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Thread: Peyton Manning vs. Kansas City Chiefs

  1. #1
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    Post Peyton Manning vs. Kansas City Chiefs

    Peyton Manning vs.Kansas City Chiefs: Why the Bye Week's Timing is Perfect

    It's no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 going into their biggest challenge of the season—Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning has a history of carving up young defenses by picking out the most vulnerable and inexperienced players in the unit and exploiting them by keying in on them for the entire game.

    The Chiefs have a lineup loaded with these types of players. To the naked eye, this may seem like Peyton's dream matchup. That's good news for the Chiefs going into this contest.

    While the Colts are going into a tough division matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week, the Chiefs get the week off to do nothing but focus on beating the Colts in Week 5 and getting to 4-0. Romeo Crennel has had Manning's number for most of Manning's career. During Romeo's stint as the defensive coordinator in New England, his defenses owned Manning.

    Peyton never really could figure out Romeo's defensive schemes. No other defense has ever frustrated Manning quite like that Patriots defense did. Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel was also a key contributor in that New England defense. Now Romeo and Vrabel get two full weeks to gameplan for the Colts.

    While Vrabel may no longer possess the physical tools to reek the havoc on the Colts that he once did, he has more than enough knowledge to teach the Chiefs talented younger LBs just how to neutralize the Colt's offensive attack. The Chiefs have a speedy, aggressive defense that has proven to be effective at getting to opposing QBs this season.

    Tamba Hali and Glenn Dorsey will have to play big rolls in this game if the Chiefs are to pull off the upset. They'll need to be effective getting pressure on Peyton so that LBs Derrick Johnson and Vrabel will be free to cover the middle on short pass plays and keep Colts RB Joseph Addai to minimal gains.

    Peyton historically has the trouble when he's pressured. If the Chiefs can get to him early and set the tone by trolling the Colts backfield, the Colts will have a long day of watching Peyton's passes sail out of bounds. Crennel is great at disguising blitz packages to keep his opponents guessing, which will be key in this game.

    The Colts are one of the worst teams at running the ball in the NFL, making them one-dimensional right off the bat. This does half of the Chiefs defense's work for them. If they don't have to make the Colts one-dimensional, they can focus on the one dimension that the Colts do well, passing

    As long as the Chiefs front seven does their job well, rookie safety Eric Berry will be able to focus more on coverage resulting in him not getting burnt on big plays as easily as he has so far this year. With Berry and CB Brandon Flowers able to put the majority of their focus on the Colts' Lego board of wide receivers, Peyton should have a hard time finding anything deep.

    The Chiefs' offensive responsibilities are far less complex. They need to run, run, pass, and run some more. RBs Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are tops in the league in yards per game right now. The Chiefs are getting 160 yards per game, almost exclusively from these two backs.

    They are the leagues best one-two punch from the backfield. If they can get going downhill from the start of the game, play action passes will keep the Colts' pass-rush at bay. DE Dwight Freeney is one of the leagues best pass-rushers, and MLB Gary Brackett is equally as effective in that department.

    If those two have to focus on the two-headed monster that is the Kansas City backfield, Chiefs QB Matt Cassel should be able to get some breathing room in the pocket. He'll be able to find his favorite target, rookie TE Tony Moeaki, over the middle to set up WR Dwayne Bowe deep in one on one coverage a couple of times throughout the game.

    Bowe will have to be sure-handed in Week 5— something he hasn't always been—for the Chiefs to come out on top. Also, it wouldn't hurt for the big play dynamo that we know as Dexter McCluster to work a little magic as only he can with a big play or two.

    In the return game, Javier Arenas needs to spend some time practicing the art of the fair catch during the team's bye week. He is as risky as he is explosive. He has been rung up more than a handful of times already this year. If Arenas doesn't start doing a better job of taking care of the ball, it will eventually result in a costly turnover at a key time somewhere down the road.

    The Chiefs will need to play mistake-free football if they plan to beat the Colts, but they have an extra week to figure out how to do that. The Chiefs are on a roll right now, and they are probably on an emotional high. That could lead to a big let-down if they had to ride it right into a Week 4 matchup with the Colts.

