A couple of Sundays ago, on Football Night In American, host Tony Dungy said, "It's not going to be easy going into Kansas City. I think the national audience is going to learn about some guys -- Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali -- these guys are some very good players."
Well the national audience's attention and the national spotlight are on Arrowhead Stadium this morning as the Kansas City Chiefs and their lack of star power take on the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the NFL playoffs. It's a huge chance for some relatively unaccomplished players to make history.
Neither Dwayne Bowe or Jamaal Charles have played in an NFL playoff game, let alone even sniffed one. Tamba Hali played in the '06 Chiefs-Colts playoff game but I'm sure it's not something he wants to remember right now. I have a feeling that the Chiefs player that people are going to remember from this game is Tamba Hali. Two sacks? Three sacks? A forced fumble perhaps?
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel doesn't have any playoff experience either but he does have a bit of experience playing in the snow. Cassel's first snow game, Week 16 of the 2008 season, was a breeze for the former USC QB. He was 20-36 passing for 345 yards and three touchdowns. And no INTs.
For really the first time since that Monday Night Football game in Week 1, a national audience is tuning in to Kansas City. And I think they're going to leave knowing exactly how good Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel and Tamba Hali are.
We can't complain about not getting any national media love anymore, Chiefs fans. We've played well enough to demand a national audience and we've got it.
And the home....of the....CHIEFS!!!
ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY®