Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

It’s Here. The first Red Friday of the 2012 NFL Season. Red Friday has become nothing short of a tradition amongst Chief nation. As cited here, this is the 20th edition of Red Friday, and as a result Kansas City locals will be treated to lots of festivities and events. Hell, even some of downtown Kansas City’s finest landmark buildings will light up their structures with red after the sun goes down.

Lots of great articles have been posted around this week’s home opening matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. I have picked Atlanta to triumphantly hoist the Lombardi trophy in the stadium of their fellow NFC South division foe, the New Orleans Saints, this February. So, honestly I couldn’t be happier to have the quality and caliber of opponent marching into Arrowhead this Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs need this test, and they need it early. Much hype has surrounded this 2012 squad from various national sports writers alike, up to and including a berth in this year’s Super Bowl opposite the Green Bay Packers. This hype is certainly deserved, as all of the Chiefs offseason acquisitions and moves have been well documented. So it’s fitting for me to have the Chiefs as a 3 point home underdog when they come storming out of that tunnel on Sunday. Call it high octane fuel for a Falcon ass whipping.

Despite not having their best defensive player (arguably of course) on the field coming off the edge to terrorize Matt Ryan, I do believe the Chiefs will be pumped beyond all measure and they will not only win, but win by double digits. As a fan it’s impossible not to be drinking a gallon of your team’s kool-aid when the games kickoff on Sunday and Monday. But for KC fans across the country, wearing red today not only symbolizes something that is now a rich tradition, but it speaks to the level of support and enthusiasm Chief fans have. Especially this year. This is the year where many demons will be exercised, such as winning in the postseason for a change.

The Chiefs don’t have a schedule as brutal as the Denver Ponies, but it’s not nearly as soft as New England’s 2012 slate of opponents either. And that’s just fine with me. Many national sports voices thought the Chiefs’ 2010 division crown was a result of a very favorable schedule. The beating the Ravens put on this Chiefs team that year in the wild card round in Arrowhead was proof the red and gold weren’t ready to win on the big stage. You have to learn how to lose before you can learn how to win. This team has learned how to loose under Scott Pioli’s tenure. So now, it’s time for them to learn how to win.

Win big. Win loud. Make a massive week one statement.

It starts with clipping the wings of the high flying and favored Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 12 p.m. CST in Arrowhead. But before that, it starts with every Chief fan from coast to coast wearing Red today. Wearing it loud and proud. How do you wear Red? Drop in your comments for me AA nation. And if you’re like me don’t have the pleasure of partaking in a happy hour later today in Kansas City, then wherever you call home, drink a glass or four of your favorite Red ale and toast to what will be a glorious 2012 season. Cheers.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Russell Wilson will be starting tonight for the Seattle Seahawks in pre-season game #3 at Arrowhead Stadium.  To say Wilson has looked good in his first two preseason games in his rookie campaign would likely be an understatement.  The Wisconsin product has a legitimate chance to steal the starting job for gang moss-green from Matt Flynn.  After the horrific performance from the Chiefs first unit defense in St. Louis last Saturday I think they have a few things to prove.

Clearly the secondary, albeit banged up and without Flowers and Lewis for this game, needs to play much better.  Javier Arenas in particular has to showcase his worth in nickel and dime defensive sets and get back to flashing the signs we saw from him in his rookie season last year.  Arenas has all but solidified his role on special teams returning kicks, but Romeo needs him to cover slot receivers on Sundays when the Chiefs defense forces third and long.  Jalil Brown as sited here by AA senior editor Patrick Allen, has to step up in a big hurry.  We are all hopeful that #24 will be lined up at corner week one against Atlanta, but if Flowers isn’t ready Brown will likely get the start opposite Stanford Routt.  Eric Berry is also in need of a stellar game in my opinion.  We know the type of player Eric will be long term, but he (along with the entire defense) didn’t look good against the Rams.

Aside from the defensive backfield I need to see those gapping holes the Rams offensive line opened up against KC’s front seven to get plugged.  Several players missed key A gap assignments and more or less got punched in the mouth and pushed off every block.  If Marshann Lynch gets the type of running lanes Stephen Jackson had I am going to break my second remote control in as many weeks.  The Chiefs linebackers need to apply serious pressure to Russell Wilson all night and make him understand what Arrowhead feels like when the earth shakes.  Tamba will be ready to play, still ashamed of his one game suspension upcoming, but I really want to see Justin Houston get loose and put a bull rush on all night.  Historically mobile QB’s have given the Chiefs defense fits, so I look forward to the front seven proving to me they can contain Russell and hold him in the pocket.