    Luckily for them, they won't have to do that. The extra week will give head coach Todd Haley, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel the luxury of bringing this young, hot team back down to Earth in time for their next game.

    Also, Charlie Weis is recovering from emergency gall bladder surgery, and gets an extra week to heal. The bye week means that he won't miss the game against his rival Colts—Weis was the offensive coordinator opposite Crennel on the Patriots Super Bowl winning staff.

    I wish Charlie a speedy and complication-free recovery, and not just from a fan's viewpoint. Weis put off the surgery so that he could coach in the Week 3 win against the San Francisco 49ers. He's a real "trooper," and a big part of the Chiefs' recent success.

    All of the pieces are in place for the Chiefs to successfully get a win in Indianapolis. All that's left is to play the game. Study hard, prepare well, and get some rest young Chiefs—you'll need to for this one.

    Chiefs fans haven't forgotten who the team is that knocked the out of the playoffs in their last two playoff appearances. Hopefully the Chiefs can get a little redemption in Week 5. I feel it is necessary to give a prediction for this game's outcome for it to truly be a complete preview.

    Chiefs 24, Colts 20

    However, regardless of how this contest turns out, this game will mark the first time since 2005 that the majority of Chiefs fans can truly say for a game of this magnitude the following statement:

    We are ready for some football.



    Here is the Bleacher Report link.
    Peyton Manning vs.Kansas City Chiefs: Why the Bye Week's Timing is Perfect | Bleacher Report
    *** Kansas City Chiefs 2013 - 2014 ***

  2. #21
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    I agree with everybody's feelings that the Chiefs needs to effectively run the ball, just for the fact of keeping Manning off the field. That is the best way to neutralize him. But, I feel that Cassell needs to make some plays as well, so that the Colts D doesn't stack the box all day to prevent the run. Because you know that's what they're going to do and make Cassell beat them through the air.
    Keeping my britches between the ditches! :character00182:

  3. #22
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    The Kansas City Chiefs (3-0), stunningly the league's only remaining unbeaten team, are one of the top storylines of the young NFL season.

    After winning a total of 10 games in the past three seasons, Kansas City is playing timely football on both sides of the ball and has one of the league’s more exciting young cores. We'll find out a lot of about Kansas City in the next two games, at Indianapolis on Sunday and at Houston on Oct. 17.

    But there are signs that this team will be in the mix all season in a wide-open AFC West. Here are 10 reasons, in no particular order, why Kansas City could win the AFC West, including the Chiefs' strong points and shortcomings of the other three division teams:


    Chiefs' Remaining 2010 Schedule

    After Sunday's game against the Colts, the Chiefs only play two more games against teams that were in the playoffs in 2009:
    DateOpponentSunday, Oct. 10at IndianapolisSunday, Oct. 17at HoustonSunday, Oct. 24JacksonvilleSunday, Oct. 31BuffaloSunday, Nov. 7at OaklandSunday, Nov. 14at DenverSunday, Nov. 21ArizonaSunday, Nov. 28at SeattleSunday, Dec. 5DenverSunday, Dec. 12at San DiegoSunday, Dec. 19at St. LouisSunday, Dec. 26TennesseeSunday, Jan. 2Oakland

    Kansas City’s schedule: The Chiefs will be in the race no matter what they do in the next two games. Even if the Chiefs get blown out by the Colts and Texans, they’ll be 3-2 and in decent shape. If the Chiefs lose both games but are competitive, their confidence will soar. If the Chiefs are 4-1 or 5-0 after the next two games, they’ll be cruising.

    Kansas City's schedule is very manageable after the fifth game, with just two games against 2009 playoff teams (San Diego and Arizona) in the final 11 games. Of course, the Cardinals, with undrafted rookie Max Hall starting at quarterback, don't look anything like a playoff team.

    The Chiefs’ attitude: Head coach Todd Haley and his fine staff have the team believing it can win.

    Said linebacker Derrick Johnson after the Chiefs walloped the 49ers in Week 3: "Each win, we're getting more and more confident."

