Chief/Colts

**Polleo Pit Man** · 11-13-2007, 02:41 PM

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-5)
AT
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-2)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2007 – 12:00 PM (CENTRAL)
RCA DOME – INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TV: CBS Regional Coverage (KCTV-5 in Kansas City) – Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker.
RADIO: KCFX-FM (101.1) List of Affiliates – Mitch Holthus, Len Dawson, Bob Gretz and Bill Grigsby.
Complete 16 page release (PDF)
THE MATCH-UP
The Chiefs will make their first regular season appearance at the RCA Dome since ‘99 as Kansas City visits Indianapolis. The contest will mark the second time in the 2007 calendar year that Herm Edwards has led his Chiefs squad to the Hoosier State after suffering a 23-8 loss in an AFC Wild Card Game (1/6/07). Edwards will square off against a Tony Dungy-coached squad for the initial time in the regular season since the Colts won a 38-31 decision vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/16/03).
Kansas City will face the unenviable task of attempting to upend the defending Super Bowl champions on their home turf. Indianapolis boasts a 35-9 (.795) regular season home record under Dungy, tying the Patriots for the best mark in the league since 2002. The Colts did suffer a 24-20 loss vs. New England (11/4) in their last home contest, but have yet to drop back-to-back games at the RCA Dome under Dungy’s guidance.
Despite losing two straight contests at Arrowhead, the Chiefs are still in the thick of the AFC West title chase with a 4-5 record and are just one game behind San Diego (5-4). Kansas City is coming off of a 27-11 setback vs. Denver (11/11) and hopes to avoid a three-game losing streak for just the second time under Edwards. The Colts are atop the AFC South standings with a 7-2 record and enter this week’s game after a 23-21 loss at San Diego (11/11). The Colts have also lost two straight contests, but have not dropped three games in a row since the 2002 campaign.
Kansas City has won its last two road games and will be attempting to win a third consecutive road contest for the first time since winning four straight away from home in 2003. Kansas City is still seeking its initial victory at the RCA Dome where the club is 0-4 all-time (0-3 regular season, 0-1 postseason). The franchise’s last road victory against the Colts was a 38-28 decision at Baltimore (12/21/80).
Chiefs DE Jared Allen leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks and is on pace to finish the year with 16.5 QB takedowns which would be the highest tally by a KC player since the late LB Derrick Thomas led the NFL with a franchise-record 20.0 QB takedowns in ‘90.
Up next for the Chiefs are back-to-back home dates against AFC West foes Oakland (11/25) and San Diego (12/2). Indianapolis visits Atlanta next week on Thanksgiving night (11/22).

THE SERIES
Since the AFL-NFL merger in ‘70, Kansas City and Indianapolis have squared off 18 times in regular and postseason play, with the Colts holding an 11-7-0 advantage. In regular season action, the Colts hold an 8-7 edge against Kansas City. Indianapolis also owns victories in all three of the postseason meetings between the teams, a 10-7 victory at Arrowhead in a ‘95 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (1/7/96), a 38-31 win at Arrowhead in a 2003 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (1/11/04) and a 23-8 victory at the RCA Dome in a 2006 AFC Wild Card Game (1/6/07). The Chiefs won the most recent regular season meeting between the two clubs by a 45-35 count at Arrowhead (10/31/04).

Kansas City posted a 5-3 record against the Colts while they were stationed in Baltimore, but has just a 2-8 mark against them since the franchise relocated to Indianapolis in ‘84. Kansas City claimed a 20-7 win in the team’s first-ever meeting against the Indianapolis incarnation of the Colts on 11/24/85 and snapped a six-game losing streak against the franchise in 2004. The Chiefs are 0-4 on the road against the Colts since the team relocated to Indianapolis. In addition to a 23-8 win in last season’s AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis (1/6/07), the Colts also won the last regular season meeting at the RCA Dome by a 25-17 count (11/7/99).
The two AFC Divisional Playoff tilts in this series at Arrowhead are unquestionably the most memorable contests in Chiefs-Colts history. In both 2003 and ‘95, the Chiefs had a 13-3 campaign derailed by Indianapolis. For only the third time in NFL postseason history, neither team was forced to punt as the Colts registered a 38-31 victory (1/11/04) despite a 92-yard KOR TD from WR Dante Hall and a franchise playoff record 176 rushing yards from RB Priest Holmes. Three Kansas City interceptions and three missed FGs doomed the Chiefs to a 10-7 setback (1/7/96) in a contest played with a -9 windchill as the Colts advanced to the AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh (1/14/96) to come within a game of Super Bowl XXX.

