Chiefs Next 5 of 7 on the road?

R8RFAN · 11-02-2010, 02:02 PM

Chiefs about to hit the road for 5 of 7

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Unbeaten at home and mediocre away from Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City's most pressing need from now until Christmas will be figuring a way to win on the road.
The AFC West leaders will play five of their next seven games in unfriendly locales, starting this week with a trip to second-place Oakland. After that, they'll close out the regular season with two home games beginning on Dec. 26.
In two of their first three road games this season, at Cleveland and Indianapolis, the Chiefs (5-2) failed to score an offensive touchdown. They still managed to nip the Browns 16-14 for their only road win to date.
The offense finally came to life in a trip to Houston but the defense experienced its only meltdown of the year, allowing the Texans to score touchdowns on their last four possessions.
After home wins over Jacksonville and Buffalo, it's on to Oakland, a division matchup with added importance because the Raiders occupy second place in the AFC West, just 1 1/2 games behind. If the Chiefs can win there, they'll own a 2 1/2-game lead and be the only team in the division that does not have a losing record.
After that, it's another division game at Denver.
"There's no doubt, that's the challenge that's in front of us," safety Jon McGraw said Monday. "There are a lot of things that make it tough to win on the road."
Kansas City also has road games against Seattle, San Diego and St. Louis on the horizon. Last year, in
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Todd Haley's first season as the head coach, the Chiefs lost at Oakland and San Diego and won the season finale at Denver, knocking the Broncos out of playoff contention.
"At the end of the day, it's all psychological and if you just get out there and concentrate on what's going on between the lines you should have a chance," McGraw said. "We've just got to execute better than the other guys. It will be a challenge."
Haley talks constantly about building cohesion and togetherness and becoming "a team," which comes in handy when you're playing in a difficult environment.
"On good teams, there are relationships and a bond there among the guys. The tighter that is, the more you're going to be able to hold up under situations that have some adversity," he said. "And going on the road is an adverse situation. You've got a lot of people who don't want you to win, who are doing everything they can to get you to not win, to get you to make mistakes.
"To be a good team in this league and to eventually be a great team, you must win on the road."
That means, among other things, shutting out crowd noise and avoiding distractions.
"First and foremost, you're changing your comfort zone," Haley said. "Your comfort level goes way down. Even places where you play every year. The comfort level is a big thing. People have argued about this, but there's potentially more distractions on the road."
KC's 13-10 overtime victory against the winless Bills on Sunday avenged one of its home losses from last season and seemed to put a more sprightly spring in Haley's step than any other victory this year. Ryan Succop, after missing in earlier in overtime, kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the extra period to improve the home record to 4-0—one year after Kansas City lost its first four at home.
"Our team is showing signs of being a team, and yesterday—that's why I can't go on enough about yesterday," Haley said. "It was one of those wins we'll draw from, draw so much from. Though that game probably could have gone a different way, had we executed correctly it could have made that game not so close. For our guys, there will be a lot to that game down the road."
The Raiders' biggest challenge will be stopping the Chiefs' running game. After rushing for 274 yards, the Chiefs lead the NFL in rushing for the third week in a row with an average of almost 191 yards a game. The Raiders are second at 168.5.
"Each game's bigger than the next," Haley said.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-...nclick_check=1

Reerun_KC · 11-02-2010, 02:06 PM

Yeah thats going to be a tough stretch....

My best guess is somewhere between 5-2 and 4-3....

We come out of that with a 9-5 record or better and were doing pretty good.

**RealSNR** · 11-02-2010, 02:06 PM

Oaktown is our toughest road game of that bunch.

Seriously, thanks for your concern, but we should go at least 3-2 in those road games. We'll be fine.

DMAC · 11-02-2010, 02:09 PM

Good thing our rushing attack is ****ing badass.

