**Chiefs vs Lions Official Game Day Thread - 11/01/15**

[TopekaRoy]

[TopekaRoy]

The Kansas City Chiefs (2-5)



vs

The Detroit Lions (1-6)



Sunday, November 1, 8:30am CT/2:30pm GMT
at
Wembley Stadium

London, England, UK



Television coverage:

and

Watch online:
Stream Hub
Boss Cast
atdhe.ru
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Stream2Watch.me
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[TopekaRoy]

Weather forecast: 56 degrees farenheit/13 degrees celcius, partly cloudy 2 mph E winds

Line: Chiefs (-3.5), Over/Under: 45

Trends:
The Chiefs are 1-2 at home
The Chiefs are 2-5 ATS
The Chiefs are 1-2 at home ATS
The Chiefs are 2-2 ATS as the favorite

The Lions are 1-2 away
The Lions are 1-6 ATS
The Lions are 1-2 away ATS
The Lions are 1-4 ATS as the underdog

Notable Quotables:
Chiefs: “I think there will be a number of people from Kansas City that will be here, but I think just the fans from London, they enjoy the sport ... For them to continue to invite us over here to play, I think it’s a great thing for the sport. It’s a great thing for the fans.” -- Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid on playing in London

Lions: “It’s [QB Matthew Stafford's] offense as much as mine, maybe even more, so if he likes [a play], we’ll get it in. If he
doesn’t like it we’ll try not to call it and go from there.” -- New Lions OC Jim Bob Cooter

Injury Report:
Chiefs:
OUT:
Mike Devito DE Concussion
Ben Grubbs G Neck
Ramik Wilson LB Ankle

QUESTIONABLE:
Tamba Hali LB Knee

PROBABLE:
Travis Kelce TE Groin
Jeremy Maclin WR Concussion
Joshua Mauga LB Groin
Dontari Poe DT Ankle
Alexander Smith QB Right Thumb
Charcandrick West RB Pectoral


Lions:
OUT:
DeAndre Levy LB Hip

QUESTIONABLE:
LaAdrian Waddle T Knee

PROBABLE:
Joique Bell RB Ankle
Calvin Johnson WR Not injury related
Sam Martin P Left Knee
Brandon Pettigrew TE Elbow
John Stafford QB Quadricep
Stephen Tulloch LB Illness
Rashean Mathis CB Illness

[TopekaRoy]

Team Stats:

[TopekaRoy]

Stats Leaders:
Chiefs:



Lions:

[TopekaRoy]

Depth Charts:

Chiefs:
Offense:


Defense:



Lions:
Offense:


Defense:

[TopekaRoy]

Game Preview from ESPN.com:

The last time the Detroit Lions visited London, they emerged with a stirring victory and were tied for the best record in the NFL.

A victory this time would be a welcome change.

Tied for the league's worst record, the Lions are looking for a major change on the bench to reinvigorate their beleaguered offense Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Detroit (1-6) trailed Atlanta 21-0 at halftime at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 26, 2014. However, the Lions roared back to win 22-21 on a Matt Prater field goal as time expired.

"We've shown we can play inspired ball in London and we're hoping for that again," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "But we'd rather get on top of the Chiefs early. No more dramatic comebacks. We just want to dominate from the first snap Sunday."

That would be a first for the Lions this year. They're among the biggest disappointments, averaging 19.9 points to rank 29th while their 68.0 rushing yards per game are last.

Detroit is coming off one its worst offensive performances of the season, totaling 274 yards while falling 28-19 at home to Minnesota last week.

That was enough for the Lions to fire three coaches, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. They replaced him with 31-year-old quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter, a pupil of coach Jim Caldwell who has worked with QB Matthew Stafford for two years.

"He's been great," Stafford said. "But the more he starts talking football, you understand his intelligence and his understanding of the game. That garners respect from guys."

With the running game sputtering, Cooter is expected to lean more on Stafford. However, he's tossed nine interceptions, three shy of his total from last season.

He's re-establishing a rhythm with Calvin Johnson. The star wide receiver has 11 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games after scoring once in the previous five.

"He's a younger guy and definitely has a lot of fire in him," Johnson said of Cooter.

Getting the Lions going on the ground could be vital. They haven't scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games, and their two on the season are only more than Jacksonville's league-low one.