**Polleo Pit Man** · 11-13-2007, 02:43 PM

Edwards, Dungy Are All About the Postseason

Dating back to the 2001 season when Herm Edwards was in his initial campaign as head coach of the N.Y. Jets, only Colts head coach Tony Dungy (6) and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (5) have guided their squads to more postseason appearances than Edwards (4). Dungy led Tampa Bay to the postseason in 2001 before taking over the Colts fortunes in 2002, where he has led that squad to five straight playoff berths. Dungy and Edwards were key figures in the resurgence of a Buccaneers franchise that had suffered 14 consecutive losing seasons before their arrival in ‘96. The Chiefs are seeking to become the first team in NFL history to rebound from an 0-2 start in two consecutive years and still make the playoffs both of those seasons.

A Good Start is a Must For Kansas City
The Chiefs defense held the Colts out of the end zone in the first half of last season’s playoff contest at Indianapolis (1/6/07). Kansas City would like a repeat performance of that effort this week against a Colts squad that ranks fifth in the league with 117 first-half points. KC has given up a total of 12 points apiece (4 FGs) in the first half of its last three games and hasn’t given up a first-half TD since a 27-20 win vs. Cincinnati (10/14/07).
The Chiefs own a 9-3 record when holding a halftime lead under Herm Edwards, including each of KC’s last two victories. Since Tony Dungy joined the Colts in 2002, Indianapolis owns a 55-7 (.887) regular season record when tied or ahead at halftime, including a 24-3 (.889) mark at the RCA Dome. The Colts are just 12-15 (.444) when trailing at halftime during the same timeframe and have been behind in just 11 games at home over that span, posting a 5-6 (.455) record in those contests. The Colts trailed 23-7 in a 23-21 loss last week at San Diego (11/11).
Chiefs-Colts Sack Stats
Protecting the passer will be a key for both squads in Sunday’s contest. Colts DE Dwight Freeney registered 2.0 sacks in the Colts 23-8 playoff win vs. KC (1/6/07). Freeney owns 60.0 career sacks with 37.5 of those QB takedowns coming at the RCA Dome. However, Freeney owns just 5.5 sacks in his last 12 home contests, a figure that includes a 3.0-sack effort vs. Cincinnati (12/18/06). That means that Freeney has been held without a sack in eight of his last 12 regular season games at the RCA Dome.
Only New Orleans (6.0) has allowed fewer sacks than Indianapolis (10.0), Arizona (10.0) and New England (10.0). QB Peyton Manning was sacked 3.0 times in a 24-20 loss vs. New England (11/4). The Chiefs have 23.0 sacks in 2007. Kansas City has recorded 2.0 or more sacks in six contests this season, including all four of the club’s wins.
Edwards, Dungy Both Put a Premium on the Turnover Column
Kansas City’s Herm Edwards and Indianapolis’ Tony Dungy both stress the importance of playing smart football and not turning the ball over. Kansas City is 8-2 under Edwards when owning a positive mark in the turnover column. The Chiefs have posted a +4 turnover mark (10 takes/6 gives) in their four wins in 2007.
The Colts are 39-5 (.886) with a positive turnover mark under Dungy, including a streak of 14 consecutive wins. Indianapolis also boasts a 19-4 (.826) mark at the RCA Dome with a positive turnover differential. Indianapolis was -3 (3 takes/6 gives) at San Diego (11/11), marking the first time the Colts have been negative this season. In its six regular season losses dating back to 2006, Indianapolis is -6 (10 takes/16 gives). In 19 wins over that same span, the Colts are +21 (37 takes/16 gives).
KC’s Defense Tough in the Red Zone, Goal-to-Go Situations
Kansas City’s defense is at its best where it matters most – inside the scoring zone. The Chiefs lead the NFL in both Red Zone defense and goal-to-go defense. KC is permitting opponents to score TDs just 31.6% of the time inside the 20-yard line, giving up just six TDs on 19 opponent trips inside the KC Red Zone. The league average in Red Zone TD percentage is 50.9%. The Chiefs are just as good in goal-to-go situations, boasting a league-best 37.5% TD percentage, giving up just three TDs on eight goal-to-go drives. On average, NFL defenses permit TDs 66.8% of the time in those situations
The Colts offense ranks 13th in the league, registering TDs 53.7% of the time in the Red Zone. Indianapolis is 12th in the NFL in goal-to-go situations, producing TDs 68.2% of the time (15 TDs on 22 drives). However, the Colts are adept at scoring from any point on the field, particularly in the passing game. Exactly 43.8% (7 of 16) of the Colts TD passes have covered 20 yards or more, including four scoring strikes from 35 yards or more. In total, the Colts have completed 32 passes of 20+ yards, the fifth-highest total in the league. KC’s offense owns 25 completions of 20 or more yards to tie for 13th.