R8RFAN · 11-02-2010, 02:14 PM

We gonna see how tough those big bad Chiefs are for sure now...

keg in kc · 11-02-2010, 02:21 PM

I don't expect it to be pretty, but the team is built for road games, with strong running offense and defense. And I think "mediocre on the road" might be a underselling them a little since they were basically toe-to-toe with Indy and completely dominated Houston until the last 10 minutes of the game. We'll see.

Frazod · 11-02-2010, 02:24 PM

Our next seven opponents have a combined record of 22-32. Only one has a winning record, two are at .500. That said, the only game that I'll just go ahead and call a loss is San Diego - I think getting revenge for Week 1 will be their Super Bowl. I'll call both Bronco games as wins. The rest could go either way.

Mr. Arrowhead · 11-02-2010, 02:53 PM

I do like our chances tho, if we need a win or 2 at the end of the season, since we have our last 2 games at home.

RedDread · 11-02-2010, 02:55 PM

When ESPN posted the tiebreaking procedure for acquiring Moss, I noticed our Strength of Schedule for the teams we've played so far is 19-31. By far the easiest in the league.

CHENZ A! · 11-02-2010, 03:04 PM

Everyone seems to forget that we actually have 9 home games this year. We play at Arrowhead East in STL on Dec 19th.
Posted via Mobile Device

Fritz88 · 11-02-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDread

When ESPN posted the tiebreaking procedure for acquiring Moss, I noticed our Strength of Schedule for the teams we've played so far is 19-31. By far the easiest in the league.

A fact that many seem to willfully ignore.

JD10367 · 11-02-2010, 03:56 PM

5 of 7 on the road?!?

Seriously... do I have to actually point out the fact that they all play 8 on the road and 8 at home? And that the schedule balances out in the end?

Brock · 11-02-2010, 03:56 PM

Win all of the home games, steal a couple on the road. That's what teams on the edge of being really good do.

R8RFAN · 11-02-2010, 03:58 PM

My prediction .... Sandy Eggo blasts by both of our teams for the AFC West crown

Pasta Little Brioni · 11-02-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

Everyone seems to forget that we actually have 9 home games this year. We play at Arrowhead East in STL on Dec 19th.
Posted via Mobile Device

11-02-2010, 02:02 PM
R8RFAN Molôn Labé Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: North Carolina Casino cash: $8566872	Next 5 of 7 on the road? Chiefs about to hit the road for 5 of 7 KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Unbeaten at home and mediocre away from Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City's most pressing need from now until Christmas will be figuring a way to win on the road. The AFC West leaders will play five of their next seven games in unfriendly locales, starting this week with a trip to second-place Oakland. After that, they'll close out the regular season with two home games beginning on Dec. 26. In two of their first three road games this season, at Cleveland and Indianapolis, the Chiefs (5-2) failed to score an offensive touchdown. They still managed to nip the Browns 16-14 for their only road win to date. The offense finally came to life in a trip to Houston but the defense experienced its only meltdown of the year, allowing the Texans to score touchdowns on their last four possessions. After home wins over Jacksonville and Buffalo, it's on to Oakland, a division matchup with added importance because the Raiders occupy second place in the AFC West, just 1 1/2 games behind. If the Chiefs can win there, they'll own a 2 1/2-game lead and be the only team in the division that does not have a losing record. After that, it's another division game at Denver. "There's no doubt, that's the challenge that's in front of us," safety Jon McGraw said Monday. "There are a lot of things that make it tough to win on the road." Kansas City also has road games against Seattle, San Diego and St. Louis on the horizon. Last year, in Advertisement Todd Haley's first season as the head coach, the Chiefs lost at Oakland and San Diego and won the season finale at Denver, knocking the Broncos out of playoff contention. "At the end of the day, it's all psychological and if you just get out there and concentrate on what's going on between the lines you should have a chance," McGraw said. "We've just got to execute better than the other guys. It will be a challenge." Haley talks constantly about building cohesion and togetherness and becoming "a team," which comes in handy when you're playing in a difficult environment. "On good teams, there are relationships and a bond there among the guys. The tighter that is, the more you're going to be able to hold up under situations that have some adversity," he said. "And going on the road is an adverse situation. You've got a lot of people who don't want you to win, who are doing everything they can to get you to not win, to get you to make mistakes. "To be a good team in this league and to eventually be a great team, you must win on the road." That means, among other things, shutting out crowd noise and avoiding distractions. "First and foremost, you're changing your comfort zone," Haley said. "Your comfort level goes way down. Even places where you play every year. The comfort level is a big thing. People have argued about this, but there's potentially more distractions on the road." KC's 13-10 overtime victory against the winless Bills on Sunday avenged one of its home losses from last season and seemed to put a more sprightly spring in Haley's step than any other victory this year. Ryan Succop, after missing in earlier in overtime, kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the extra period to improve the home record to 4-0—one year after Kansas City lost its first four at home. "Our team is showing signs of being a team, and yesterday—that's why I can't go on enough about yesterday," Haley said. "It was one of those wins we'll draw from, draw so much from. Though that game probably could have gone a different way, had we executed correctly it could have made that game not so close. For our guys, there will be a lot to that game down the road." The Raiders' biggest challenge will be stopping the Chiefs' running game. After rushing for 274 yards, the Chiefs lead the NFL in rushing for the third week in a row with an average of almost 191 yards a game. The Raiders are second at 168.5. "Each game's bigger than the next," Haley said. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-...nclick_check=1
Posts: 23,166