Lastly the offense, who by all accounts didn’t look bad in the first half last week (aside from Baldwin’s 1st quarter fumble), is facing a nice preseason challenge against a pretty stout Seahawk defense that was top 15 against both the pass and the run last year.  Cassel checked down quite a few throws last week, and even though with the speed and power we have in our backfield, I need #7 to prove these deep ball gems Baldwin has been delivering in training camp this summer are ready to be executed in live game action.  I like everyone else look forward to seeing Bowe and Baldwin opposite one another for the first time, and if they can stretch the defense as expected Moeaki and Boss should have good games.  I wouldn’t mind if Romeo game Charles the majority of the night off after the first quarter, so we can see if Gray can overtake Draughn for third on the running back depth chart.

So what do you think Addicts, do the Chiefs have more to prove with all starters likely going a full three quarters?

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

It’s 7:37 a.m. on a Sunday morning in early November. The traffic thickens up along every possible entry into the greatest professional football stadium on the planet. Arriving into the Sports Complex at Gate one you can smell the eclectic aroma of BBQ and grills making it’s way into the brisk morning air. Your stomach reminds you of the motherlode of food and drink that awaits your party the moment you locate your spot for the day, pop the hatch and stretch your legs from the commute in. The dual parking lot set up is unlike any other of its kind. Full scale flag football games are played on this payment on fields twice the size of NFL regulation. A sea of red and white is filing in fast and furious, eager to share the next seven to eight hours with over 76,000 of their closest friends. Yes, you have arrived at Arrowhead Stadium. Welcome home.

If you’re reading this column and without having experienced (several dozen times over) what was just described, you must be either new to AA and to the Kansas City Chiefs, reside overseas or be a fan of another NFL team. Regardless, since we now have the first official game of the 2012 NFL (pre)season under our belt I wanted to revisit the Arrowhead tailgating experience. Tailgating is a rich tradition for football, and albeit I haven’t experienced the Big House, the Coliseum  or Texas Memorial,I am confident you can’t find a better place to experience a true tailgate in all its authentic form like you can at 1 Arrowhead Drive in Kansas City. Midwesterns simply know how to get it done.

My favorite part about tailgating in Kansas City is the fact that it only gets better the colder the weather. Don’t get me wrong: tailgating and thus attending the home opener in September is a special thing, but it’s tough to fully embrace the process when the temps are still in the 70′s and 80′s. A frigid November or December morning when you see 33 degrees (or colder) the moment you pop on the T.V. on game day is when you know you are in for a treat. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will be grilling, both to feed their bellies with the necessary foundation just ahead of pouring around 13+ beers of choice down the windpipe, as well as to stay warm. It’s as common as walking through a campsite at night.

And did I mention the level of camaraderie amongst the fans? Yeah, it’s good. On more than one occasion I can recall leaving something like condiments, paper towels, plates, etc at home in the kitchen and realizing it roughly eight minutes into the drive to the stadium. No need to panic if such happens to you at a future game, because your metal coffin neighbors on the asphalt have your back. Within reason of course. I mean, if you go asking for beers or bloody mary mix you might get a funny look.

From the fans to the tailgating experience to the games themselves, Arrowhead is the greatest stadium to experience being a football fan, bar none. A few NFL stadiums and cities get an honorary mention such as Green Bay, Buffalo and Seattle, but that’s about it. It you feel your city has been drastically mis-represented and left off feel free to bang on me at Twitter, my handle is above in the top right section. For those loyal Addicts frothing at the mouth ready for when the real games begin against Atlanta in a few weeks, please feel free to weigh in below on your best Arrowhead tailgate experience or game. Cheers, and whatever you do, don’t forget the wet naps.

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

What a great ceremony on Saturday night, where Pro Football’s latest class of immortal figures joined the Hall. Willie Roaf’s induction specifically has me thinking not only about who the greatest Chiefs offensive linemen of all time are, but also ranking our 2012 O-Line as we prepare for week one of the preseason this Friday night.

I recall having a party in my mind the moment I heard Eric Winston was in town to feast on some BBQ and visit with Pioli, but it turned into a party like it was 1999 when I saw the news that he had signed. Right tackle has been a problem for us for at least the last six or seven years. We now have our bookends on this line, and would should ensue is Cassel enjoying what he hasn’t had since his days in New England; ample time to fire the ball down the field. This article ranks our red brothers from the trenches as the fourth best offensive line heading into this season. At #1 is Green Bay, who returns their entire starting o-line from 2011 except for center, which will be occupied by Jeff Saturday this year. (Yeah, he’s pretty good.) #2 is New England, and they, like the Chiefs, are starting a new RT in 2012. At #3 is Cincinnati, with whom for some reason I have a tough time, but I can’t tell you why. (I guess it’s because they’re the Bengals.) What’s even better than the Chiefs ranking of #4 is the rest of the AFC West: Denver is ranked #21, San Diego #24 and Oakland #27.  Pair this with our defensive front seven and my breakdown of the Chiefs going 4-2 against the division this year may be off by two games. We might just sweep the West.

