WEEK THREE: Kansas City Chiefs @ New Orleans Saints Game Preview
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-2)
KICKOFF: 12:00PM CT, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
WHERE: SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS, LA
SPREAD: SAINTS -8 O/U 53
TV: CBS (GREG GUMBEL & DAN DIERDORF)
RADIO: CHIEFS FOX FOOTBALL RADIO NETWORK – 101.1 THE FOX IN KC
WEATHER: DOME
KC INJURIES: OUT – TE. KEVIN BOSS (HEAD), CB. JACQUES REEVES (HAMSTRING), WR. DEVON WYLIE (HAMSTRING), QUESTIONABLE – S. KENDRICK LEWIS (SHOULDER), G. RYAN LILJA (BACK), WR. DEXTER MCCLUSTER (SHOULDER), TE. JAKE O’CONNELL (KNEE), NT. ANTHONY TORIBIO (ANKLE), PROBABLE – CB. JAVIER ARENAS (NECK), DE. ALLEN BAILEY (ANKLE), WR. STEVE BREASTON (WRIST), CB. JALIL BROWN (GROIN), RB. JAMAAL CHARLES (KNEE)
NO INJURIES: OUT – DE. TURK MCBRIDE (ANKLE), QUESTIONABLE – LB. JONATHAN CASILLAS (KNEE), WR. MARQUES COLSTON (FOOT), PROBABLE – QB. DREW BREES (ANKLE), S. ROMAN HARPER (WRIST), WR. DEVERY HENDERSON (CONCUSSION), CB. JOHNNY PATRICK (THIGH)
AFC WEST STANDINGS: 1. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-0) 2. DENVER BRONCOS (1-1) 3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) 4. OAKLAND RAIDERS (0-2)
It’s like déjà vu all over again isn’t it?
In 2011, the Kansas City Chiefs started out 0-2, giving up 85 points in the process.
In 2012, the Chiefs are 0-2 and have given up 75 points in the first two games.
WHAT IN GOD’S NAME IS GOING ON OUT THERE!?
I have no freakin idea but it’s embarrassing.
With Peyton Manning in the division, the Chiefs cannot start the season off at 0-3 and expect to be in the race for the AFC West again. It’s just not happening this year.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they have to go to New Orleans to face a pissed off, surprisingly 0-2 Saints team led by Drew Brees.
2012 so far has been a gigantic disappointment for Chiefs fans. No one thought this is how the season would begin AGAIN, injuries or not. This team is way too talented to be playing this badly. That goes on Romeo Crennel and the coaching staff. Why has Crennel’s defenses started out the season so poorly two seasons in a row?
Who knows, but we all know with the quarterback we have, the defense has to play like it did most of the last two seasons for the Chiefs to have any chance at winning games.
We have two seasons worth of evidence that shows this defense will pick it up eventually, but we also have four seasons worth of play that shows the offense and team in general is doomed for mediocrity until there is a serious upgrade at quarterback.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
CHIEFS OFFENSE VS. SAINTS DEFENSE
Good news for the Chiefs this week is that they play the only other defense in the NFL that has allowed as many points as themselves. The Saints too have allowed 75 points in two games against Cam Newton and the Panthers and RG3 and the Skins.
Fortunately for the Saints, they aren’t going up against a Newton or Griffin this week, they get a break by facing Matt Cassel.
As with every game with Cassel, the Chiefs have to get a lead early on. We’ve witnessed once again the last two weeks that Cassel is not built to do much at all, let alone lead his team from behind and win a game. So, yeah, getting a lead early on would be nice.
If the offensive line rebounds from a very surprisingly below average game against Buffalo last week and gives Cassel the time he desperately needs, then I can see Cassel completing safe throws to open receivers against a poor and banged up Saints secondary.
If the pass protection isn’t superb, then all hell will break loose again as Cassel is obviously one of the worst quarterbacks in the league when facing pressure. Same ol, same ol.
What has really been disappointing so far this season is the running game. Everyone thought the combination of Jamaal Charles, even not at 100%, and Peyton Hillis, would be one of the best 1-2 punches in the NFL this year. Hasn’t happened yet. Some of the blame goes on the offensive line not playing up to their abilities yet, some of it goes on the play calling and being behind the whole game, and of course a lot of it goes on Cassel’s inability to pose any sort of threat down field.
I think the running game will get going once the line gels a little more and once the entire team starts playing more to their capabilities. Will it be this week? Who knows.
Overall, I think the Chiefs can and will move the ball on the Saints, but will they score touchdowns or field goals when they get into the red zone? And no, it won’t surprise me if the offense looks terrible again like it did last week, who knows how this team will perform.
But I have a feeling the offensive line will play much better this week and even Cassel will be able to make some plays against a below average secondary with the receivers we have.
CHIEFS DEFENSE VS. SAINTS OFFENSE
Facing one of the best quarterbacks in the league on the road is not typically an ideal situation to get your defense back on track. But that’s what the Chiefs are dealing with this week. A pissed off Drew Brees in the dome.
Brees and one of the most lethal offenses in the game have struggled a little so far this season. They’ve been terribly unbalanced, but a lot of that has to do with them being behind all game because of their defense.
Even if the Chiefs were playing the kind of defense we expected, it would be very tough to stop Brees and company. They are going to get their yards, can we keep them out of the end zone?
If the Chiefs can get a lead, the Saints will abandon the run and will be one dimensional again.
But it won’t matter if we can’t get any pressure on Brees. If we allow him to just sit back there, he will pick us apart. Tamba Hali is going to have to have a Hali like game in order for the defense to have any chance.
Obviously, if the Chiefs were playing the kind of defense they are capable of, I’d have much more confidence even going up against Drew Brees on the road. Still, they could play much better than they have the first two weeks and still give up some points to this team.
PREDICTION: CHIEFS – 24 SAINTS – 34
It’s very difficult to have any confidence whatsoever in this Chiefs team after the way they have performed the first two weeks of the season. They’ve showed nothing to give anyone any faith that they can go down to New Orleans and beat Drew Brees and company…and they’re 0-2 too.
It’s been that bad.
But like last year, this team will eventually turn it around and play closer to their abilities. Will it be too late though?
No team since 2008 has started the season 0-2 and made the playoffs. Since 1990, only 13% of 0-2 teams have made the playoffs.
The Chiefs are already at a serious disadvantage.
Start off the season 0-3?
No chance in hell this team sniffs the playoffs this season.
This game is a MUST WIN. Or the season is definitely over.
Bad thing is, the chances of Matt Cassel going into New Orleans and beating Drew Brees is slim to none. Cassel has only beaten one playoff team (The 7-9 Seahawks in 2010) and one team over .500 (The 9-7 Chargers in 2010) as a Chief.
So why would anyone have any faith at all that he will lead his team to victory over a Saints team led by one of the best quarterbacks in the game?
But that’s why they play the games. Any given Sunday. I guess.