Kansas City Chiefs Keys To Victory

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 8:00 AM CDT in 2008 Campaign Comment 34 comments

We Must Protect This House!

Dating back to 1990 the Chiefs have posted a 13-5 record against the Broncos in Arrowhead. Though I would imagine most, if not all, of those victories came at the hands of a deafening Arrowhead Stadium, a site we're not likely to see this weekend. If you head on over to the mothership they're still touting tickets for sale which doesn't bode well for home field advantage either.

Last year's game at Arrowhead on November 11th marked the beginning of the Brodie Croyle era. Damon Huard led the Chiefs into halftime hanging onto an 8-6 lead before succumbing to an injury that would eventually supplant Croyle as the starter for the remainder of the season. Interestingly enough, we've got the same quarterback issue and the same quarterback starting this game.

Judging by the putrid [actual] attendance at the home opener against the Oakland Raiders, the crowd is unlikely to play much, if any, of a factor this weekend.

Larry, Larry, Larry!

The success of the Chiefs in Sunday's contest lies (or lays? Help!) on the shoulders of Larry Johnson. LJ was an important contributing factor when we placed the trifecta on the Broncos in three straight home victories from 2004-2006.

LJ, by the numbers, in career starts against the Broncos:

Date	Att	Yds	TDs	W/L
12/19/04	30	151	2	W 45-17
12/04/05	30	140	2	W 31-27
9/17/06	27	126	0	L 6-9 (OT)
11/23/06	34	157	1	W 19-10

Granted the pre-2007 teams are drastically different than today's team but the same principle still holds true. Get LJ the ball. It's unlikely we'll see him approach 30 carries, especially with the addition of Jamaal Charles, but against a porous Denver defensive line the yards should/need to come aplenty.

Early And Often

I know this is a Captain Obvious sighting here but getting behind in this game is simply not an option. Not with our offense against their corners and especially not with the Broncos offense against whichever KC defense decides to show up that day.

The Chiefs have been miserable in the first half thus far while the Broncos have been the league's best. To be more exact, the Chiefs have scored 0 (!) first quarter points and 10 second quarter points. The Broncos, on the other hand, have notched 28 first quarter points and 44 second quarter points which puts them atop the first half scoring leaderboard.

This seems like an impossible task but it starts with our ability to run the ball. I don't want to sound like Herm but this is one scenario in which establishing the run and slowing the game down is pertinent.

Any other keys to victory on Sunday?

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Comments

Huh?

I know this is a Captain Obvious sighting here but getting behind in this game is simply not an option. Not with our offense against their corners and especially not with the Broncos offense against whichever KC defense decides to show up that day

Now I agree we don’t want to get behind in this game, since our meager offense relies upon the run to set up the pass (though we were way behind at the beginning of the second half last week and still ran the ball quite a bit), but I don’t think it is because of their corners. Don’t they have the worst pass defense in the league after 3 games?

by PVChiefsfan on Sep 25, 2008 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm talking about

on a one-on-one basis. Bowe v. Bailey scares me.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And

They have gone against SD and NO, both very capable of passing the ball. Oakland, on the other hand, they dominated. I would put us in the Oakland boat.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Historically

since getting Bailey from Washington, the Donkeys have put him on Gonzalez when we play them.

by PVChiefsfan on Sep 25, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This year Boss Bailey

Will most likely guard Gonzalez and Champ on Bowe.

by DBinKC on Sep 26, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last one

I promise, because you made a very good point. The Denver offense has been putting up so many points its required their opponents to pass that much more.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grammar Lesson

Dead on with Lie vs. Lay.

“If you exclude the meaning "to tell an untruth” and just focus on the setting/reclining meaning of lay and lie, then the important distinction is that lay requires a direct object and lie does not. So you lie down on the sofa (no direct object), but you lay the book down on the table (the book is the direct object)." – Grammar Girl: “Lay vs. Lie”

Your sentence had no direct object (which is totally fine), so it uses lie instead of lay:

By webby37

+1 to you for acknowledging one of the most difficult things to master in our language. w00t.

/Total grammar nerd and English Teacher
//Don’t hate.

-cw

Supporting the 2008-2009 (0-16) Record-Breaking Kansas City Chiefs!

by webby37 on Sep 25, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice

I figured if I acknowledged it you couldn’t blame me! Thanks.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huard

I can’t stress this enough – Damon Huard staying in the whole game and not being pulled is a big key. He is 14-10 as a starter. I know this is always overlooked but there’s something to be said about a QB being 14-10 as a starter, even if he’s old and immobile. All Thigpen and Croyle have proven to me is that they aren’t winners. They may have better arms and may be more mobile but I define a good QB as a winner. I don’t think Huard is a long term answer at QB but he is a top 25 NFL QB and I think that’s about the best we can do right now. If we win this game I will be shocked.

