shaneo69
11-02-2005, 10:18 AM
GRETZ: A Look Ahead
Nov 02, 2005, 8:20:27 AM by Bob Gretz
From the time the NFL schedule is released in the spring, it’s part of the discussion between football fans. Whether sitting at the bar, or in the break room at work, or during a chat on the internet, discerning fans love to look at the schedule and predict which games their team will win and lose.
So let’s be honest, oh fans of the red and gold: when the Chiefs 2005 schedule was released, just how many victories did you give this team after seven games?
I’m willing to bet the Chiefs 4-3 record right now is pretty close to what most fans predicted. Based on last season and the changes that were made coming into this schedule, there really aren’t any surprises in the outcomes of the seven games so far.
Now, everyone knows the Chiefs should be 5-2 right now. A good team just doesn’t blow an 18-point lead at home, as they did to the Eagles. That game could come back to haunt them in the first days of January.
Otherwise, that 4-3 record is just about where the Chiefs should be, based on how they’ve played and the opponents they’ve faced. They are still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs and they also have the team ahead of them in the division – Denver – coming to Arrowhead.
But if the Chiefs are going to be a factor in January, they must be standing at 7-3 by the end of business on Sunday, November 20th. That means they must win their next three games: against Oakland this Sunday, on the road in Buffalo and then on the road again for a Sunday night game against Houston.
On paper, the Chiefs are better than all three of these teams. The Raiders may have won two in a row, but they are still 3-4 on the season and the Chiefs have won five in a row against the silver and black. Buffalo is a disappointing 3-5 with a woeful offense, while Houston is 1-6 right now and only able to beat another bottom dweller in Cleveland last Sunday.
It really comes down to this: if the Chiefs can’t win these next three games, they aren’t going to be a factor in the race to the playoffs.
Indianapolis has jumped ahead of everyone in the conference thanks to an easy opening schedule: only two of their first seven opponents have a winning record. That’s not the case over the last half of the season. The Colts face six teams with winning records over the last nine games, with four of those on the road. It starts for Indy this coming Monday night with a trip to New England.
At the other end of the spectrum is Jacksonville, as they have only one game left against a team with a winning record – Indianapolis – and that’s at home.
The Chiefs last six games are against teams that have winning records right now. It’s a tough, tough stretch, but four of those six are at home and two are out of the conference against Dallas and the New York Giants.
Put it this way: if the Chiefs can win the next three, and then win the four home games left on their schedule, they would finish 11-5 and they would make the playoffs. I’m betting they might have a chance to win the division.
Denver has trips left to Oakland, Dallas, Buffalo, San Diego and the Chiefs. San Diego has two more trips to the East Coast (NY Jets and Washington) and finishes the schedule at Indianapolis, at Kansas City and then Denver at home.
First things first: if the Chiefs want a place at the party, they must win the next three games.
Nov 02, 2005, 8:20:27 AM by Bob Gretz
From the time the NFL schedule is released in the spring, it’s part of the discussion between football fans. Whether sitting at the bar, or in the break room at work, or during a chat on the internet, discerning fans love to look at the schedule and predict which games their team will win and lose.
So let’s be honest, oh fans of the red and gold: when the Chiefs 2005 schedule was released, just how many victories did you give this team after seven games?
I’m willing to bet the Chiefs 4-3 record right now is pretty close to what most fans predicted. Based on last season and the changes that were made coming into this schedule, there really aren’t any surprises in the outcomes of the seven games so far.
Now, everyone knows the Chiefs should be 5-2 right now. A good team just doesn’t blow an 18-point lead at home, as they did to the Eagles. That game could come back to haunt them in the first days of January.
Otherwise, that 4-3 record is just about where the Chiefs should be, based on how they’ve played and the opponents they’ve faced. They are still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs and they also have the team ahead of them in the division – Denver – coming to Arrowhead.
But if the Chiefs are going to be a factor in January, they must be standing at 7-3 by the end of business on Sunday, November 20th. That means they must win their next three games: against Oakland this Sunday, on the road in Buffalo and then on the road again for a Sunday night game against Houston.
On paper, the Chiefs are better than all three of these teams. The Raiders may have won two in a row, but they are still 3-4 on the season and the Chiefs have won five in a row against the silver and black. Buffalo is a disappointing 3-5 with a woeful offense, while Houston is 1-6 right now and only able to beat another bottom dweller in Cleveland last Sunday.
It really comes down to this: if the Chiefs can’t win these next three games, they aren’t going to be a factor in the race to the playoffs.
Indianapolis has jumped ahead of everyone in the conference thanks to an easy opening schedule: only two of their first seven opponents have a winning record. That’s not the case over the last half of the season. The Colts face six teams with winning records over the last nine games, with four of those on the road. It starts for Indy this coming Monday night with a trip to New England.
At the other end of the spectrum is Jacksonville, as they have only one game left against a team with a winning record – Indianapolis – and that’s at home.
The Chiefs last six games are against teams that have winning records right now. It’s a tough, tough stretch, but four of those six are at home and two are out of the conference against Dallas and the New York Giants.
Put it this way: if the Chiefs can win the next three, and then win the four home games left on their schedule, they would finish 11-5 and they would make the playoffs. I’m betting they might have a chance to win the division.
Denver has trips left to Oakland, Dallas, Buffalo, San Diego and the Chiefs. San Diego has two more trips to the East Coast (NY Jets and Washington) and finishes the schedule at Indianapolis, at Kansas City and then Denver at home.
First things first: if the Chiefs want a place at the party, they must win the next three games.