11-02-2010, 02:06 PM	#2
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	Yeah thats going to be a tough stretch.... My best guess is somewhere between 5-2 and 4-3.... We come out of that with a 9-5 record or better and were doing pretty good.
Posts: 934

11-02-2010, 02:09 PM	#4
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	Good thing our rushing attack is ****ing badass.
Posts: 11,651

11-02-2010, 02:14 PM	#5
R8RFAN Molôn Labé Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: North Carolina Casino cash: $8566872	We gonna see how tough those big bad Chiefs are for sure now...
Posts: 23,166

11-02-2010, 02:21 PM	#6
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I don't expect it to be pretty, but the team is built for road games, with strong running offense and defense. And I think "mediocre on the road" might be a underselling them a little since they were basically toe-to-toe with Indy and completely dominated Houston until the last 10 minutes of the game. We'll see.
Posts: 58,682

11-02-2010, 02:24 PM	#7
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2855085	Our next seven opponents have a combined record of 22-32. Only one has a winning record, two are at .500. That said, the only game that I'll just go ahead and call a loss is San Diego - I think getting revenge for Week 1 will be their Super Bowl. I'll call both Bronco games as wins. The rest could go either way.
Posts: 119,529

11-02-2010, 02:53 PM	#8
Mr. Arrowhead MVP Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $10015708	I do like our chances tho, if we need a win or 2 at the end of the season, since we have our last 2 games at home.
Posts: 7,763

11-02-2010, 02:55 PM	#9
RedDread Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Back in KC Casino cash: $10007771	When ESPN posted the tiebreaking procedure for acquiring Moss, I noticed our Strength of Schedule for the teams we've played so far is 19-31. By far the easiest in the league.
Posts: 4,167

11-02-2010, 03:04 PM	#10
CHENZ A! pimping hoes + clocking a grip Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $9977569	Everyone seems to forget that we actually have 9 home games this year. We play at Arrowhead East in STL on Dec 19th. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 6,302

11-02-2010, 03:56 PM	#12
JD10367 Cheaterlover* Join Date: May 2009 Location: RI Casino cash: $10010716	5 of 7 on the road?!? Seriously... do I have to actually point out the fact that they all play 8 on the road and 8 at home? And that the schedule balances out in the end?
Posts: 12,916

11-02-2010, 03:56 PM	#13
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Win all of the home games, steal a couple on the road. That's what teams on the edge of being really good do.
Posts: 47,314

11-02-2010, 03:58 PM	#14
R8RFAN Molôn Labé Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: North Carolina Casino cash: $8566872	My prediction .... Sandy Eggo blasts by both of our teams for the AFC West crown
Posts: 23,166