The Saints are coming!
... and the Chiefs are ready!
The Saints are coming!
... and the Chiefs are ready!
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The Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)
vs
The New Orleans Saints (2-3)
Sunday, October 23, 12:00pm CT
at
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Television coverage:
FOX
Kansas City
Topeka
43.1 / 27.2
St. Louis
Radio Coverage:
Kansas City
Lawrence/Topeka:
Manhattan, KS:
St. Louis
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Weather forecast: 68 degrees farenheit, Clear. 9 mph WSW winds
Line: Chiefs -6, Over/Under: 52
Against the Spread:
Chiefs are 2-3 Overall, 1-1 as the Favorite and 1-1 at Home
Saints are 3-2 Overall, 3-0 as the Underdog and 2-0 Away
Notable Quotables:
Chiefs: "We’ve had success with [screen plays] in the past. Obviously, this year, it hasn’t been as successful and we understand that. Teams have seen it and they’ve scouted it. Now it’s our job to go back and decide if it’s something we still want to do. We can see if we want to do it a different way or get out of it and do something else.”--Chiefs Co-Offensive Coordinator Mat Nagy
Saints: "The Kansas City offense is extremely good. They do a good job running the football. The quarterback does a good job of spreading the ball around on third downs and I think they give you a lot of looks that become challenging, so trying to replicate that in practice is a big task and on the road this is going to be a good challenge.”-- Saints Head Coach Sean Payton
Injury Report:
Chiefs
Jamaal Charles RB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Phillip Gaines CB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Saints
Stephone Anthony LB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out Delvin Breaux CB Fibula Did Not Participate In Practice Out Daniel Lasco RB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out Sterling Moore CB Abdomen Did Not Participate In Practice Out Andrus Peat T Groin Did Not Participate In Practice Out Dannell Ellerbe LB Quadricep Limited Participation in Practice Out Terron Armstead T Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Paul Kruger DE Back Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
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Depth Charts:
Chiefs
OFFENSE POSITION STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th WR Jeremy Maclin Tyreek Hill De'Anthony Thomas TE Travis Kelce Demetrius Harris Ross Travis James O'Shaughnessy LT Eric Fisher Bryan Witzmann LG Parker Ehinger Zach Fulton C Mitch Morse Zach Fulton RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Jordan Devey RT Mitchell Schwartz Jah Reid WR Chris Conley Albert Wilson Demarcus Robinson QB Alex Smith Nick Foles Tyler Bray FB Anthony Sherman Spencer Ware RB Spencer Ware Jamaal Charles Questionable Charcandrick West Knile Davis
BASE 3-4 Defense POSITION STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th LDE Jaye Howard Chris Jones NT Dontari Poe Chris Jones RDE Allen Bailey Nick Williams LOLB Dee Ford Dadi Nicolas LILB Derrick Johnson D.J. Alexander RILB Justin March-Lillard Sam Barrington ROLB Tamba Hali Questionable Frank Zombo Sio Moore CB Phillip Gaines Questionable Steven Nelson Kenneth Acker SS Eric Berry Daniel Sorensen FS Ron Parker Eric Murray CB Marcus Peters D.J. White
Saints
OFFENSE POSITION STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th WR Brandin Cooks Willie Snead Tommylee Lewis TE Coby Fleener Josh Hill Chris Manhertz LT Terron Armstead Questionable LG Andrus Peat Out Tim Lelito C Max Unger RG Jahri Evans Senio Kelemete Landon Turner RT Zach Strief WR Michael Thomas Brandon Coleman QB Drew Brees Luke McCown FB John Kuhn RB Mark Ingram Tim Hightower Travaris Cadet Daniel Lasco Out
BASE 4-3 Defense POSITION STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th LDE Paul Kruger Questionable Kasim Edebali Obum Gwacham LDT Tyeler Davison John Jenkins RDT Nick Fairley David Onyemata RDE Cameron Jordan Darryl Tapp WLB Dannell Ellerbe Out Craig Robertson MLB James Laurinaitis Michael Mauti SLB Stephone Anthony Out Nathan Stupar CB Delvin Breaux Out Ken Crawley B.W. Webb SS Kenny Vaccaro Roman Harper FS Jairus Byrd Vonn Bell Erik Harris CB P.J. Williams De'Vante Harris Sterling Moore Out
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Stats Leaders:
Chiefs:
Chiefs stats leaders 1023.jpg
Saints:
Saints stats leaders.jpg
Team Stats:
Chiefs vs Saints stats.jpg
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Chiefs vs. Saints: Game Preview
From Chiefs.com
Posted Oct 22, 2016
The Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium to host Drew Brees and the Saints
It’s been almost a month since the Kansas City Chiefs (3-2) last played a game in Arrowhead Stadium.
