ArrowheadOne Game Thread:
Chiefs Playoff Football
Laddie Morse
Well, game day is finally upon us and if you’re thinking the Kansas City Chiefs are at all afraid of their opponent, the opposite may be true. These Chiefs come across as more anxious for their game to begin with the Pittsburgh Steelers than anything else. I’m anxious to get them in our house too. Arrowhead should be rocking as much as it has ever been and once the Chiefs get them there… in their kitchen… they can melt them down. Once the freezing rain stops of course.
Arrowhead Advantage
While any team playing at home has an advantage, playing in front of the World Record holding Arrowhead crowd has to be one of the most difficult for opposing players in any stadium in the NFL. While the Arrowhead crowd is loud and proud, the season record this year was 6-and-2, the same as it was on the road. In 8 games, Kansas City outscored their opponents 181-to-136 which translates to 22.6-to-17 per game. What might be a better comparison for this game, is their AFC West divisional games because Andy Reid has a habit of making sure the team takes those games more seriously than other games, after all, they’re a two-game swing in the standings. The Chiefs have gone 11-1 the past two years in AFC West games. At Arrowhead, the Chiefs went 3-and-0 this year in AFC West games by an average score of 25.6 to 16.6.
Since 2013, Chiefs’ opponents are averaging 4.5 points per game less at Arrowhead than their other road games. (17.1 to 21.6). pic.twitter.com/AmZkd9gopO
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) January 12, 2017
The Chiefs Are Ready
Now, it’s apparent that the players are taking this game seriously.
It’s okay to love to win, But hate like hell to lose…
— Chris Jones (@cjonesmsu96) January 12, 2017
Justin Houston will play vs. Pittsburgh Sunday.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) January 13, 2017
Poe is a Go
If you haven’t watched this with Dontari Poe, you have to see it!
We asked for your best #BloatedTebowPass memes.
Now, see which one @PoeMans_dream liked the best. pic.twitter.com/Lm0LPKlXg7
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 30, 2016
Saw Derrick and Jamaal both in the locker room this week. They are very present. https://t.co/srzd5W41pK
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) January 14, 2017
Great year with these guys! Still lots of work to do but it’s been an awesome regular season! #ChiefsKingdom #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/sjyqlH5Qbi
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz72) January 2, 2017
Two Minute Warning
Even with the Steelers bringing Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to town — perhaps the best at their respective positions — it would be hard for me to bet against a team — like the Kansas City Chiefs — who have a 22-and-5 record in their last 27 games. That’s winning at a .814 pct. pace Lady’s and Gentlemen. It’s also getting easier and easier to believe that a team from the AFC Best-West could produce another Super Bowl champion when the previous champion was ousted by a healthy, stealthy and ascending Chiefs unit.
Weathering the Weather
With the game having been moved to Sunday evening, that should favor K.C. players. While it means that the Chiefs will merely stay at home and rest up for 6 more hours or so before arriving at the stadium… the Steelers, on the other hand, must wait it out in a hotel and will certainly have to change their travel plans as well. Also, Pittsburgh fans who may have been planning on attending a noontime coin flip will be dealing with the same issues as their team is dealing with and, in some cases, may not be able to stick around for the game itself. Our deepest sympathies
Hot (Cold) Tip: Going to the Game
If you’re going to the game today, take along a boatload of trash bags. There’s no telling who will show up without protective rain gear on… and you’ll be the hero — or heroine — of the day.
The Final Question
If the Chiefs win the toss… should they go ahead and defer as they have all season long? I say… H3LLs Y3S!!!
Lad’s Prediction
Chiefs 31, Steelers 27.
Go Chiefs!!!!
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