Joique Bell could see an increased work load. He missed three games with an ankle injury and was limited to three carries for 21 yards against Minnesota, while rookie Ameer Abdullah had 43 on eight attempts.

That's not the only problem for Detroit, which has a defense that ranks 27th with an average of 392.3 yards allowed, nearly 100 more than last season.

"The NFL is a crazy league. A lot of things look good on paper, but until you get out there and start playing, it's a lot of shocks, a lot of surprises," defensive end Jason Jones said. "Right now we're in a tough spot, but all that we can do is look forward and try to get a win Sunday."

The Chiefs (2-5) make their London debut trying to build on last week's 23-13 win over Pittsburgh, ending their five-game losing streak and getting their first victory since star running back Jamal Charles was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Charcandrick West filled that void, gaining 110 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries to eclipse his previous career highs of nine rushes and 33 yards set in a loss at Minnesota a week earlier.

"We've known what he can do. It was just a matter of getting enough opportunities," coach Andy Reid said. "I mentioned after last game that he needed a few more opportunities. He got those. You saw what he did with it."

West was also buoyed by a revamped offensive line, the fourth combination Reid has tried this season. This one only allowed Alex Smith to be sacked twice, but the 25 he's suffered are tied with San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick for second in the league.

Smith is already fond of the new line, which has Eric Fisher at left tackle, Ben Grubbs at left guard, rookie Mitch Morse at center, Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff at right guard and Jeff Allen next to him.

"Everybody has their own personality, especially those guys up front, and the close combat up there," Smith said. "I've played with a lot of different guys -- some guys are the nicest guys ever and you get on the field and something just switches. You like to see it, you see the confidence they get, especially young guys like Larry, to get out there and play the game."

Smith may have top target Jeremy Maclin back after he missed one game with a concussion. The wide receiver leads the team with 39 receptions and 531 yards but has just one touchdown.

[TopekaRoy]

Scouting Report from the Kansas City Star:

BY TEREZ A. PAYLOR
tpaylor@kcstar.com


When the Chiefs run

EDGE >> CHIEFS
Charcandrick West is coming off a solid game vs. the Steelers, and he'll try to keep it going this week against a Lions defense that is not as stout as it used to be up the middle without Ndamukong Suh. Suh fled to Miami in March for an outrageous sum of money, and while his tenure there has been a disappointment, he provided Detroit with a physicality and attitude up the middle. His replacement, nose tackle Haloti Ngata (6-4, 345) is a physical player who, at 31, is not quite what he used to be. The player next to him, defensive tackle Caraun Reid (6-2, 298), is a second-year pro who is starting due to injury. He is coming off a strong game against the Vikings. Inside linebacker Stephen Tulloch (5-11, 246) is limited in coverage but he's a very strong run defense. Strong safety James Ihedigbo (6-2, 214) is a physical defender vs. the run. West needs to protect the football this weekend; the Lions have forced five fumbles, the third-most in the league.

When the Chiefs pass

EDGE >> LIONS
The Chiefs have surrendered the second-most sacks in the league (26) and the eighth-most quarterback hits (43). That's not a great sign against a Lions defense that ranks ninth in the league in sacks with 17, especially with starting left guard Ben Grubbs sitting out with a neck injury. However, the Lions have allowed opposing quarterbacks to combine for a league-high 111.6 rating in seven games, so there's plenty of room to attack. A good place to start is with tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Jeremy Maclin; Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said both have been featured more since Charles got hurt. With star linebacker DeAndre Levy sitting out due to an injury, defensive end Ziggy Ansah (6-5, 279) might be their best defensive player. He is athletic, strong and adept at getting to the quarterback (21 1/2 sacks in 37 career games). He was taken four picks after the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher No. 1 overall in 2013. Their matchup Sunday will be a fun storyline. Safety Glover Quin (6-0, 207) is instinctive; he has become one of the league's better safeties. He led the league in interceptions last season and is also a sufficient tackler. The Lions' top corner is Darius Slay (6-0, 190), a long, athletic second-round pick in 2013 with solid cover skills. His running mate, 35-year-old Rashean Mathis, is still an effective corner. Still, there's a chance to hit on some big plays; the Lions have surrendered 31 passing plays over 20 yards or more, the second-most in the league.