That changes Sunday when quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints (2-3) visit Kansas City. After beginning the season with three straight losses, the Saints have rallied back with two consecutive wins in a row.
New Orleans continuing the streak Sunday could prove to be tough at Arrowhead, where the Chiefs haven’t lost in more than a year.
“This crowd that we have here, the fans here, they’re great,” linebacker Derrick Johnson said this week. “It’s hard to play here in Kansas City if you’re an opposing team, and I play on defense so that crowd helps us out, and what better way to use it than against Drew Brees, who is one of the best to ever play the game.
"Brees has the led the Saints to the No. 2 offense in the league in terms of yards per game (413.4) through the first six weeks of the NFL season.
“He’s one of the really great quarterbacks of all time,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said this week.
“He’s very bright. He understands the defenses and coverages. Even within coverages, he understands leverage. He knows how a guy is playing, ‘I know this guys is going to be open or I can get him open by throwing him open.’ So, you’re not going to fool a guy like him very often.
”Brees spreads the ball around to many different receivers, but speedster Brandin Cooks leads the team in yards receiving with 428. Both he and Michael Thomas have three touchdowns apiece.
“He’s fast,” Sutton said of Cooks. “He’s real fast. A fast—fast man and he’s proven that out on the field. He’s turned into a really good receiver and not just a ‘blow-the-top-off’ guy. He’s running routes and he’s going to be a really good guy for them.
”Cooks already has both 87 (Week 1) and 98-yard (Week 6) touchdown catches this season.With Phillip Gaines questionable to go as he continues to deal with a knee injury, Sutton could once again be relying on the likes of Steve Nelson and D.J. White to fill in at cornerback.
“I think he’s coming along well,” Sutton said of White this week. “He’s obviously a rookie learning how to play. The more he plays, I think the better he’s going to get. If that’s the guy that we have to go with, we really don’t have a lot of choices. We’re going to line up and play. He’s got to battle like heck, you know, other guys have to help. A lot of times there are certain things you can do in coverages to help a guy, and other times, you just have to win on your own out there.
”The Chiefs lost starters in defensive lineman Allen Bailey (shoulder) and “Mike” linebacker Justin March to the Injured Reserve list this week, so rookie second-round pick Chris Jones and linebackers Sam Barrington, Sio Moore and Ramik Wilson could be in line to see more work.
On offense, the Chiefs could be without running back Jamaal Charles, who is officially questionable after there was some swelling in his knee on Thursday. But fortunately for the Chiefs, Spencer Ware is in the midst of a breakout season.
Ware has 78 carries for 415 yards rushing and a team-leading two touchdowns. He also has 13 receptions for 231 yards for a total of 646 all-purpose yards, which is the sixth best mark in the NFL.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is coming off one of the most efficient games of his career last week against the Oakland Raiders, and he is looking forward to taking on the Saints defense.
“I think they do a lot of moving around, some unorthodox things, a lot of unorthodox coverages and they have a ton of guys that play,” Smith explained this week. “So when you’re watching film, it’s hard to get a beat on anyone. They have a lot of guys that play back end and a lot of guys that play up front. At some point, it’s hard to get a beat on who’s playing and how they play. They change week to week too so you have to be ready for the unknown and prepare for a few different game plans.”
The Saints are currently ranked 31st in the league in terms of yards allowed per game (419.4), and yards passing allowed per game (301.6).Making matters worse, the Saints will be missing a number of players on defense against the Chiefs, and their offense will take the field without offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat.
