How do the Chiefs matchup against the other playoff contenders?

[cmh6476]

I like to frequent other boards, as some of you have probably noticed. Not sure if that has more to do with my love of football, or just an interest in finding out more about the teams we play.

But what I have learned from going from site to site, is that a lot of these other teams fans feel very good and very confident about their teams chances. And most of them should be, I think we have 8 legitimate contenders in the AFC, and outside of Indy I think most are fairly comperable.

That kind of got me thinkin about how we matched up against all the other contenders, and I thought I'd try and break it down. I'm going to break these down as to how I think we'd do playing each of these teams 10 times at home, and 10 times on the road, eventually getting to all of our competition (Indy, Den, Cin, NE, Jax, SD, and Pit).

1. Indianapolis

Definitely the team to beat in the conference, and I think they scare everyone. I don't necessarily think it's an unattainable task, bu the Chiefs would have to put forth their best effort to take out the best team in the league.

Watching them tear us to shreds at Arrowhead two years ago in the playoffs made me realize how tough they are even in unfriendly territory. Doesn't look like that even matters now as anyone who plans on heading to Detroit is probably going to have to get there through Indy.

Indy's offense is just explosive, and our guys would have to be on their game to slow them down, if we could even do it. Indy's line is solid, and their receiving weapons open up the running game. And Manning can read defenses with the best of them, and keeps defenses guessing.

On offense, Willie Roaf and Wellbourne would have to step it up and not let freeney get to Trent. Linemen have to be on their game, protecting Trent and opening holes for LJ. Receivers have to get open and hang onto the ball.

I'd say if we played Indy 10 times at Indy, we'd maybe win 2 of those game. At Arrowhead I'd say maybe a 5-5 split, but that might even be just a tad generous...

[JBucc]

We can beat anyone if we play our best and are all healthy. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to happen very often when we play good teams.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by JBucc

We can beat anyone if we play our best and are all healthy. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to happen very often when we play good teams.

which is why I'm doin mine by how we'd likely do if we played them 10 games. because we can beat and we can lose to any team!


2. Denver

The Chiefs have played the Broncos twice. Once with a shell of the team they played them with the second time around. Yet, we still didn't do to them what we are capable of IMO.

We have a run defense good enough to stop them, but they haven't quite done it yet. And I think we have proven that if you put pressure on Plummer, he will make some mistakes. We didn't put any pressure on him in the first game, but in the second we did and he turned the ball over.

Denver still has a very good line that can create gaps and protect Plummer. I think it's also pretty clear they are more comfortable and better at doing that in Invesco.

As for our Offense, we can score on them. We can run on them and we can pass on them. The key is protecting Trent and creating space for LJ to burst through.

10 times at Arrowhead, and I think we take 6 if not 7.
And I'm comfortable saying we could beat them 4 out of 10 times at Invesco

[tk13]

We can beat the Colts. They would not stop Larry Johnson. He would break a lot of tackles and have a huge game. Plus they usually let Gonzo run free through their zone. A recipe for lots of points. The key is knocking Manning down and getting him out of rhythm like last year.

[kcfanXIII]

can anyone slow lj down, should be the name of this thread. i don't know who will be able too. what did larry do against san diego last time we played?

[Taco John]

I think you guys would match up well against their defense, but would get owned when they are on offense. LJ would slice through their defense, I would think. He's very talented. I think you guys are weak at tight end right now though. Tony Gonzalez seems to be going the way of Ben Coates.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Taco John

I think you guys are weak at tight end right now though. Tony Gonzalez seems to be going the way of Ben Coates.

That's why Tony G is second in NFL tight ends in receptions.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Taco John

I think you guys would match up well against their defense, but would get owned when they are on offense. LJ would slice through their defense, I would think. He's very talented. I think you guys are weak at tight end right now though. Tony Gonzalez seems to be going the way of Ben Coates.

[Hammock Parties]

Gonzo had a whopping 8 more catches at this time last year. Yeah, he's declining BIG TIME.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by gochiefs

Gonzo had a whopping 8 more catches at this time last year. Yeah, he's declining BIG TIME.

[OrangeDrain drivel]Just like a fan... you can always defend one of your chefs players with a stat or two. Stats don't make teams good- players do. Our players don't need us to defend them with stats. Yours do.[/OrangeDrain drivel]

[Hammock Parties]

Is Ashley Lelie going the way of Jerry Rice?

That was a quick rise and fall.

[cmh6476]

Don't let a guy that thinks Jeb Putzier is a great TE hijack the thread

Last one then I'm off for bed. Maybe I'll finish the other 4 tomorrow:


3. Cincinnati

Cincy's weakness seems to be against the run, which really plays into our strengths. I think they're another team we would have no problem scoring on. Again it's all on the shoulders of the line.

As for slowing down their offense, that might be a different story. Chad Johnson and Housh have to be respected, which setups their pound the ball running attack. I don't think we would have much trouble stopping their running game, but the fact that we have to respect their big play potential, they will probably be able to move the ball and score.

The key here is to pound the ball, control the clock and not let this turn into a shootout. Not sure how the "who-dey" and home field would factor into this, but it would definitely be to our benefit to play them at home.

Playing them in Cincy, I'm gonna leave a pretty wide margin because I'm not sure how their home field would factor into the equation. I'd probably say somewhere between 2-4 wins out of 10.

Plying them at home I'm a little more confident, and think we could beat them 6 out of 10 games.


-----------

I'll go ahead and do one more because this one I'm not sure about

4. Jacksonville

I don't know what the chances of us actually playing them would be. I think they'll likely end up at new England, and even if they do win would probably be heading into indy the following week.

And I really haven't watched these guys all year, nor do I know much about their team. I know Leftwich is hurt, which might set them back a tad.

I'm also not sure if they actually are a solid team, or just the benefactor of a weak schedule. I really don't know enough about them to take a stab as to what the outcome would be if we played them 10 times at each place...

[Hammock Parties]

I think we match up pretty well against everyone, just because of our offensive line/running game and ability to stop the run.

People can sit there and say Indy and Cincy are the two best teams in the AFC, but if you can't stop the run, you've got a problem.

[Psyko Tek]

he's just trying to see if Tony G will play better angry
it's worked with LJ

[cmh6476]

5. New England

The Patriots are not the same team they have been the last few years. With that said, I still think they can win, and they know what it takes to win in January.

We can take out their running game, and if we put pressure on Brady we can beat the Pats. And this is another team our offense will be able to score on, even if they were completely healthy.

10 games at the Razor, and I think we can take 5 if not 6.
10 games at Arrowhead and I like our chances in 7 if not 8 of those.


6. San Diego

San Diego has won what, 5 in a row? They are playing damn good right now. LT is a monster and makes teams respect the run, which opens up the passing game. I think we can limit LT, and if we put some pressure on Brees we can take the Chargers. This is another team we shouldn't have trouble scoring on. This seems to be a re-occurring theme here.

10 games at Qualcomm and I like our chances in 4 or 5.
10 games at Arrowhead and I like our chances in 6 or 7.


7. Pittsburgh

I think we have the better team here. Pitt just hasn't looked that impressive of late. They can still pound the rock, and they have a decent aerial assault. Their strength is still their defense, but I don't think any defense in the league can slow us down with the way we've been playing.

10 games in Pittsburgh, I say we take 4.
10 games at Arrowhead, I say we take 6 or 7.