

I see where you are going with this and it's pretty valid. This is the NFL every game counts, it isn't college football with the extreme difference in talent levels between teams. 6 plus new playoff teams every year, the difference between good teams and bad is a very fine line.

I agree. It is going to be an eye opener for the rest of the league.

WTF are you here with a chiefs sig? Are you a Chiefs Fan or no?

I'm on the Bray Wagon though.

Don't confuse being realistic with being pessimistic...

Can't wait. #1 Ground game in the league. Hillis is going to be a fan favorite, and hopefully extended this season. Everybody loves a wrecking ball running back. I've been praying for one ever since Okoye, who is one of the reasons I bacame a Chiefs fan.

Become? Are you new here?

Can't wait??? How does "Marty Ball" end? We've been down this path before with a better QB and defense. I've seen teams totally run all over other teams and still manage to lose. Why? Because the type of football the Chiefs will play will keep them close even when they could be way out in front. It lets teams beat you with one play because you can't put them away. Shitty teams will stay close waiting for thier chance and the good teams can burry you in the first half. Believe me - I can wait.

Also, I would not be surprised if the Chiefs ground game is not as good as expected. The defenses will know what's copming and will stop it. Cassel can't beat them and they know it.

Based on preseason, our ground game is nowhere near the #1 ground game in the league.

Run blocking has been hit and miss.

This idea that we will be the #1 running attack is mostly based on what we did in 2010 against bottom feeders...newsflash, this year we play the top dogs.

I have been a fan of the Chiefs since 1972.
And you want me to be what???

I hope your right, but this horse has been kicked, dead and through the glue factory.

SHOW ME SOMETHING...then I will start to be optimistic.

Me to man. I have wanted one for a long long time.

That's because you don't know what you are looking for. You will be eating these words soon. Romeo used the preseasonas one long practice.

I have zero doubt we will be top 5 at least. Our ground game is gonna go beast mode. Our starters have looked damn good on the ground in PS.

Our running game looked shitty against St. Louis and Seattle.

The starters, for sure.

regarding the OP: I don't know. But we're all probably contract AIDs and have the transmissions go out in our cars in the same week. Then get laid off. Then lose our houses and be homeless withinn the year. We'll be Homeless AIDS people.

I'm not surprised at all that you don't think that our ground game will be that good. You have never made a comment that I can remember, that wasn't completely negative. Cassel was our QB in 2010 as well and we had the #1 ground game with Thomas Fn Jones. Now we have Hillis, who is an undeniable upgrade. If teams load up for the run, and expect it, PA will kick ass.

This. Nothing good can possibly happen, and you're an idiot if you think it will.

So Charles looks shitty so far huh? Got it.

Our running game was not productive at an elite level against Seattle or St. Louis.

This is not a hard thing to understand.

I know you are a homer but let's see....


W/Starting offensive line vs Rams:

11 carries for 39 yards


W/Starting offensive line vs Seahawks:

10 carries for 38 yards


There's no sign of the #1 running attack in those games.

Its hard to be optimistic when you have been a fan since 1970. A team that had won 3 championships the decade previous has not been back since. They have only one conference championship appearance in that time and have not won a playoff game since 1993. What's to be optimistic about?

Every time something promising seems to happen for this franchise, your hope ends up smacking you in the gut. My Cardinals have had streaks of 14 years out of the playoffs followed by a 22 year World Series drought. That pain was nothing before what Chiefs have given me.

Wow, this thread has made me all chipper and stuff... Woo Hoo, go CHEFS!

Those are Charles, and Hillis' numbers?

Charles, and Hillis, and Draughn, who you will want to take out, but had several good carries.