    The team has bought in to Haley’s ways and is having fun. Haley had 14 players act as coaches during a bye-week practices last week. The response from the players was very favorable. It seems the Chiefs can’t wait to get to work every day, a feeling that can carry a team.

    Denver’s run offense: The Broncos (2-2) look better than expected and were competitive in both their losses. But Denver’s running game is a mess, ranking last in the NFL and averaging 2.2 yards a carry and 55 yards a game on the ground. While quarterback Kyle Orton has been terrific and is leading the NFL’s best passing game, the Broncos won't win consistently and be a legitimate contender if the running game doesn’t improve.

    San Diego’s early-season slop: The Chargers (1-2) are not worried, and they shouldn’t be because they've dug themselves out of early-season holes the past three years. San Diego lost 21-14 at Kansas City on opening night because it made too many turnovers (2 to the Chiefs' 0) and played poorly on special teams (including a 94-yard punt return by Chiefs rookie Dexter McCluster). San Diego improved in all areas, especially on special teams, in the 41-10 Week 4 trouncing of Arizona. But if the Chargers falter on special teams, it will negate great play on offense and defense and they will lose more games than they should.

    Kansas City’s defense: The Chiefs are playing well on defense, especially against the run (75 yards per game, No. 5 in the NFL). Kansas City also has found a pass rush (tied for 16th in sacks, with 8) for the first time since Jared Allen was traded after the 2007 season. The Chiefs' opportunistic defense has scored 24 points off turnovers, and new coordinator Romeo Crennel has made a major impact on the young unit.

    "Romeo Crennel has come in here and really changed our identity and the things we're doing,” linebacker Tamba Hali told reporters after the San Francisco game.

    Oakland’s early start: The Raiders and Chiefs were supposed to be similar teams going into the season. Young, talented, probably on the rise. So far, the Chiefs have far outperformed Oakland, which is 1-3 and already has benched its Week 1 starting quarterback, Jason Campbell. Anything can happen, but if the Chiefs simply focus on themselves and continue to win, the Raiders won’t be a factor. Oakland has talent, but the Raiders must quickly turn around their fortunes if they are to make a serious playoff run.


    [+] Enlarge Denny Medley/US PresswireJamaal Charles is boasting an impressive 7.0 yards per carry through three games.


    Kansas City’s running game: The Chiefs’ running game is strong, averaging 160.7 yards per game and ranking No. 3 in the league. Good running teams win a lot of games. As long as Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones play well, the Chiefs will be able to dictate the tempo.

    San Diego’s late schedule: The Chargers have traditionally handled their late-season schedule well. But there will be challenges. The Chargers have road tests at Houston, Indianapolis and Cincinnati and they play New England at home. Because they have already lost two games and the Chiefs haven’t lost yet, a few more stumbles could make it difficult for the Chargers to win their fifth straight division championship.

    Kansas City’s coaching staff: This is a stellar group. Crennel has the defense making plays in the passing and running game. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is making good use of the Chiefs’ young core. After struggling in the first two games, quarterback Matt Cassel made strides against the 49ers, completing 16 of 27 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. This team is very organized and has shown good discipline. There is no doubt Haley benefits from having two coordinators with head-coaching experience. The Chiefs are a well-run team, and well-coached teams don’t often fade down the stretch.

    Kansas City will improve: Regardless of what the three teams trailing Kansas City do in the final three quarters of the season, the biggest reason why the Chiefs can stay in this race is that they will get better as the season wears on. This is a team built for the future. It should be better in 2011 and even better in 2012. The truth is, this team has arrived early, helped by tremendous efforts from rookies such as McCluster, safety Eric Berry, defensive back Javier Arenas, tight end Tony Moeaki and defensive back Kendrick Lewis. Assuming these rookies don’t fade toward the end of the season, the Chiefs are going to be even tougher as this team continues to jell.

  4. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chiefster View Post
    Well their pass offense is ranked 2nd in the league; our pass defense is ranked 25th. We'll need to get to Manning early and often.

    Our pass defense isnt that bad, if not for a busted coverage in the san diego game and a meaningless one at end of 9rs game..

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