The game of football is obviously won and lost in the trenches alone both lines.  So if these rankings turn out to be fairly accurate, and we can apply consistent pressure to Peyton and Philip (I’m not too worried about Carson), I look forward to the result.

So what do you think Addicts?  Can we more or less expect a division crown to be won or lost on the play of our 2012 offensive line?

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

Yes Addict Nation, this tried and true Chief fan lives in beautiful Denver, CO.

I wouldn’t change my home address for lots of reasons; namely the unbelievable weather year round, the mountains as my playground and people who generally are happy day in and day out.  What I would change however is the local professional football team.  Being a raving Chiefs fan in Denver isn’t quite as bad as living in Oakland, but there are days where it has its challenges.  Namely with my lovely wife and her side of the family.  But mostly it’s listening to the local sports radio personalities and their belief that the Denver Broncos, year in and year out, shouldn’t have anything to worry about when it comes time to play Kansas City.  For a division rivalry that has seen these teams split virtually every year for over a decade it begins to piss me off to hear them talk sweep of the Chiefs in their preseason breakdown.  But I can say this:  I have keep quiet this offseason and been smiling underneath with every coy word that comes from Bronco fans mouth, because regardless of their shiny new stallion at QB this team has holes.  I attend a Broncos training camp or two every year to personally scout the depth of this team.  So allow me share what I believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of what will be the only team in AFC West standing in our way of a division crown.

QB:  I was at last Sunday’s Bronco practice with about four thousand other Coloradans, and from a pure football fans perspective, I’m glad I got to watch the great Peyton orchestrate a practice up close and personal.  You can’t argue that Peyton is a top five all-time QB, and his demeanor on the field commands respect from his new teammates.  He looked sharp people, there is no way around it.  Yes he misfired on a couple of end zone corner fade routes, but I would put that more so on his receivers than him.  While they were in a red zone drill, Manning had to throw two straight passes away because his wideouts weren’t doing their job.  He clapped his hands with aggressive frustration, proceeded to yell, “Come on guys, let’s get OPEN”, and then fired a bullet on a skinny post to Caldwell for a score.  If Peyton plays 16 games this regular season he’s worth four more wins over Tebow right there.  However, the backup QB situation in Denver is grim to say the least.  Brock Osweiler looks like the Jolly Green Giant, tall and lanky, and his passes were off target consistently all afternoon.  Caleb Hanie, the backup from Chicago signed in the offseason and Colorado State product looked ok but you can firmly tell he is in a new offense and has a lot of studying to do.  Adam Weber, second year QB from Minnesota got the majority of the reps with the second unit and appears to be the leader in the clubhouse to backup #18, but he is nothing special either.  The bottom line is this; if Peyton does go down as I have predicted numerous times, the Broncos will look very similar to the 2011 Colts.

WR:  They have a few weapons here; Demaryius Thomas and Peyton looked to be in sync most of the day, but outside of Thomas and Decker who should be #1 and #2 on the depth chart they don’t have anyone who scares you.  Brandon Stokley was signed and he will provide a familiar face to Manning out of the slot and should be a shoe in to make the team.  Stokley still has some quicks and good hands, but he’s not getting any younger and should be injured periodically throughout the season.  Caldwell was a nice addition for some depth, and then it’s a bunch of no-names who didn’t look sharp at all.

TE:  Jacob Tamme, I hate to say, was more impressive to me in person than I thought he would be.  My perception of this guy in Indy was just a tall, average TE that Peyton made better because, well, he’s Peyton.  Tamme can run routes and he made a couple spectacular catches where Manning placed the ball where only his big target could snatch it.  Virgil Green should also make this squad and is a good blocker.  I didn’t see Joel Dreessen on the field at all, not sure what his story is.  They have a few weapons here, but no top 15 TE on this roster and certainly no one our Chief linebackers and secondary will have a tough time with.

RB:  I didn’t get to see enough of the running backs to speak a lot on them.  McGahee was in good form and looked pretty good.  Know-Show Moreno was sporting a knee brace and looked rusty, it’s going to be interesting to see what Denver does with it’s former 1st round draft pick this year.  Ronnie Hillman, Denver’s draft acquisition this year out of San Diego State, should provide them some flash, but I didn’t see much of him on this day.