Sunday marks the 300th game in the career of Andy Reid (regular and post-season combined) as a head coach in the NFL. Only two other active coaches, Los Angeles’ Jeff Fisher and New England’s Bill Belichick, have reached that mark, and only 13 have done so in league history.
After a month away from Arrowhead, there likely isn’t a place Reid would rather be to commemorate the milestone.
Last edited by TopekaRoy; 10-23-2016 at 06:21 AM.
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Game Preview from ESPN.com
Chiefs strive for consistency against Saints
There's a question that many in the NFL, Kansas City and even within the walls of Arrowhead Stadium want to see answered Sunday.
Kansas City (3-2) hosts the New Orleans Saints (2-3) this weekend and it's unclear which version of the Chiefs will show up for the game.
Will it be the team that got smashed in a 29-point loss to Pittsburgh nearly three weeks ago? Or will it be the squad that rebounded after a bye week and last Sunday in Oakland dominated a then 4-1 Raiders team, winning by 16 points and controlling all three phases of the game?
Offense and defense have been up and down for the Chiefs. Ahead are 11 games and a wide-open path to first place in the AFC West.
"What we're trying to do is not be that yo-yo team that plays great and then they don't play too good," veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "We have a personality and that's fear nothing and attack everything. That's how we should play every game."
They'll need to play the Saints with no fear and aggression. New Orleans has won their last two games and possesses one of the NFL's most productive offenses, led by veteran quarterback Drew Brees. The Saints are averaging 413.4 yards per game and rank No. 2 in the league behind only Atlanta.
New Orleans is the league's top passing team, with an average of 335.4 yards per game from Brees to a wealth of receivers, led by Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and rookie Michael Thomas.
"I think there are times in a season when you gain momentum and generally it's a little further out than where we are at right now with wins and losses," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We've had runs here in a number of seasons; I don't know at what point you say they have some momentum, but I think it would be a little too early right now."
The Chiefs' defense knows they'll have their hands full with Brees. The Kansas City unit has undergone a few changes since last Sunday. Two starters -- defensive end Allen Bailey (pectoral muscle) and inside linebacker Justin March-Lillard (hand) -- went to injured reserve after the victory over the Raiders.
Plus, starting cornerback Phillip Gaines (knee) continues to be bothered by a knee injury that he suffered early in the 2015 season. His status for Sunday is very questionable.
Still, there are enough playmakers on the field -- Johnson, Tamba Hali, Dontari Poe, Eric Berry and especially Marcus Peters -- that the defense can put up a good fight against any offense, or at least any that doesn't have Big Ben running the attack.
"I see them as a really stout group," Brees said. "I see them as a really big front that can apply some pressure to the quarterback. I see a secondary that really has a lot of cover guys.
"You've got safeties all over the field that can cover, you have corners that can cover and you have linebackers that can cover. It seems like the defense has been pretty opportunistic this year. They've been able to take the ball away quite a bit."
As good as Brees and the New Orleans offense has been, the defense has struggled and ranks next to last in yards allowed (419.4 per game average.) The Saints have given up 168 points, or 33.3 per game.
Against Carolina last Sunday, the Saints had 13 hits on the quarterback and knocked down nine passes but still gave up 38 points. Luckily for the Saints, they scored 41 points for the victory.
"There were just a lot of plays that they made that were directly related to us playing the wrong technique," Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro said. "One time you don't use your help, or play the right leverage and you are giving up an out with a guy right in front of you that is not acceptable.
"If you keep doing that in the future, it is going to cost you some games. We need to get that fixed now. It is an easy thing to fix, but it needs to be fixed now."
