Back as promised with my thoughts on tonight's game between the two teams that most likely will battle for supremacy in the AFC West. Some interesting developments have taken place with both teams following last year's games. Denver traded RB Clinton Portis for shutdown CB Champ Bailey and acquired S John Lynch as well as drafting LB D.J. Williams from Miami,Fla. to shore up their defense. Unfortunately, they lost RB Mike Anderson to a season ending groin injury and thus back-up Quentin Griffin is slated for full duty. They also lost TE Shannon Sharpe to retirement and, on defense, lost LB Ian Gold to free agency and LB John Mobley to a neck injury. Kansas City's main change was the rehiring of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham to try and bring a more aggressive style of attack to their game, but unfortunately lost middle LB Mike Maslowski to a season ending knee injury.
Last year, in the game held in Denver, Kansas City held a 21-17 halftime lead before Portis rolled for 188 yards in the second half as the Broncos scored 28 straight points to win 45-27. Trent Green, however, completed 34-47 for 397 yards.
When evaluating these teams, let's first look at the Kansas City offense against the Denver defense. The Chiefs have a tremendous offensive line that has worked well together in providing room for a punishing running attack with Priest Holmes as well as providing time for Green to find TE Gonzalez and Holmes as their main receiving weapons. WR Morton is a threat as well, but no doubt Bailey will reduce his effectiveness. The Bronco defensive strength will now lie in the secondary as the front line and linebackers must prove that they can work together to stop the run as well as get pressure on Green although Lynch will surely help in that effort. As to the Denver offense against the Chief's defense, the key will be how effective a job Cunningham has done to prepare this team to be aggressive. Skill wise, the Broncos really are marginal with Plummer, at times, being inconsistent and the running game no longer having either Portis or Anderson, although Griffin is quick and agile. The receiving corp loses Sharpe but may improve with the development of it's younger receivers. Thoughts here are that the Kansas City's offense is now facing a defense that has added some talent but mostly in the secondary and should be able to move the ball on the ground and enough with short passing to Gonzalez and Holmes to keep the chains moving. Meanwhile, it remains an open question as to how effective the Denver offense will be against the style that Cunningham will present. Can never underestimate the coaching ability of Shanahan or the fact that Denver plays very well to open each season and particularly at home and the Chiefs have not had great success in Denver. That being said, sense here is that the Chiefs are truly the better team. Hence,
1* Kansas City +3
Good Luck All.