Defense:  Here is where Denver is going to lose games this year.  On the front line we know Dumervil will make plays but the jury is still out on how many games he will be suspended for his incident with his “piece” in South Beach a few weeks ago.  Regardless of the evidence that will or won’t surface, I bet Roger sits him for at least two to three games.  But it could be as many as six.  They have role players everywhere else on this defensive line.  Their linebackers are lead of course by Von Miller, and this guy is truly a special talent.  He was roaming all over the field, and sporting #58 (which mind you he has said is because his child hood idol on the football field was the late, GREAT Derrick Thomas) makes you think back to the Falcon position days in Arrowhead of the greatest linebacker to every play the game.  Denver’s linebacking core aside from Miller is average at best.  DJ Williams is suspended for the first six games of the regular season, so Woodyard and Mays will see significant time early on.  Advantage is any TE playing against Denver, and any running back once they get to the second level.  The secondary is lead by Champ, who can still play corner as good if not better than most.  Champ shut down Demaryius Thomas on numerous passing drills which was impressive.  On the other side Denver’s signing of Terry Porter was an upgrade to Andre Goodman, but their nickel and dime corners are young and inexperienced.  Safety is the big hole here.  Rahim Moore in his third year out of UCLA is their best talent at this spot, and that isn’t saying much.  Bailey and Porter will allow the Broncos to play man coverage in a lot of defensive sets, but they will have to be special because once Baldwin and Co. get separation their help over the top doesn’t hold a candle to what we will enjoy from the safety position in Kansas City all season long.

All in all, I don’t feel nearly as threatened by this Denver team at this point as I thought I might.  Yes, this is only the 3rd practice and we have yet to see any live game action, but Denver will not march to a 12 win record as many seem to be predicting.  I say many, perhaps that’s just the locals.  Denver also has the 2nd toughest league schedule by wins from last year mind you.

So what do you think Addicts?  Does Denver scare you this year, or by Week 12 when the Ponies waddle into Arrowhead will we have already established a cushion in the West?

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Alright Chiefs Nation, NFL training camps are open across the league so I felt it time to revisit a pre-season breakdown for how our band of red and gold brothers will finish the 2012 NFL regular season in a week by week fashion.

Week 1 Home and Season Opener against the Atlanta Falcons

Lots of expectations have been built around this Atlanta ball club, and yet a few question marks remain.  With Sean Payton on the sidelines making side bounties with his buddies this year, the Falcons are arguably the favorites to win the NFC South.  They come into Arrowhead where Chiefs N ation will no doubt be ready to regain a clear cut status of the leagues most volatile and ruckus 12th Man.  It’s easy to drink the red kool-aid with this one; if KC keeps Michael Turner and that Falcon rushing attack at bay and forces Matt Ryan beat them, then our secondary will have to be ready to hold down Roddy White and Julio Jones.  We can live with Tony catching 9 balls for 71 yards on check downs, so long as we keep him out of the end zone.  Do this and the final score should be in our favor.

Prediction:  Chiefs 27-Falcons 17

Week 2 at the Buffalo Bills

As mentioned in a column about a month ago right here on AA, this game will mean a LOT to this 2012 Chiefs squad personally.  A rematch of the opening game last year where we came into the season, albeit already absent of Moeaki for the year, but with high expectations.  Those came crashing down with a throttling on our home grass, and we all remember the horse**it block Stevie Johnson threw on Berry to end his 2012 season.  Johnson better be ready for a couple colossal shots by #29 in this one.  Berry will be a class act, but you know he can’t wait for that first fly pattern for Johnson running down center field.  Makes me salivate just thinking about it.  This Bills team made some solid additions on the defensive side of the ball, anchored by Mario Williams.  This one won’t be easy by any stretch, but it’s a game that Romeo will have the boys ready to play, and ready to play the right way.  We will control the clock with the run and do just enough threw the air.

Prediction:  Chiefs 17-Bills 13

Week 3 at the New Orleans Saints

This is game that really tests our talented defensive unit early in the season.  Granted the week 1 matchup with a simliar style offense in Atlanta will have our defensive backfield tuned up (I hope), but this is Drew Brees on the fast track in the Superdome.  And Tony Gonzalez entering his 16th NFL season is certainly no current day Jimmy Graham.  Graham may very well be the best TE in the game, arguably of course.  Graham has sub WR speed and his route running is tops at his position in my opinion.  Mark Ingram in his sophomore campaign will be ready to take over lead role in this Saints backfield, and Brees seemingly always has unlimited WR targets.  The question mark for this NO’s club is their defensive unit.  The Saints are implementing an entirely new system with the loss of Greg Williams.  Translation:  the Chiefs have to be ready for a shootout, the only problem is this isn’t how our 2012 team will win games.  We will play good defense and run the ball, but it won’t be quite good enough this week.