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Chiefs game plan: Scouting the New Orleans Saints (2-3)
From The Kansas City Star
Red Zone
The Chiefs and NFL by beat writer Terez Paylor
OCTOBER 21, 2016 9:26 AM
The Scheme
Coach: Sean Payton (89-60) is in his 11th year as an NFL head coach, all with the Saints. Payton, 52, is one of the league’s most respected play-callers, someone who coached under Bill Parcells and won a Super Bowl as a head coach in 2009. Payton, a prolific quarterback at Eastern Illinois in the mid-1980s, has a well-deserved reputation as a quarterback guru. Since his arrival in New Orleans in 2006, the Saints have scored the second-most points in the NFL (behind New England) and have racked up the most yards (403.5 per game). What’s more, they’ve finished in the top five in passing every year since his arrival. This year, they rank second in the league in points per game with 31. Payton is an aggressive coach who is not afraid to go for it on fourth down or make a gutsy call (see: onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV).
Offense: Pete Carmichael, Jr., 45, is in his eighth year as Payton’s offensive coordinator in New Orleans. He teams up with Payton to craft offensive game plans and has had great success. Get ready to see a ton of three-wide sets — the Saints operate this approximately 67 percent of the time. They also use a lot of shotgun and will carve you up with screens and short and intermediate passes, with the occasional deep shot mixed in. Expect plenty of passing, too; the Saints have thrown the ball at a 67 percent clip this year, tops in the NFL, and rank first in passing (335.4-yard average) and 29th in rushing (78-yard average).
Defense: Dennis Allen, 44, is in his first full year as Payton’s defensive coordinator and his second overall as an NFL defensive coordinator. He was promoted to the position last November when Rob Ryan as fired. Allen spent three years (2012 to 2014) as the Oakland Raiders’ head coach and has guided a unit that has struggled against the run (26th) and pass (31st) this year. The Saints have also struggled to dial up pressure — they rank 25th in the NFL in sacks — but it’s not for a lack of effort; they currently lead the league in blitz percentage at 41 percent, according to ESPN Stats and Information. They run a base 4-3 but have been relying on a three-safety look of late that is, at least in theory, a little better against the pass
Special teams: Greg McMahon is in his ninth year as Payton’s special-teams coach and ninth overall as a lead NFL special-teams coach. The kicking game is solid. Kicker Wil Lutz was chosen named the NFL’s special-teams player of the week thanks to his game-winning 52-yard field goal against Carolina, while punter Thomas Morstead is in the midst of a nice season. The kick-return game has largely been ineffective, but punt returner Tommylee Lewis (5-8, 167) is very dangerous. He showcased tremendous speed and burst on a 59-yard punt return last week. Receiver Jake Lampman (6-0, 205) was called up from the practice squad and immediately made an impact, recording three tackles. The Saints did have a field goal blocked up the middle against the Giants in Week 2, so expect Chiefs special-teams coach Dave Toub to ramp up the pressure, if possible.
Four keys to a Chiefs victory
1. Run it at these guys
The Saints’ run defense has not been good through five games, and given the way the Chiefs pounded away at Oakland on Sunday — to the tune of 183 yards in 40 carries, a solid 4.6-yard average — they owe it to themselves to see if they can keep it up. Quarterback Alex Smith seemed to revel in the ground-heavy attack, managing the game and distributing the ball in a super-efficient 19-for-22 performance. The Raiders have a more talented defense than the Saints do, so why not see if a repeat performance is in order?
2. Attack the replacements
There’s plenty of ways to attack this defense; the Saints have surrendered 419.4 yards per game, which ranks 31st in the league. “This defense for us is going to be a matter of going out and getting first downs,” Chiefs co-offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “Their defense is trying to find an identity right now — you’ll see some different coverages that they roll. They’re going to mix some things in with different blitzes, and you saw all of that last week against Carolina. They came out, played physical, got ahead, gave the offense the ball and did some good things.”
3. Bring it up the middle
The Saints throw the ball a ton, but they’ve only surrendered eight sacks this year — tied for the second fewest in the league. That not only speaks volumes about the offensive line’s ability to protect quarterback Drew Brees, but also Brees’ ability to get the football out quickly. Even when Brees does sit in the pocket, he’s difficult to sack; his poise is terrific and he is excellent at stepping up into the pocket to avoid edge rushers. But teams can disrupt him somewhat by bringing some heat up the middle and getting him off his spot. Using stunts against a quarterback the caliber of Brees can be a useless endeavor, largely because the ball is out so quickly, but if Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard and Chris Jones can be disruptive and win their 1-on-1 matchups, it will go a long way toward disrupting Brees. “Listen, if — in the drop-back passing game — the push inside is more than you’d like, it’s generally not good,” Payton said. “Obviously quarterbacks can flush either way, but Kansas City does a good job of getting that interior push. I think it’s a key battle every week; that proverbial 3-yard spot behind the center is important turf that both teams fight dearly for.”
