ArrowheadOne Chiefs Week 13: Game Thread

ArrowheadOne Chiefs Week 13: Game Thread

Unlike last week’s game, no one was circling this game on their calendar… except perhaps Eric Berry and Albert Wilson. That’s because many, who do such things, were projecting this game as a “W” for the Kansas City Chiefs. Maybe the reason for that is… the currently 7-and-4 Atlanta Falcons haven’t finished with a winning record in four years.

• Three out of ten ESPN writers predict the Chiefs will beat the Falcons. Interestingly enough, in the three other AFC West games combined (Den @ Jax, TB @ SD and BUF @ OAK) only 4 ESPN writers are taking non-AFC West teams.
• CBS Sports has 3 of 8 writers taking the Chiefs.
• Fox Sports says that the Falcons should beat the Chiefs 58.2% of the time.

The underbelly of this game is the homecoming for Eric Berry. Berry’s teammates don’t take anything he does or feels lightly and everyone who plays with him who cares for him — and that everyone who know him — will lay down their best for him. DC Bob Sutton is likely to use Berry as a decoy on blitzes but Berry — and Sutton to a lesser degree — will pick his moments to allow the Eric Berry spirit shine through. Enough of the players have spoken about this being “the” season to reach their potential… a Super Bowl… and know this game stands in the way of them taking the next step. And it’s a big one. If the Chiefs lose this game and the Raiders win at home against the Bills today, then next Thursday night’s game vs. the Raiders in K.C will be a bit anti-climatic because the Chiefs will have to win that game just to stay one game behind. The AFC West has won more games than any other division in the NFL thus far so every game, from here on out, becomes like a playoff game. If the Chiefs take one step backward, they’ll find themselves playing on the road in the playoffs or worse yet sitting at home wondering what happened. I hope they won’t be wondering about what happened in this game.

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