We Must Protect This House!
Dating back to 1990 the Chiefs have posted a 13-5 record against the Broncos in Arrowhead. Though I would imagine most, if not all, of those victories came at the hands of a deafening Arrowhead Stadium, a site we're not likely to see this weekend. If you head on over to the mothership they're still touting tickets for sale which doesn't bode well for home field advantage either.
Last year's game at Arrowhead on November 11th marked the beginning of the Brodie Croyle era. Damon Huard led the Chiefs into halftime hanging onto an 8-6 lead before succumbing to an injury that would eventually supplant Croyle as the starter for the remainder of the season. Interestingly enough, we've got the same quarterback issue and the same quarterback starting this game.
Judging by the putrid [actual] attendance at the home opener against the Oakland Raiders, the crowd is unlikely to play much, if any, of a factor this weekend.
Larry, Larry, Larry!
The success of the Chiefs in Sunday's contest lies (or lays? Help!) on the shoulders of Larry Johnson. LJ was an important contributing factor when we placed the trifecta on the Broncos in three straight home victories from 2004-2006.
LJ, by the numbers, in career starts against the Broncos:
| Date | Att | Yds | TDs | W/L |
| 12/19/04 | 30 | 151 | 2 | W 45-17 |
| 12/04/05 | 30 | 140 | 2 | W 31-27 |
| 9/17/06 | 27 | 126 | 0 | L 6-9 (OT) |
| 11/23/06 | 34 | 157 | 1 | W 19-10 |
Granted the pre-2007 teams are drastically different than today's team but the same principle still holds true. Get LJ the ball. It's unlikely we'll see him approach 30 carries, especially with the addition of Jamaal Charles, but against a porous Denver defensive line the yards should/need to come aplenty.
Early And Often
I know this is a Captain Obvious sighting here but getting behind in this game is simply not an option. Not with our offense against their corners and especially not with the Broncos offense against whichever KC defense decides to show up that day.
The Chiefs have been miserable in the first half thus far while the Broncos have been the league's best. To be more exact, the Chiefs have scored 0 (!) first quarter points and 10 second quarter points. The Broncos, on the other hand, have notched 28 first quarter points and 44 second quarter points which puts them atop the first half scoring leaderboard.
This seems like an impossible task but it starts with our ability to run the ball. I don't want to sound like Herm but this is one scenario in which establishing the run and slowing the game down is pertinent.
Any other keys to victory on Sunday?
0 recs | 34 comments
Huh?
Now I agree we don’t want to get behind in this game, since our meager offense relies upon the run to set up the pass (though we were way behind at the beginning of the second half last week and still ran the ball quite a bit), but I don’t think it is because of their corners. Don’t they have the worst pass defense in the league after 3 games?
PVChiefsfan - September 25, 2008
I'm talking about
on a one-on-one basis. Bowe v. Bailey scares me.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
And
They have gone against SD and NO, both very capable of passing the ball. Oakland, on the other hand, they dominated. I would put us in the Oakland boat.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
Historically
since getting Bailey from Washington, the Donkeys have put him on Gonzalez when we play them.
PVChiefsfan - September 25, 2008
You're right
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
This year Boss Bailey
Will most likely guard Gonzalez and Champ on Bowe.
DBinKC - September 26, 2008
Last one
I promise, because you made a very good point. The Denver offense has been putting up so many points its required their opponents to pass that much more.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
Grammar Lesson
Dead on with Lie vs. Lay.
Your sentence had no direct object (which is totally fine), so it uses lie instead of lay:
By webby37
+1 to you for acknowledging one of the most difficult things to master in our language. w00t.
/Total grammar nerd and English Teacher
//Don’t hate.
-cw
webby37 - September 25, 2008
Nice
I figured if I acknowledged it you couldn’t blame me! Thanks.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
Huard
I can’t stress this enough – Damon Huard staying in the whole game and not being pulled is a big key. He is 14-10 as a starter. I know this is always overlooked but there’s something to be said about a QB being 14-10 as a starter, even if he’s old and immobile. All Thigpen and Croyle have proven to me is that they aren’t winners. They may have better arms and may be more mobile but I define a good QB as a winner. I don’t think Huard is a long term answer at QB but he is a top 25 NFL QB and I think that’s about the best we can do right now. If we win this game I will be shocked.
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
14-10?
5-3 in 2006…
4-6 in 2007…
0-1 in 2008…
I count 9-10, but that’s just from my memory.
