The Chiefs are incapable of beating the Broncos … unless the Broncos help.
“Denver poses more of a threat to the KC illusion than every other team on their schedule put together. For the Broncos victory is a virtual certainty … assuming they don’t turn the ball over.”
Read More …
The Kansas City Chiefs are vastly over-rated. They are 9-0 and pundits can’t seem to see past their perfect record to the flawed team behind it. “Experts” continuously include KC among the top teams in their “power rankings” based on the flawed logic that a team is as good as its record. Kansas City is hardly better than a middling team. They’re the Browns with better luck.
Not one team on the Chiefs’ schedule thus far has a winning record. The Chiefs have gotten chubby feasting on the likes of the Titans, Bills, Browns and Raiders. Of their wins only the 31-7 trouncing of the Giants back in week two is note-worthy. Aside from that game Kansas City has amassed a slew of unimpressive victories against lousy teams and back up quarterbacks.
By all means Kansas City should be exposed on Sunday night. Peyton Manning is the best player in the National Football League and he should, even on two sore ankles, be able to light up Kansas City’s “vaunted” defense. The Chiefs cannot possibly keep track of Manning’s weapons in the passing game and prevent Denver’s running game from amassing yardage. Denver poses more of a threat to the KC illusion than every other team on their schedule put together. For the Broncos victory is a virtual certainty … assuming they don’t turn the ball over.
As much discussion as we have all heard about the upcoming Broncos / Chiefs game at Mile High not nearly enough emphasis has been placed on Denver’s ball security.
It has become a legitimate concern and, against the Chiefs it is a make-or-break issue. The way the plodding Chiefs operate all they need to beat the Broncos is a plus-two turnover margin. In other words, if the Broncos give the ball up twice more than the Chiefs do they will probably lose – and practically cement a second-place finish in the AFC West.
The two biggest threats to turn the ball over are Trindon Holliday and Peyton Manning.
Holliday is as exciting a kick off return man as Denver has had in a very long time. He’s also a threat to cough up a fumble every time he touches the ball. It might be wise for Denver to forget all about return yardage and focus instead on ball security. Fact is, Holliday is not standing to far outside the wrong end-zone when he gets the ball. That’s why it’s extra painful when he surrenders it. Offenses don’t have far to go when Holliday fumbles.
Manning is gimpy and everybody knows it. Certainly Andy Reid and the Chiefs are well aware. They are going to key in on hitting Manning. We have all witnessed his propensity to release the football when he’s under duress. For all his greatness as a quarterback, Manning does not have a powerful grip – especially not when it is cold outside. He will fumble if he gets hit often enough.
The Broncos can afford to turn the ball over – but only if they are creating turnovers with their defense. They can even afford to turn the ball over once more than the Chiefs – but not twice more.
Will the Broncos win on Sunday? Yeah. They probably will. But there is a scenario under which they could lose. It involves beating themselves by turning the ball over, therefore taking points off the board and giving an inferior team extra possessions. For Kansas City to win this game the final tally will need be lower than expected – with neither team scoring over 28 points. Kansas City needs to win close to win.
That only happens if Denver makes it so.