Prediction:  Saints 31-Chiefs 24

Week 4 at Arrowhead against the San Diego Chargers

In this piece AA contributor AnthonyNation wrote about how the Chiefs can (and potentially will) sweep the AFC West.  It all starts this week with our Week 4 tilt against the Bolts.  This Charger team is a tough one to breakdown; they lost their #1 target Vincent Jackson to the Bucs in free agency and signed our very own Jackie Battle to back up Matthews with the loss of Mike Tolbert to the Carolina Panthers.  Antonio Gates isn’t getting any younger, although still a top 10 NFL TE, he’s simply not been the same guy with injuries piling up the past couple of years.  Defensively this Diego squad doesn’t scare me a bit, and I think the Chiefs offensive line will have their way with the Chargers front seven and they will be looking at the back side of Charles and Hillis all day long.  Our road to sweep the West starts here with a sound victory.

Prediction:  Chiefs 31-Chargers 20

Week 5 at Arrowhead against the Baltimore Ravens

Simply put, I cannot WAIT for this game.  A 12 win Raven team from 2011 coming in with every reason in the world to think they will walk out of KC, yet again, with a good ole fashion ass whooping of our boys.  For 27 minutes in the 2010 AFC Wild Card game we were beating Baltimore at their own game, holding a slim 7-3 lead.  Then the Raven defense happened and our young upstart Chiefs team didn’t know what hit them.  Our boys are now a full season older, yet this will be our first test of the 2012 season to see what our offense can do against a top 5 NFL defense.  They key to this game is…you guessed it, Tony Moeaki and Kevin Boss.  Stretching the field with our TE’s, not allowing Ed Reed to play in the box.  If we can’t do this we have no shot, hate to say it.  If we can run for 130+ yards and play stellar defense this could be an upset for our home dogs, but I’m not ready to make that bold prediction just yet.  Lord knows I hope I’m dead wrong.

Prediction:  Ravens 24-Chiefs 13

Week 6 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is a tough game to dissect.  I have no idea which KC team will show up to Raymond James the week after a bruising game against Baltimore and the week ahed our BYE.  Josh Freeman has plenty of tools to become a top 15 (or better) NFL QB.  This Tampa team has a few offensive weapons, but I still believe they are a couple pieces away from having a complete threat.  Defensively they have talent and they have been rebuilding this side of their team for the past few years.  But again I still think they are a few pieces short.  If we look to Chief teams of old, this is a sure fire loss.  But I’m going to give Romeo the benefit of the doubt and trust he won’t let this game sneak up on our boys, and we ride into the BYE week on a winning note.

Prediction:  Chiefs 21-Bucs 17

Week 8 at Arrowhead against the Oakland Raiders

We couldn’t be getting Oakland in a better spot here, primed to snap our 5 game home losing streak to the arch rival Silver and Black.  Looking at the recent Raiders v Chiefs history, we had our brooms out sweeping the season series from ’03-’06.  From the ’07 season to current Oakland has come into Arrowhead, a place they NEVER used to win, and they’ve beaten us.  Pisses me off just thinking about it.  What really gets my blood boiling is last year; if we win that game and come to Denver and do what we did to TeBLOW and company we win the West.  With our injury riddled, horrific statistical offensive 2011 team.  Alas Chief fan, we SMASH the Faiders this year at home, simple as that.

Prediction:  Chiefs 34-Raiders 20

Week 9 at the San Diego Chargers

Getting back to that topic of sweeping the West, here is the test, our first divisional road game of the season.  We all know how often we win at Qualcomm.  It hasn’t happened often in the last decade.  Do I think our boys can go into Diego with a 5-2 record overall and 2-0 in the division and get to 3-0 against the West?  Of course I do.  Do I think it will happen?  Tough one to answer this early on, but I lean towards no.  The Powder Blues might be in a early season semi-must win situation here, and Rivers has a tendency to carve threw the Chiefs secondary when the game is tight in the 4th quarter.  I don’t want to be a buzz kill here, but I think we come up just short in this one.

Prediction:  Chargers 27-Chiefs 24 

Week 10 at the Pittsburg Steelers

I really wish this game was at Arrowhead.  Captain obvious I get it.  Winning in Pittsburg in mid Nov will simply be no easy task.  Again my reference to the Bolts game the week before; do I think they can, of course.  Will they?  Highly unlikely.  Until Matt Cassel shows us all that he is ready to perform when other components of the game plan have not been executed then I will change my thinking with games like this.  I want to see how Matt responds this year in a week where the Chiefs running game is being stuffed, and the defense is playing just ok.  Will he rise up or fold?  If the 2nd half of the 2010 Wild Card game against the Ravens is the REAL Matt Cassel, then a win at Heinz field on Monday Night Football where our running game will likely not get off for more than 80 total yards and need Cassel to play lights out just doesn’t seem realistic.  Another buzz kill.

