What can the last game at KC tell us ... if anything? First glance, KC let off the throttle - enjoyed a 1H lead thanks to the KO return and Manning/Decker were insanely in synch, especially after halftime.
Should be a cold one, as the high looks like 37 with a low of 29 - so at kickoff it's likely freezing. We'll see, the high on Saturday is 57 and on Monday it's 46, but it doesn't look like it will be wet, so that's good.
The game @ KC a year ago had much warmer temp on 12/1 with 55 degrees at kickoff, so it will be about 20 degrees colder for SNF. Simply being cold and loud is ok, not ideal - but ok.
http://www.pro-football-reference.co...1312010kan.htm
Last year, the Chiefs were up 21-14 at the half and down 35-21 with 7 minutes left before they scored, making it a 35-28 victory.
KC scored a TD on a 108 yd KO return (Davis), had more rushing yards as a team, won the TO battle and ended with a slight advantage on TOP. And while intercepting Manning twice - they couldn't stop him, and with the KC offense not being set up to win a passing battle, it hurt KC.
Although, Smith had nearly 300 yards and 2 TDs.
Eric Decker went nuts (4 TDs total) as he caught 3 in the 2nd half, with Manning throwing for 5 TDs and over 400 yds. Montee Ball actually had a good day. Decker and Ball our gone, replaced by Sanders and CJ Anderson this year.
Travis Kelce is a big add for KC in this one and we'll see what they can do with Avant. Denver's defense can't stop anyone on 3rd down and TEs kill them.
I don't see a combined point total over 60 points again - more like 20-17 (KC), but we'll see what happens.
Manning is only 2 TDs and 243 yards off his record pace in 2013 through 11 games, but the ground game is different now ... and while the defense should be better, they haven't played like it lately consistently enough.
Denver needs Julius back in the lineup.. interestingly enough, he didn't play last year in KC either. Julius returning to the lineup is key for me if Denver can win. If Julius isn't playing, Denver loses... I just think he means that much in a game like this on the road.
Say what you will about reverse mojo, but I'm not expecting a Denver win here... not after the way they've played over the last month.
Obviously, I'm fine being wrong here. Let's have some fun this week.
:fart:
rochambeau