Picking Off Manning is a Must for the Chiefs
Colts QB Peyton Manning owns a 5-1 lifetime record against the Chiefs, including a 3-1 mark in regular season play. In his six career appearances vs. Kansas City, Manning has 13 TDs and six INTs, numbers that translate into a 103.3 rating. The Chiefs defense was effective against Manning in the first half of the club’s 23-8 playoff loss at Indianapolis (1/6/07). Kansas City limited Manning to a 56.7 rating in the first two quarters of that contest as the Colts QB completed 19 of 26 passes for 161 yards with no TDs and two INTs. Manning was picked off a total of three times in that contest, including two INTs by CB Ty Law, who owns five career postseason INTs off of Manning.
Picking off Manning more than once greatly increases a club’s chance of victory against the Colts. Manning owns an 88-25 (.779) regular season record in games when he throws just one or no interceptions. However, his record is just 11-29 (.275) when he throws two or more INTs. Manning threw a career-high six INTs in a 23-21 loss at San Diego (11/11). Dating back to the start of the 2001 campaign, the Colts QB is 6-15 (.286) when suffering two or more INTs. The Chiefs own a 21-8 (.724) record dating back to 2001 when forcing two or more interceptions. Manning owns a 49-8 (.860) regular season record with a 100.0+ rating, including a streak of 11 straight wins. He will face a KC defense that has held QBs to a 76.6 rating in 2007, the 11th-lowest mark in the NFL.

Keeping the Score Down is Key For Kansas City
The Chiefs have held seven of their nine opponents to 20 points or less this season. KC’s defense is allowing opposing offenses to score just 18.1 ppg, a figure that ranks eighth in the league. Holding the Colts at or under the 20-point plateau will be a target that KC will be shooting for this weekend. Dating back to 2006, the Colts have been held to 20 points or less in four of their six regular season losses, averaging 18.8 ppg in those six setbacks. The Colts only regular season home loss since the start of the 2006 campaign was a 24-20 setback vs. NE (11/4). The Chiefs have won their last two road outings and have allowed a total of 26 points (13.0 ppg) in wins at San Diego (9/30) and at Oakland (10/21).
Keeping the Colts under the 30-point barrier will be paramount.

Since Tony Dungy arrived in Indianapolis, the Colts are 34-2 (.944) in the regular season when scoring 30 points or more, including a 20-1 (.952) mark at the RCA Dome. The Colts have won 24 straight games when hitting the 30-point plateau. Their last loss in such a circumstance was a 45-35 setback at Arrowhead (10/31/04). The average score of the last six Chiefs-Colts contests (4 reg. season, 2 postseason) dating back to ‘99 has been 30.5 to 23.8 in favor of Indianapolis.

Chiefs Special Teams Making a Positive Impact in Field Position
Kansas City’s special teams have played a key role in helping put opponents in poor field position this season. Opponents’ average starting position after a Chiefs kickoff is the 24.1-yard line. Only Tampa Bay (23.6-yard line) and Jacksonville (23.8-yard line) have fared better in that category. The Chiefs have forced opponents to start eight drives inside their own 20 after a KC kickoff.
KC currently ranks sixth in the NFL in gross punting (46.2) and is seventh in net (38.7). P Dustin Colquitt led the NFL with a 39.3-yard net average in 2006 and has dropped 14 punts inside the 20 this season. In fact, in just his third season with the Chiefs, Colquitt already ranks second in franchise annals with 63 punts inside the 20, trailing only P Louie Aguiar (117 from ‘93-98). In total, the Chiefs are tied for sixth in the league, forcing opponents to start 27 of drives inside their own 20-yard line. KC’s specialty units also got on the scoreboard last week when S Bernard Pollard blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety, marking the third blocked punt of Pollard’s two-year NFL career.

**Canada** · 11-13-2007, 02:49 PM

When was the last time Peyton Manning lost three games in a row?? This is gonna be the second big surprise of the season (beating SD at home was pretty nice) Priest is gonna have a little revenge for '03. I hope to get big odds on my money this weekend!!

**luv** · 11-13-2007, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Canada

When was the last time Peyton Manning lost three games in a row?? This is gonna be the second big surprise of the season (beating SD at home was pretty nice) Priest is gonna have a little revenge for '03. I hope to get big odds on my money this weekend!!

Dad said that, watching him in person Sunday, Priest still has the moves and the power, but that he seems to lack speed. He thought that some of his longer plays on Sunday would have been TD's for the old Priest. He still thought he looked good, though.

I hope he has a breakout game Sunday.

**Polleo Pit Man** · 11-13-2007, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Canada

When was the last time Peyton Manning lost three games in a row?? This is gonna be the second big surprise of the season (beating SD at home was pretty nice) Priest is gonna have a little revenge for '03. I hope to get big odds on my money this weekend!!

I hope we pull it off. It will be nice seeing Croyle start!

**hermhater** · 11-13-2007, 04:18 PM

The first full game for the Brodie/Priest combo!

I can't wait!!!!

Why the hell do we always have to play Indy at their house?

**Canada** · 11-13-2007, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by hermhater

The first full game for the Brodie/Priest combo!

I can't wait!!!!

Why the hell do we always have to play Indy at their house?

Don't forget D Bowe!!

**hermhater** · 11-13-2007, 04:41 PM

Exactly!!!

We have a pretty good chance this week I would say.

Maybe Freeney will catch a cold or something, and sneeze on BOOB Sanders!!!

I can't freakin' wait!!!!!