Prediction:  Steelers 20-Chiefs 13

Week 11 at Arrowhead against the Cincinnati Bengals

So by my score card we are 5-4 at this point and desperate for a win after loosing two straight.  Our boys return to Arrowhead for some sweet home cooking, ready to feast on a Bengals team that is on the upstart and headed in the right direction.  We are going to make love to a soft Bengal defense with a stellar game plan, perfectly blended with a 150+ yards on the ground and play action deep goodness over the top.  I don’t have much to say about this one because it won’t be close.  Chiefs in a ROUT.

Prediction:  Chiefs 38-Bengals 17

Week 12 at Arrowhead against the Denver Broncos

Giddy up.  Here we go, finally.  Peyton and the merry donkeys come to KC for what will be a defining moment to this 2012 season.  It’s Romeo’s defense against Peyton once again.  It’s a divisional showdown that will surely play into tie-breakers come seasons end.  It’s Thanksgiving weekend and the Chiefs will have saved their appetites from Thursday to gobble up roasted Pony, and get even from the game in Arrowhead last year that saw Baldwin’s SICK catch pinning the ball on Dawkins tailbone called back due to an illegal procedure on Breaston, Von Miller ending Cassel’s season and a 4th quarter 50 yard improbable hail mary from Timmy to Decker to seal our fate.  I like most of you reading this will be there in person to witness the Chiefs flat out get it done.  The Broncos will of course be better this year, but not on this day.  Not in our house.

Prediction:  Chiefs 28-Broncos 24

Week 13 at Arrowhead against the Carolina Panthers

The 3rd straight game at home features a very intriguing matchup with Cam Newton and a good Panther team that will have some impressive wins in Cam’s sophomore season.  The beauty of this game, of course, is it’s at home, and I venture to say that Cam won’t have experienced a road game in his early career the way he will experience Arrowhead and our raving fanatics on this day.  A familiar face returns in their backfield, the human bowling ball, Mike Tolbert.  Derrick Johnson and the Chief linebackers will have their sights focused directly on Cam and his ability to tuck the rock and make plays with his feet.  But an average Carolina defense won’t be enough to stop the run, or the Chiefs, from getting our 3rd straight win and pushing our record to 8-4.

Prediction:  Chiefs 27-Panthers 20 

Week 14 at the Cleveland Browns

I look forward to this game and to witnessing Brandon Weeden, who I really would have loved KC to draft in the 2nd round had he been there, and the next great NFL running back in Trent Richardson.  This Browns team had a killer draft and added to immediate contributors to their starting roster.  Weeden as we all know is no average NFL rookie at his ripe age of 28, and he will make plays instantly.  When you look at some of the most impressive contributing NFL rookie QB’s over the past few years, (Flacco, Ryan, Dalton and Newton), Weeden should follow suit and have a decent year.  Especially with that beast behind him in the backfield.  But there are too many other holes on this Browns roster, and while this game could be a trap I think the Chiefs will be ready to notch their 4th dub in row.

Prediction:  Chiefs 24-Browns 17

Week 15 at the Oakland Raiders

Ooh baby, our first chance to sweep our favorite hated division foe since 2006.  It’s tough to see where the Raiders will be at this point in the season, but even if they are long out of it playing a 9-4 KC team, rest assured they will throw the kitchen sink at us to prevent what few Chief fans will boldly grace the stands of the Coliseum from waving their brooms around.  I simply think Carson Palmer doesn’t have that “it” quality any more, and Tamba, Poe and Johnson will pressure him into making bad decisions once again.  A la that 4 INT game we recorded against him in Oakland last season.  Chiefs get it done and get to double digits in the win column.

Prediction:  Chiefs 27-Raiders 20

Week 16 at Arrowhead against the Indianapolis Colts

Another opportunity to see a rookie QB, the #1 overall pick and the guy responsible for driving Peyton to his new residence in the AFC West.  Andrew Luck will make a lot of people firmly realize why he was the clear cut choice to be drafted where he was, putting all the RGIII apologists to rest.  Clearly the Colts are rebuilding and they won’t be competitive for a couple of years.  This is a December game at Arrowhead against a rookie QB and very soft defensive team.  Need I say more?

