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Chiefs Can't Let C.J. Spiller Explode Jamaal Charles-Style

Sept 9, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller (28) runs for a touchdown during the first half of their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE
Sept 9, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller (28) runs for a touchdown during the first half of their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and an already unique offense will have some changes with Fred Jackson missing the game and C.J. Spiller gaining a larger role.

"They're kind of unique," Andy Studebaker said on Thursday of the Bills offense, via quotes sent out by the Chiefs. "They'll spread you out a little bit, maybe a little more than other teams. They have a great running back, even when they're one guy's down, they are still very talented in the running game."


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This falls in line with one of my five keys to the game -- make the Bills one dimensional. Studebaker said the Chiefs have to be good at stopping the run first and I agree. Stop the run and make the Bills turn to the passing game more than they'd like. Get them off their game plan. Make them improvise.

Brian over at Buffalo Rumblings, SB Nation's Bills blog, tells us that with Fred Jackson out C.J. Spiller becomes a major part of the offense (some would wonder why the 9th overall pick isn't always a major part of the offense).

"Spiller's going to be the focal point of the offense, because they run the ball really well and Stevie Johnson isn't 100 percent. He got 16 touches last week, and he's only ever had more than 20 touches twice in his 32-game career. I'd be surprised if he didn't register at least 20 touches in Week 2, however - and he's been awesome of late. With Jackson out of the picture for a while, Spiller has a chance to really explode in much the same way Jamaal Charles did in 2009."

I didn't realize that Charles and Spiller are similar sizes. Charles is slightly higher but they're both listed at 200 pounds -- Spiller is 5'11" and Charles is (listed) 6'1". Charles kind of came out of nowhere for the Chiefs back in 2009. By that I mean it's not like he was a first round pick who's time to step up was inevitable -- Charles was almost an afterthought after getting deactivated in the second game of that 2009 season. There are more expectations with Spiller but he's got a long way to go to earn a legit comparison to Charles.

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