Kansas City Chiefs need to make it count

I refuse to be suckered in by one great half of football.

Despite the Kansas City Chiefs scoring 21 unanswered points to shock the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome last weekend, I'm not ready to get excited. This team has shown in the past that one week's performance can be absolutely no indication of how the following contest will turn out.

Remember last year, when the Chiefs beat the same San Diego Chargers that are coming to Arrowhead this Sunday, only to lose 31-3 to a winless Miami Dolphins team six days later?

Kansas City has the goods to be an excellent football team, but it needs to beat San Diego. If the Chiefs fall short and drop to 1-3, the win in New Orleans doesn't mean all that much. Coming back from such a deficit with a virtuoso performance by Jamaal Charles is something this team can seriously build off. Now they have to do it.

I was very critical of the team last week following its blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. It was written that the Chiefs are a gutless franchise with zero expectations. To this point, I stand by my words, despite wanting nothing more than to hope it's not true. If Matt Cassel and co. defeat the Chargers, I'll re-evaluate my beliefs.

Kansas City is not playing a superior opponent. In fact, it's playing a team that has an undrafted rookie free agent in Michael Harris at left tackle and an average right tackle in Jeromey Clary. Factor in Tyronne Green at left guard, and the Chiefs should be able to dominate up front with Tamba Hali and Justin Houston screaming off the edges.

Offensively, Jamaal Charles is good enough to go for 200-plus yards on any team in the league. It's obviously not something that should be expected, but Charles can single-handedly beat an opponent as seen last week. For my money, he's the most dynamic player in the NFL.

It would also be foolish to forget Dwayne Bowe, a solid offensive line and men like Tony Moeaki and Steve Breaston. All of these players can make plays at any given time.

Cassel has clear limitations and isn't in the same conversation as Philip Rivers, but that shouldn't mean all that much come Sunday. The Chiefs roster is so much deeper on both sides of the ball.

I don't care if Kansas City wins by one point or 30, all that matters is winning the game. The Chiefs have an opportunity to move into first place in the AFC West win a victory and give themselves a shiny 1-0 divisional record.

It's time this team comes out on top and shows it can beat good foes on a consistent basis.

Starting this Sunday, they'll have a chance to do just that. Make me believe.