Kansas City Chiefs Laddie Morse

Week 8- Chiefs Host Broncos: OPEN THREAD

LadnerMorse October 28, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

 

Week 8- Chiefs Host Broncos:

OPEN THREAD

 

By Laddie Morse

 

If the Kansas City Chiefs are to have a trap game this year, this one against the Denver Broncos today, is it. You might think that the game vs. the Arizona Cardinals (11/11) would be that game, the week before playing the L.A. Rams, but the Cards are 1-and-6 and tied with two other teams for the worst record in the league (note: the Oakland Raiders are 1-and-5 and one-half game ahead of the Cards, for now). It’s doubtful the Cardinals will present much of a challenge and so the Broncos appear to be a greater stumbling block than the Cards.

 

Another reason today’s game may be a trap game for the Chiefs is that they’re coming off of two Sunday Night Football games, games that elevated the Chiefs and placed them squarely in the national spotlight… and there will be no such spotlights in this day game. While some will site that this game is being played in the friendly skies of Arrowhead Stadium, that is also a reason it may contribute to this being a trap game, because players can sometimes get too comfy in their own climes.

 

Defending Against the Broncos

Last years, in 15 games with the Minnesota Vikings, QB Case Keenum threw for over 3,500 yards and this season he’s thrown for over 1,750 yards so he’s on pace with last years totals. That’s where the good news ends for Keenum. With the Vikes he completed 67.6% of his passes while only completing 63.4% this season, much closer to his career average of 62.2%. So, he has to be throwing more passes to come out with the same total yards right? That may be true but he’s also fumbled four times this year and thrown 9 INTs to 8 TDs. Not the ratio you want to write home about. What this means for the Chiefs is, keep pressure on him and he’s couch it up one way or another. It’s obvious that the Vikings had surrounded him with much better talent than the Broncos offense has, and a QBR this year of 40.7 tells the story.

 

There seems to be one reason why the Broncos are in this state of affairs with their QB position:

 

 

 

 

That leaves the running back position… which John Elway does seem to be able to find. Not great ones, but serviceable guys who can play well. That’s the real danger for the Chiefs this week vs. the Broncos. However, with Royce Freeman OUT for this game, rookie UDFA Phillip Lindsay is going to likely take the lead snaps with Devonte Booker coming off the bench. If these RBs go off and have a big game… AND… Case Keenum can hit some short crossers and screen plays… then they have a chance. Especially if they can control the clock and keep Patrick Mahomes on the sidelines watching. In fact, that seems the only way I can think of, beside injury, God forbid, for the Broncos to come out on top.

 

When the Chiefs Have the Ball

With two minutes left to go in the second quarter against the Bengals last week, it was still 14-to-7 and more importantly, it was still, “a game.” Then the Chiefs scored a TD, the Bengals went 3-and-out, and the Chiefs scored a FG to take a 24-to-7 lead in at the half. Because the Chiefs had won the toss, they had the ball first to begin the 2nd half and the next thing you know, they’ve scored another TD and then a pick-66 and it’s 38-to-7, GAME OVER.

 

I bring last week up because the ebb and flow of any game is critical to the final outcome. Since the Chiefs have won the coin toss 7 times in a row during the regular season, they could defer and make sure they got the ball first right after the half. Why if that so important? It’s been critical to the Chiefs success this year because HC Andy Reid is usually very good at half time adjustments and being able to implement those changes on offense right after the half has given the team a leg up in more than one game this year.

 

So… the Chiefs wins are based on “happenstance.” No. However, it’s could be important to the Chiefs as it could have an effect on their ability to score quickly out of the gate in the 3rd quarter.

 

With Andrew Wylie starting at ROG in LDTs normal spot… and with Austin Reiter starting in place of Mitch Morse at Center, it will be critically important that the Chiefs are able to protect QB Patrick Mahomes up the middle. Hopefully, Mahomes quick release, Kareem Hunts’ effectiveness and the use of RPO’s should help alleviate those concerns up the middle.  The, it will come down to making sure that Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are schemed on each play, otherwise it could be troublesome for the offense and Patrick Mahomes.

 

Stats for Studs

I came across this graphic showing the Top Audience Markets for the Chiefs-Patriots game two weeks ago and guess who was #5 on this list. Interesting that outside of Boston, Kansas City, Providence, and New Orleans — the fans wanting to watch the Chiefs the most were the Denver fans…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weather or Not

Here’s the weather report for zip code 64129, for Arrowhead Stadium. Should be another ideal day for Chiefs football.

 

 

 

 

 

The GOAT of Throats

Via NFL.com, Broncos DB Chris Harris on facing the Chiefs on Sunday,

 

“I’ve been watching film on everybody else. Everybody else playing these guys are [playing] scared. They’re not challenging them. No. 10 (WR Tyreek Hill) is just running around free. That’s not how we play. When we play them, we get up, we challenge them, put hands on them and that’s how we come to play. We’re not coming to be scared and let guys run for free all day.”

 

 

My prediction for this game is: Chiefs 38, Denver 16.

 

 

 

 

 

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