Yes, this game is huge. However... (LOR analogy enclosed)

I'm getting goosebumps at random moments during the day.  

While trying to unlock the mysteries of Neo-Freudism, I find myself instead pondering the odds of Javier Arenas taking at least one kickoff to the Chargers 30.

When I'm reading up on Charles v. The State of Alabama, images of Jamaal Charles gliding around the Chargers D for 130 yards and a couple of touchdowns flash through my head.

When my oldest son tries to tell me how he got his latest bruise (is it my imagination or are all kids crazy?), I can't seem to focus.  Instead my mind is racing with the possibilities of Dexter McCluster all over the field, making things happen.

As I mow the lawn, I wonder whether Matt Cassel can stretch the field enough to keep the San Diego honest.

As I accidently drop a box at work (unloading trucks at 5 in the morning), I remember that I didn't see Dwayne Bowe drop a pass all preseason.  

Watching the latest episode of "Psych" (pretty funny stuff, I'd recommend it), I can't stop wondering if Brandon Flowers will take the next step and become a shutdown corner.

When my wife tries to seduce me, I can't seem to get my mind off of... Well, OK, I've still managed to stay pretty focused in that situation. 

My point is that it's almost football season.  The Kansas City Chiefs are about to play host to the San Diego Chargers in one of the most important games the Chiefs have played in years.  We're about to see whether or not we've truly made progress from last year to this year, and what better team to do it against than one that absolutely hammered us twice last year?

We've got lots of reasons to be excited and even optimistic.  Our first-team defense played very well this preseason. Eric Berry is looking as good as advertised.  McCluster and Arenas are looking explosive.  Our ground game seems to be one of the best in the NFL.  And all the players seem to be buying into the "process".

As Porkchop pointed out with some tasty Kool-Aid, we improved in quite a few areas this offseason, while not regressing in any areas at all.  We're ready for the season to start, and we're ready to see our Chiefs take it to San Diego on Monday Night!

On pretty much every post for the last two months, I've seen at least one reference to how important this game is for us.  It could give us incredible confidence and momentum.  It could show the league that we're even more improved than anyone anticipated.  It could shake up the AFC West race.  And it would give us fans a glimpse of what we've been waiting for these last few years; a reason to hope.

All that is very true, and this game is indeed a big deal.  However...

I just want to give another "friendly forewarning against fan follies".  While I no doubt will not follow these warnings myself, I think it's important to at least put them out there so we've got them in the back of our minds while we scream (whether it's in person or at the TV) "YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!" or "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" at our Chiefs.

I want to warn all of you in advance; this game does not mean life or death for our Chiefs.  This is not our Minas Tirith (hey, if you didn't know Lord of the Rings, that's your problem).

 Defeat in this game does not mean the defeat of our cause.  The enemy is not about to destroy us completely.  We can withdraw from the field as the losers and still fight another day.

The reason i say this is that I see so much being tied into this game.  So many hopes and dreams for our improvement seem to be pinned on us beating the Chargers.  Let's face the facts, though.  The Chargers destroyed us last year.  Neither game was even remotely close.  They are now missing some pivotal players, yes, but the odds that they've gotten 3 touchdowns worse are slim at best.

That's why this battle isn't Minas Tirith.  We are facing a team that no one is expecting us to really compete with, let alone defeat.  This, instead, is almost a no-lose situation for our Chiefs.  The only way this game is huge for us is if we win.  If we lose, well, we've done what was expected.  Even competing will be considered a win for us around the league.  The only way we really lose is if we get blown out again.

If we lose, we still get to play a much weaker team in CLE in week 2.

If we lose, we still have a chance to create confidence by giving SD a run for their money.

If we lose, we're still in a position to achieve what most are expecting/hoping for.

If we lose, we still have a 9 game stretch to end the season that is looking to be the easiest the league could've offered us.

If we lose, we've really done nothing but what we're supposed to do against a playoff team.  That's why, if we lose this game, it won't be the end of the world in the locker room.  

However, If we win...

All of a sudden we're looking at going into the bye week with a winning record.

All of a sudden our "winnable" games look even more winnable, and our "loss" games look a little less daunting.

All of a sudden we've served notice that we're not going to be the Chargers' whipping boy anymore.

That's why this game is a no-lose situation for us, provided we just compete.  Because if we lose, it's just a loss to a playoff team that most everyone was expecting to beat us.  But if we win, it suddenly becomes a much bigger deal than one game.

So even though I know absolutely no one (including myself) will listen to this advice...

Keep this game in perspective.  If we lose, we're still looking at a full season where 10 of our remaining 15 games are against considerably worse teams than the San Diego Chargers.  They are likely the best team we play this year that's not boasting Peyton Manning at QB.  

This is not Minas Tirith.  If we lose, the sun will still shine the next morning.