Cards @ Arrowhead Primer

[Warrior5]

Arizona is at or near the bottom of the league in most offensive and defensive stats. The Chiefs should win this one walking away, but stats obviously didn’t make a difference in Denver last week. Stats didn’t matter when the lowly Bills took the Chiefs into OT at Arrowhead. But I posted them anyway for analytical context.

AZ (3-6) – W: STL, OAK, NO ...............L: ATL, SD, SEA, TB, MIN, SEA
KC (5-3) – W: SD, CLE, SF, JAX, BUF.....L: INDY, HOU, OAK, DEN

AZ Score O – 19 ppg (23) vs KC Score D – 22 ppg (15)
AZ Rush O – 83 ypg (29) vs KC Rush D – 104 ypg (13)
AZ Pass O – 181 ypg (30) vs KC Pass D – 240 ypg (22)

KC Score O – 24 ppg (12) vs AZ Score D – 29 ppg (32)
KC Rush O – 165 ypg (1) vs AZ Rush D – 132 ypg (28)
KC Pass O – 198 ypg (26) vs AZ Pass D – 269 ypg (27)

Turnovers: AZ (-8) vs KC (+5)… yes, the Cards cough up the ball ALOT

Homefield: CHIEFS
Oakland established the recipe for slowing the Chiefs offense, and Denver validated it. Now that everyone (especially Haley, Weis, and Cassel) knows that the Cards will stack the box, I expect them to have a game-plan to counter it.

The Cards have had a pretty tough schedule, and are by no means a suck team. Hightower is averaging 4.8 ypc. Although the Cards are 30th in the league in passing yards, Fitzgerald and Breaston are a dangerous receiving duo. Stephens-Howling is a downright lethal returner; the Chiefs coverage unit had better stay disciplined on KOs.

Again… McCluster is the unknown variable. If he suits up, I expect the Chiefs to win BIG based simply off the fact that the Cards defense has to put someone on him, facilitating our run game and play-action. If he’s out again, methinks this will be a close game.

The F7 has to put Anderson on his ass every other play, or our secondary will make him actually look good. Since I expect Hali and the boys to be in Anderson’s face a lot, I’m predicting at least two picks, especially if Arrowwood is LOUD. Kendrick Lewis returning is huge for the secondary. Moeaki’s status doesn’t look too good, so Pope is gonna have to step it up. I’m confident Asomoah is up to the challenge of replacing Waters at LG.

This non-divisional game has turned into a critical point for the Chiefs. After shooting themselves in the crotch for the last three weeks, and especially after getting embarrassed/humiliated at Pile High, I expect this team to redeem itself. But if the Chiefs somehow manage to crap their helmets yet again, they will have truly mailed in the season, and we can start the annual “losing for draft picks” debate.