4. Wrap up, wrap up, wrap up
This applies to the Chiefs’ defense, both vs. the run and pass. Mark Ingram is a solid, veteran running back who runs hard, catches well (18 receptions) and is a willing blocker, but he’s mainly a singles hitter this year. He’s averaging 3.9 yards per carry and his longest run this year is 17 yards, but if the Chiefs let him get going, it’s going to be a very long day. The Chiefs’ defensive backs better wrap up, too; the Saints rank seventh in yards after the catch. Thanks to Payton’s play calls and Brees’ accuracy, his trio of elusive receivers often find themselves running at full speed in open space as soon as they get the ball.
Four Saints to watch
No. 9, QB Drew Brees, 37 years old, 6-0, 209, 16th season
Ranked No. 30 on the NFL’s Top 100 for 2016. Former Super Bowl MVP and future Hall of Famer who is still elite. Has thrown for 4,000-plus yards for 10 straight seasons and has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,734 yards, 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 2016. Is the ultimate conductor; the Saints are excellent in red-zone touchdown percentage (first) and third-down percentage (third), which is a testament to his efficiency and Payton’s play calling. Master preparer and decision-maker who spreads the ball around, throws a strong, very catchable ball and routinely showcases terrific anticipation, accuracy and touch. Has good footwork and is adept at feeling pressure from the edge, stepping up into the pocket and driving the football downfield despite his lack of height. Is dangerous in the clutch; has engineered 28 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter since 2006, tied for the second-most among active quarterbacks. “He orchestrates the whole thing,” defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. “Consistency is really the gauge of greatness.”
No. 10, WR Brandin Cooks, 23 years old, 5-10, 189, 3rd season
Former first-round pick has caught 25 passes for a team-high 428 yards — a solid 17.1-yard average — and three touchdowns. Boasts outstanding speed (4.33 40-yard dash) and is an electric vertical talent; he burned former Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith for a 98-yard go-ball touchdown in Week 1 against Oakland and added an 87-yard touchdown grab against the Panthers last week. Is coming off a 173-yard performance and needs to be accounted for on every play. He is lethal on double moves, so the Chiefs’ corners and safeties will need to be disciplined in their technique and not bite on Brees’ pump fakes or take ill-advised gambles in an attempt to undercut the ball. “He’s fast, he’s real fast, he’s a fast man,” Sutton said. “He’s turning into a really good receiver; he’s not just a blow-the-top-off guy. He runs routes and will be a really good guy for (Brees).” Is also targeted on screens.
No. 94, DE Cameron Jordan, 27 years old, 6-4, 287, 6th season
Ranked No. 99 on the NFL’s Top 100 for 2016. Has recorded 21 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and 10 quarterback pressures, the latter of which puts him in a tie for eighth in the league this year. Recorded 30 sacks from 2013 to 2015. Lines up against both tackles and occasionally reduces inside. Has a powerful bull rush — used it to beat the Giants’ Marshall Newhouse for a sack in Week 2 — and an effective swim move. Will also break out a rip move. Uses his hands very well and moves pretty good for a big guy. Aware football player who is also adept at reading blocks. Plays with a lot of force, understands leverage and gets off the ball, especially in passing situations. Plays hard and makes plays. “You’ve got to know where he’s at,” Nagy said.
No. 32, SS Kenny Vaccaro, 25 years old, 6-0, 214, 4th season
Former first-round pick who has recorded 27 tackles, a forced fumble, a pass deflection and zero interceptions. Played through an ankle injury early in the season that limited him some. Intense player who often plays near the line of scrimmage or in the box and likes to be physical; has averaged 85 tackles in his first three seasons. Was used head up in coverage on the Panthers’ star tight end, Greg Olsen, last week (whistled for pass interference, leading to a touchdown) and could potentially do the same with the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce. Is used as a blitzer — set a career-high in sacks last year with three — and is physical enough to overpower running backs in pass protection. Appears to be emerging as a leader. “He brings an edge to the defense,” Nagy said. “He’s a really talented player.”