Vince D - September 25, 2008
Huard's record
99: 4-1
00: 1-0
06: 5-3
07: 4-6
I also thing its worth pointing out that he was 0-3 in the first 7 games last year before our team completely fell apart. If LJ didn’t hurt his ankle last year we would have won that Green Bay game and kept the MO going.
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
Im sorry I meant 0-3 after the first 7 games
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
Supplant
So you’re saying that the injury Huard suffered replaced Brodie Croyle as the starter? That would be a historic achievement. :)
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
I blame my job
Start at 7AM so it was early, early.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
I Hear You
Brain no workee before UC’s first dose of caffeine :)
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
And sometimes
not even after the caffeine =)
(sorry, I couldn’t resist…I have been gone all week, how ya doin’ UC?)
PVChiefsfan - September 25, 2008
Just Doin' My Time Brother
Just doin’ my time… :)
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
Break Selvin Young, Break him, in two, or fourths, like an offensive kit kat...
Official Arrowhead Pride Parade - September 25, 2008
Another key
We HAVE to stop Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. These guys have looked like studs all season against better secondaries than the Chiefs have.
If you think about it we match up decent against the Broncos because I feel like our pass defense is better than our run defense. The more I think about it the more I think picking KC at least against the spread is smart in this game.
Also, i was thinking about the QB situation. Would it be that crazy to try and get Alex Smith? I know he busted big time but he still does have tools and maybe he was just in the wrong place? He also is probably easier to get than Brohm or Quinn.
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
Yep
No one has done it yet. It will be fun to see Carr/Flowers making plays against these guys. I expect them to get torched here and there but if they can hold their own then it will be very promising.
Joel Thorman - September 25, 2008
Flowers and Royal
practiced against each other everyday at Va Tech. They are similar (small and strong) and it should be a fun to watch them go against each other now.
DBinKC - September 26, 2008
Alex Smith
It would, since he’s out for the season with shoulder problems…for the second year running.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=3119
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
Alex Smith
Ya I know he’s hurt – I was thinking long term. Like next year. I am a huge Huard fan and can totally live with him until 09 or 10. His balls are so catchable.
Honestly though, can you imagine the Chiefs with Vick, D-Bowe and LJ. We would be thugged out.
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
They're Saying
That the injuries are career-threatening. So he’s not really worth trading for, and I’m not sure he’s reliable enough for us to sign or bet on long-term. We’ve already seen this year how damaging committing to an injury-prone QB can be.
If he came in for a tryout, he wouldn’t be the worst third-stringer ever I suppose. But only if we get him basically for free.
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
Huard
And although I think Huard’s the best QB on our roster this year, I think we’ll be in some real trouble if he’s starting or playing serious minutes for us in 2009 or beyond. He’s an aging, career backup. He’s only attractive this year because the other options on our roster are so terrible.
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
Correction
He’s a terrible , aging, career backup. He’s not attractive. We’re starting him because we don’t know what else to do. He is just as bad as Bones and Sunday will prove it.
Ridiculous Matt - September 25, 2008
haha
about Smith – I agree, it was my understanding that after this season he’s out of San Fran and available. What if we got Urban Meyer and Alex Smith back together and Smith heals? Just a thought.
Haha listen, Damons balls are so much nicer than any other Chiefs’ balls and his balls don’t hit Falcons or Raiders like Thigpen’s balls.
CBaller13 - September 25, 2008
Injury History
He’s just never seemed particularly hardy. Based on the physical ability he demonstrated when he came in the league, and the flashes he showed two years ago, sure I’d say he might pan out. But he’s had some pretty severe injuries since then to his throwing shoulder and you just can’t trust a guy who can’t stay healthy. Is he worth a gamble as our third-stringer if he’s available? Sure…why not? I think most people will say that Thigpen is a longshot to be anything more than a fringe third-stringer. But only if we can get him really cheap and only if he’s healthy enough to play.
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
Correction
But only if we can get Smith really cheap and only if he’s healthy enough to play.
UCrawford - September 25, 2008
the obvious defensive keys
stay in your lanes, control your gap assignments, stay at home.
None of which the Chiefs have done very well in the past two weeks.
sm7600 - September 25, 2008
Pressure Cutler
Your only hope. I think the kid can be rattled, but you have to get through what to date has been an orange and blue brick wall to get to him. Other than that, maybe hope he fumbles seven or eight times.
Leukadian - September 25, 2008
Yes...
Cutler has not been pressured well this season at all…
And you pretty much hit it right on…this is DEFINITELY a big game for running the ball and keeping their offense off the field…
woodman212 - September 25, 2008
Key to victory
Borrow another teams offense!
Eric Allen - September 26, 2008
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