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 9:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

14-10?

5-3 in 2006…
4-6 in 2007…
0-1 in 2008…

I count 9-10, but that’s just from my memory.

by Vince D on Sep 25, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huard's record

99: 4-1
00: 1-0
06: 5-3
07: 4-6

I also thing its worth pointing out that he was 0-3 in the first 7 games last year before our team completely fell apart. If LJ didn’t hurt his ankle last year we would have won that Green Bay game and kept the MO going.

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im sorry I meant 0-3 after the first 7 games

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Supplant

Damon Huard led the Chiefs into halftime hanging onto an 8-6 lead before succumbing to an injury that would eventually supplant Croyle as the starter for the remainder of the season

So you’re saying that the injury Huard suffered replaced Brodie Croyle as the starter? That would be a historic achievement. :)

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I blame my job

Start at 7AM so it was early, early.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Hear You

Brain no workee before UC’s first dose of caffeine :)

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And sometimes

not even after the caffeine =)

(sorry, I couldn’t resist…I have been gone all week, how ya doin’ UC?)

by PVChiefsfan on Sep 25, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just Doin' My Time Brother

Just doin’ my time… :)

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Break Selvin Young, Break him, in two, or fourths, like an offensive kit kat...

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Sep 25, 2008 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Another key

We HAVE to stop Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. These guys have looked like studs all season against better secondaries than the Chiefs have.

If you think about it we match up decent against the Broncos because I feel like our pass defense is better than our run defense. The more I think about it the more I think picking KC at least against the spread is smart in this game.

Also, i was thinking about the QB situation. Would it be that crazy to try and get Alex Smith? I know he busted big time but he still does have tools and maybe he was just in the wrong place? He also is probably easier to get than Brohm or Quinn.

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

We HAVE to stop Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal.

No one has done it yet. It will be fun to see Carr/Flowers making plays against these guys. I expect them to get torched here and there but if they can hold their own then it will be very promising.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 25, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flowers and Royal

practiced against each other everyday at Va Tech. They are similar (small and strong) and it should be a fun to watch them go against each other now.

by DBinKC on Sep 26, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alex Smith

Would it be that crazy to try and get Alex Smith?

It would, since he’s out for the season with shoulder problems…for the second year running.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=3119

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alex Smith

Ya I know he’s hurt – I was thinking long term. Like next year. I am a huge Huard fan and can totally live with him until 09 or 10. His balls are so catchable.

Honestly though, can you imagine the Chiefs with Vick, D-Bowe and LJ. We would be thugged out.

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 10:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They're Saying

That the injuries are career-threatening. So he’s not really worth trading for, and I’m not sure he’s reliable enough for us to sign or bet on long-term. We’ve already seen this year how damaging committing to an injury-prone QB can be.

If he came in for a tryout, he wouldn’t be the worst third-stringer ever I suppose. But only if we get him basically for free.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huard

And although I think Huard’s the best QB on our roster this year, I think we’ll be in some real trouble if he’s starting or playing serious minutes for us in 2009 or beyond. He’s an aging, career backup. He’s only attractive this year because the other options on our roster are so terrible.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

He’s a terrible , aging, career backup. He’s not attractive. We’re starting him because we don’t know what else to do. He is just as bad as Bones and Sunday will prove it.

Bones. It's not just a noun it's a verb. Not just a nickname, a movement.

by Ridiculous Matt on Sep 25, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

about Smith – I agree, it was my understanding that after this season he’s out of San Fran and available. What if we got Urban Meyer and Alex Smith back together and Smith heals? Just a thought.

Haha listen, Damons balls are so much nicer than any other Chiefs’ balls and his balls don’t hit Falcons or Raiders like Thigpen’s balls.

by CBaller13 on Sep 25, 2008 10:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Injury History

He’s just never seemed particularly hardy. Based on the physical ability he demonstrated when he came in the league, and the flashes he showed two years ago, sure I’d say he might pan out. But he’s had some pretty severe injuries since then to his throwing shoulder and you just can’t trust a guy who can’t stay healthy. Is he worth a gamble as our third-stringer if he’s available? Sure…why not? I think most people will say that Thigpen is a longshot to be anything more than a fringe third-stringer. But only if we can get him really cheap and only if he’s healthy enough to play.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

But only if we can get Smith really cheap and only if he’s healthy enough to play.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Sep 25, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the obvious defensive keys

stay in your lanes, control your gap assignments, stay at home.

None of which the Chiefs have done very well in the past two weeks.

by sm7600 on Sep 25, 2008 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pressure Cutler

Your only hope. I think the kid can be rattled, but you have to get through what to date has been an orange and blue brick wall to get to him. Other than that, maybe hope he fumbles seven or eight times.

by CoastalBronco on Sep 25, 2008 5:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs