KC @ CLE Primer...

[Warrior5]

With the impressive Thanksgiving night victory over the hated, cheatin’ Donks, the Chiefs are suddenly a leg up in the wildcard race at 7-4. Right now, the Chiefs are the healthiest they’ve been all season. The last time they went on the road, they lost to a team they should’ve beat (Miami). The Chiefs are still in the playoff hunt as they travel to Cleveland (another game they should win), but the 3-8 Browns are better than their record indicates:

KC Score O – 21 ppg (13) vs CLE Score D – 21 ppg (16)…wash w/homefield
KC Rush O – 134 ypg (5) vs CLE Rush D – 137 ypg (28)...adv KC
KC Pass O – 186 ypg (22) vs CLE Pass D – 191 ypg (7)...adv CLE

CLE Score O – 17 ppg (26) vs KC Score D – 19 ppg (10)...adv KC
CLE Rush O – 83 ypg (30) vs KC Rush D – 109 ypg (15)...adv KC
CLE Pass O – 174 ypg (25) vs KC Pass D – 200 ypg (13)…adv KC

Giveaways:
CLE – 12 INTs & 12 fumbles in 11 games (-7 differential)
KC – 5 INT & 10 fumbles in 11 games (+4 differential)
Adv KC

Weather: hi 36, 30% chance light snow, wind SW 10 mph.

CLE Key Players (WINS: Raiders, Jets, Falcons / LOSSES: Saints, Bengals, Ravens, Panthers, Donks, Chargers, Steelers, & Bengals):
QB Frye – 2145 yds, 63% comp., 9 TD, 16 INT
RB Droughns – 476 yds, 3.1 ypc, 3 TD
TE Winslow – 649 yds, 3 TD
WR Edwards – 641 yds, 3 TD
WR Jurevicius – 205 yds, 2 TD
LB McGinest – 20 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT
LB Wimbley – 29 tackles, 7.5 sacks
LB Davis – 63 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT
LB Jackson – 51 tackles
Key CLE injuries: DE Roye (knee) - O, TE Winslow (knee) - Q, CB Bodden (ankle) - Q, RB Droughns (foot) - Q, DE Eason (ankle) - Q, LB McGinest (pectoral) - Q, S Hamilton (back) - Q, S Russell (elbow) - Q, LB Unck (groin) - Q.

Browns’ last game: rolled by the Bengals 30-0.

KC Key Players (Wins: 49ers, Cards, Chargers, Seahawks, Rams, Raiderz, Donks / Losses: Bengals, Donks, Steelers, Dolphins)
QB Green – 353 yds, 62% comp., 0 TD, 2 INT
RB Johnson – 1202 yds, 4.3 ypc, 13 TD
RB Bennett – 170 yds, 6.8 ypc
TE Gonzales – 623 yds, 3 TD
WR Kennison – 537 yds, 2 TD
DE Allen – 48 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 FF
DE Hali – 31 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 4 FF
MLB Mitchell – 51 tackles, 1.5 sacks
OLB Johnson – 32 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF
P Colquitt – 45 yd avg., 17 I20
Key KC injuries: DT Reed (groin) - O, TE gonzales (shoulder) - P, LB Johnson (ankle) - P.

Chiefs’ last game: at a Thanksgiving night throw-down, LJ rushed for 154 yards and a TD, while the defense held the Donks to 38 rushing yards and 10 points in a 19-10 victory at Arrowhead.

Green still looks rusty in his throwing game, so expect another run-heavy attack from the Chiefs against the Browns’ 3-4 defense. The Browns’ linebackers blitz a lot. This game is a crucial test for the Chiefs; to maintain momentum, they must win on the road in a tough Cleveland stadium. I think the Chiefs will win a close one in Cleveland and return to Arrowhead 8-4 for the Ravens.