Bonus notes on the Saints
▪ The Saints also used Travaris Cadet, a reliable receiver out of the backfield, as a pass-catching back last week. Rookie Daniel Lasco also earned a few snaps last week and showcases his plus size (6-0, 209) and speed (4.46 40) combination.
▪ Receiver Michael Thomas is performing well, rookie or not. Thomas, a 2016 second-rounder, leads the Saints — and all NFL rookies — in receptions with 26 and has racked up 307 yards and three touchdowns. He caught the game-winning score against the Chargers in Week 4. “I think we continue to put a little more on his plate each week,” Brees said. “He is a very conscientious kid who wants to do things the right way. He works extremely hard at it.”
▪ Receiver Willie Snead IV is a smallish former undrafted free agent, but he’s turned himself into a good football player. He’s a good route runner with a great feel in the slot. He can also make the difficult catch (despite the occasional focus drop) and is a general matchup problem who, like Cooks, needs to be accounted for due to his chain-moving ability.
▪ Tight end Coby Fleener signed a big-money deal this offseason but has gotten off to a somewhat slow start. He and Brees have largely not been on the same page. He is, however, showing signs of grasping the offense of late — he had a nice game against the Panthers — and might be developing into a nice weapon. He’s big dude with good hands and good athleticism.
▪ The Saints will occasionally break out a heavy look with six offensive linemen. They’ll also use fullback John Kuhn and/or tight end Josh Hill when they want some run-pass versatility. Hill caught an outstanding jump-ball touchdown against the Panthers.
▪ Guard Andrus Peat might not play because of an ankle injury he sustained against Carolina. When healthy, Peat — a physical player — and Terron Armstead make a nice combo on the left side. If Armstead and Peat both can’t go, the Chiefs might attack Tony Hills, who struggled at left tackle when Peat left last week with an injury.
▪ Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (team-high 3 1/2 sacks) will be playing with a heavy heart. He missed two days of practice this week to grieve his mother’s death. Provided he plays, expect an inspired performance from the immensely-talented former first-rounder, whose biggest issues have been his weight and his inconsistent motor.
▪ Inside linebacker Craig Robertson is having a nice debut season with the Saints. He’s come out of nowhere to emerge as the Saints’ leading tackler with 53 — 26 more than Vaccaro, the next closest guy. He plays hard, with lots of energy, and shows good quickness.
▪ The Saints might be without their best cover man again in Delvin Breaux. He will be missed. However, Sterling Moore shows some ball skills; he had a nice interception of Cam Newton last week in which he tracked a fade ball and hauled it in inbounds. B.W. Webb has also made a few plays in coverage, racking up a few pass breakups. Expect the Chiefs to test both of them, though, along with rookie Ken Crawley and fellow youngster Brian Dixon.
▪ Safety Vonn Bell has good athleticism for his position and he flashes ball skills, but as a rookie, can be late with his eyes. Fellow safety Jairus Byrd has been the target of fans’ frustration; he’s struggled to live up to the massive six-year, $54 million deal he signed in 2014. In 22 games in New Orleans, Byrd — a ballhawk in Buffalo — only has one pick. There are big plays to be made against this grabby secondary, but quarterback Smith has to make the throws.
Prediction: Chiefs 34-30
Predicting the Chiefs to win a shootout against this coach-quarterback combo is a tall order, but Sunday’s game marks Andy Reid’s 300th as a coach, and as long as the Chiefs can protect the football, they should score enough points against a bad defense to keep the Saints down. But New Orleans, which ranks 13th in takeaways with eight, is a threat to create some turnovers, and if the Chiefs get sloppy and give Brees and this offense extra possessions, they’ll be in major trouble.
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As always Topeka....thank you for this thread. And just as an FYI....I loved that vid! :)
Outstanding TR !!!
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