Prediction:  Chiefs 34-Colts 21

Week 17 at the Denver Broncos

Alas it all comes down to this; another season ending game in Denver, and a game that will have massive implications in how the West will be Won.  The Chiefs come to the Mile High City in frigid temps to a hostile crowd, with an 11-4 record and a chance to sweep their Colorado rivals for the first time since the 2000 season.  And all that is riding on this game is likely going to be the AFC West crown outright.  I’m certainly no Nostradamus and to accurately predict any NFL game ahead of training camp, let alone Week 17, is impossible.  Who will be healthy?  Will Denver have Brock Osweiler or Caleb Hanie playing QB with Manning out for the season?  Will the Chiefs rebound from our injury plagued 2011 season and be close to full strength?  I have firmly stated that I don’t believe Peyton will play the entire year, and it won’t be because of his neck, but rather because he is 36 and hasn’t played NFL football for a over a year.  His frame likely won’t able to withstand a season of smashing hits, because I believe this Broncos offensive line has a couple weak links.  But let’s pretend both teams are relatively healthy.   Sorry to say I just ran out of red kool-aid and I don’t think the Chiefs will have enough to over power Peyton and a dink and dunk strategy to win our 7th straight game.  Thus we finish the season with a mark of 11-5, which may be enough to win this division by virtue of tie-breakers.

Prediction:  Broncos 27-Chiefs 20 

So what do you think Addicts?  Predicting not just with our hearts, what games am I misfiring on?  And do we Win the West, and more importantly advance in the tournament?

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

I could have tackled the latest news out of Chiefs corner with this post, but as other esteemed AA contributors have looked at various roster positions across this 2012 KC team, I want to focus this piece squarely on the TE, and just how important it will be this year.

The role of the tight end is certainly a subject Chiefs nation is all too familiar with. For me it still seems like yesterday when I was in the corner endzone stands at Arrowhead watching #88 haul in a high throw away from the defender to where only he could catch it, followed by the signature goal post dunk. For 12 glorious seasons the TE position was a staple of the Chiefs offense.  Since Gonzo’s departure in the ’08 offseason, the Chiefs front office has been hard pressed to replace a shell of his production… all due respect to an aging Vrabel, the slowest TE on the planet in Pope, and the apparent misfire drafting of O’Connell.

Tony Moeaki appears to be making a full recovery from his ACL injury suffered during week 4 of last year’s preseason game in Green Bay, and one of the many discredits to Todd Haley. Obviously this is vital for many reasons. When you look at the rookie numbers of Gonzo and Moeaki there are some striking similarities. Let me emphasize the incredibly strong disclaimer that I am not anointing Moeaki the next coming of Gonzo by any stretch. It is, however, safe to assume that everyone loyal to this site would agree on the massive amounts of optimism that we may have for our lynch pin at this position for years to come. Gonzo’s rookie year of ’97 produced 33 catches for 368 yards, an 11.2 yards per catch against 23 yards per game and a grand total of 2 TD’s.  Moeaki’s rookie year of ’10, in contrast, produced 47 catches for 556 yards, an 11.8 yards per catch against 37.1 yards per game and a grand total of 3 TD’s.  Add to the fact that Gonzo played all 16 games of his rookie season, whereas Moeaki only played 15 games in 2010, and you start to see my point.

The role of the NFL tight end has become increasingly important to offenses for one simple reason: there just aren’t many Eric Berrys, Ed Reeds and Troy Polamalus in today’s game. We’re talking about safeties who can guard the tight end all across the field in a 1-on-1 matchup with no help over the top.  When you look at the landscape of some of the league’s most productive offensive ball clubs it becomes even more easy to attribute the value of stellar play from the tight end position. I’m not going to litter you with more stats, but New England with the sick dual threat of Gronk and Hernandez, New Orleans with Jimmy Graham, Green Bay with Jermichael Finley and San Francisco (yes, I said it) with Vernon Davis simply adds a level of output to those offenses that we Chief fans knew all to well for the better part of a decade not too long ago.

Here’s what really excites me when I think about the makeup of the opposition in this AFC West division from a defensive standpoint: I see no major threat at safety that can guard KC’s tight ends. Michael Huff may be ready to prove that Oakland made the right selection with their 1st round pick in 2006, and San Diego has a rookie in Taylor competing with Bigby for their starting strong safety heading into camp. Denver lost Dawkins to retirement and outside of the incoming Porter who’s an upgrade to Goodman, and Bailey on the corners, they have question marks at safety. None of our division foes can say the same in us with the return of #29 this year. This guy is going to flat out be a superstar year in and year out, and every respected NFL beat writer who contributes to the discussion of Berry compares his long term upside to the great Ed Reed. Giddy up.

If Moeaki does indeed make a full recovery, and you add in the addition of Kevin Boss to compliment, this Chiefs offense with Dwayne Bowe now squarely in a contract year and Baldwin ready to prove to his teammates, coaches and fans he’s ready to solidify a legit dual threat receiving core could really make for some red and gold fireworks.  Couple all of this with the fact that the Chiefs will be back to 2010 form with a premium running game that will set up the pass with great success, and Matt Cassel ready to dispel the myth that he can’t stretch the field through the air, and we could all have our sights set on a week 17 matchup with the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning at Sports Authority field with a winner-take-all for the division crown.