When the Lions run

EDGE >> CHIEFS
The Lions' running game has been anemic. Their run-yards-per-game average is 17 yards worse than the next-closest team. They have trouble punching it into the end zone, too, with only two rushing touchdowns. But their leading rusher, rookie Ameer Abdullah (5-9, 203), flashes plenty of talent. He has quickness, burst and the ability to make people miss in space, but he needs to do a better job taking care of the football (four fumbles). Joique Bell (5-11, 231) is the inside runner, while Theo Riddick (5-9, 201) is a quick, shifty receiving back who is second on the team with 36 catches. The run blocking up front has been bad. Center Travis Swanson (6-5, 307) is underpowered and could have a difficult time blocking nose tackle Jaye Howard, who has been a revelation this season. Same goes for rookie left guard Laken Tomlinson (6-3, 322), a gifted first-rounder who needs to add strength. He struggled mightily against the Vikings last week and could end up facing two powerful interior linemen in Howard and Allen Bailey.


When the Lions pass

EDGE >> LIONS
Quarterback Matthew Stafford (6-3, 226) has elite arm talent; the former No. 1 overall pick can make all the throws. But it's been a steady decline for him since 2011, when he threw for 41 touchdowns over 5,000 yards. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired this week, in part due to Stafford's general ineffectiveness — he was even benched two weeks ago in favor of Dan Orlovsky. Some of his struggles definitely have to do with the offensive line; the Lions are 19th in the league in sacks allowed (16) but second-to-last in quarterback hits (53). Their inability to protect Stafford, who has thrown nine interceptions — the second-most in the league — led to the firings of offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan earlier this week. That could spell trouble against a Chiefs defense that features pass rushers inside and outside and is tied for 15th in sacks with 15. It does not help that right tackle LaAdrian Waddle (6-6, 328) is hurt; he has struggled in pass protection and is questionable for the game with an injury. If he does play, he'll be matched up against Justin Houston. But for all the Lions' struggles, Stafford can really sling it when he gets hot. He's got some weapons, too. Golden Tate (5-10, 198) hasn't seen the ball enough, but he's an elusive, dependable receiver who can be a tough cover. The same, of course, can be said for Calvin Johnson (6-5, 237), who quietly turned 30 in September but remains a significant red zone threat. The Chiefs' starting corners match up fairly well with them, but both Tate and Johnson can stretch the field, and Stafford can really push it vertically. That happens to be the best way to stress the Chiefs' defense, which has surrendered 15 touchdowns through the air — the second-most in the league.

[TopekaRoy]

... Scouting Report continued

Special teams

EDGE >> CHIEFS
Detroit kicker Matt Prater is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals, while the Chiefs' Cairo Santos is 15 of 19. Prater has had an extra point blocked, however, unlike Santos, who also boasts a superior touchback percentage. Dustin Colquitt and Sam Martin are among the league leaders in punts downed inside the 20. The Lions have a better kick return average, while the Chiefs have a better punt return average. The Lions have fared better on kickoff coverage, the Chiefs have fared better on punt coverage. Neither team has scored or surrendered a touchdown on returns. So it's close, but Santos and Colquitt give the Chiefs the edge.

Coaching

EDGE >> CHIEFS
Like Andy Reid, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell has made one Super Bowl in his career, which he lost. During his five years as an NFL head coach, he has a career winning percentage of .543, which is slightly worse than Reid's mark of .564. Caldwell's new offensive coordinator is Jim Bob Cooter, who was just elevated from quarterbacks coach. He's never called plays before. The Lions' defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is a respected defensive mind who enjoys bringing pressure in all sorts of ways in his 4-3 front.

X-factor

EDGE >> LIONS
It's never a good thing when a team cans three assistants in the middle of the season. It's a surefire sign that things are going poorly, obviously, and it's really difficult to turn things around in this league under those circumstances. But the still, Lions get the edge in this category, since they played in London last year and already familar with the surface — which might not be great — and the atmosphere.

Bottom line: Chiefs 23-20

Both these teams have failed to meet expectations, but the Chiefs have the better team on paper and should be in a better mental state than the Lions, who are dealing with the drama surrounding coach firings. Unless Stafford gets hot — and yes, that's a possibility — the Chiefs should win this game.

[ctchiefsfan]

For those that watch the game via live stream rather than on a tradition TV/Cable hookup, fox sports will be streaming the game. http://www.foxsports.com/foxsportsgo/