So what do you think Addicts? Does a healthy and resurgent Tony Moeaki make all the difference in the world offensively for this 2012 roster?

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Picture this guy in a red helmet and all those glorious colors in the stands behind him representing Chiefs nation.  I know I know.  As soon as the laughter and/or ecstasy simmers down hear me out.

I am absolutely mind blown, as are a great many elite NFL columnists right now, by the way the New Orleans Saints are handling Drew Brees contract negotiations.  Here is their entire franchise, wrapped up in one shiny black and gold uniform, fresh off a ridiculous record setting season, unsigned to the long term deal he seeks with less than 5 days before the July 16 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long term extensions.  And Brees doesn’t appear ready to flinch one bit.  Reports say he’s wiling to sit out into camp, and perhaps into the season.  I don’t personally believe that he won’t be flinging the rock come Week 1 at home against RGIII and the new look Redskins, (or Week 3 when Romeo and the boys storm into the Superdome), but dream with me for a few glorious minutes.

Before last April’s NFL Draft, red and gold maniacs everywhere were salivating about the prospect of Pioli finding a way to lure the great #18 into the friendly confines of the loudest and most electric NFL stadium (all due respect Lambeau) in the league.  I say this not just because he signed with the Mile High Club, but frankly I’m glad he’s in Denver.  Reason is simply because I don’t think he will make it through the entire season healthy.  That statement would still reign true had he signed with the Chiefs, or any other team for that matter.  And we all know the success Romeo had against Peyton as a DC in New England.  As a result, Chiefs nation embraces the start of the upcoming season with what appears to be one of the best rosters in the NFL, absent of the most important spot on the field, QB.  Enter the dream of #9 trading in his black jersey for a red one in 2013.

I will include this disclaimer; I think Cassel will be ready to prove to his critics the insane contract he inked prior to the 2009 season wasn’t a complete waste of Clark’s money.  However, he won’t be putting up any flashy numbers this year despite likely having Bowe in a contract year (if Pioli doesn’t serve up a contract before next Monday), an upcoming beast of a talent on the other side in Baldwin, a healthy Moeaki stretching the defense, THE #25 Charles in Charge back and hungry as hell as well as a damn good offensive line.  Not to mention the Hillis battering ram, which, we all agree, is a substantial upgrade to Thomas Jones.  Incoming Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll and staff are going to run the skin off the ball this year.  We all know this.  Pair that strategy with what will be a top 10 defense and the result will be the 2012 Chiefs getting back to a style of play we grew all to familiar with when that guy named Marty was around.  So here starts the cry for why Drew Brees would literally make all the difference in the world; I for one don’t believe even a top rushing attack and wicked defense will be enough for KC to hint at revisiting a coveted Super Bowl berth.  With exception to the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who arguably had one of if not the best single season defenses in the history of the game with a conservative, playmaking at times, mistake-free QB in Trent Dilfer, you simply can’t win without an exceptional top 10 QB in this league.

We don’t have to compare the career numbers of #7 and #9 to understand why having a top 5 QB on this Kansas City roster in 2013 would put us close to if not at the summit.  But let’s have a little fun here.  In 7 seasons (4 as a starter, 3 with us), #7 has a 59.6 comp %, averaging 6.6 yards per, 169.6 yards per game, with 76 TD’s to 45 INT’s and a QB rating of 82.5.  Conversely #9 in 11 seasons (5 with the Chargers and 6 with NO), has a 65.9 comp %, averaging 7.4 yards per, 264.6 yards per game, with 281 TD’s to 146 INT’s and a QB rating of 94.0.  As if QB’s are anything like fine wine, Drew has only gotten better with age posting career numbers last year in completion % at 71.2, total yards blowing away Marino’s record with 5,476, yards per game at 342.2, TD’s with 46 and my favorite, QB rating at 110.6.

So will Drew Brees play under the franchise tag this year and have the potential to be traded in the 2012 offseason?  One could only dream, but of course logic says there’s no shot.  But why then is New Orleans dragging their feet here?  Aren’t they only about $1-2M off in annual salary?  It doesn’t do much for the mindset of any player in that Saints locker room coming into free agency to think if their front office can’t get a deal done with their franchise player, chances of them getting their ideal contract inked is slim to none.  This Saints team without Drew Brees would be a 5 win team at best, and that’s with Sean Payton on the sidelines.  A 2013 Chiefs team with Drew Brees under center means our boys from the land of BBQ would likely be a heavy favorite to represent the AFC in next year’s big game.  Yes New England, Baltimore and Denver, you know this to be true.  So what do you think Addicts?  Does Brees have a shot at becoming the 2nd top 5 QB to hit the trading block in as many years?  If so, what would it take from Pioli and Hunt to add #9 to our young and widely talented Chiefs roster in 2013?