The Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the Detroit Lions today in a critical road game. It won’t be easy but the Chiefs absolutely have to get their season back on track today. Starting 0-2 could put them in a hole that it is impossible to climb out of.
Here are the AA staff picks for today’s game. Be sure you leave YOUR predictions in the comments.
Patrick Allen
Lions 27, Chiefs 13
After the preseason I thought the Chiefs looked dreadful. I gave them the benefit of the doubt going into the Buffalo game and picked them to win. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Until the Chiefs show me something different, I’m going to make predictions on what I’ve seen. And what I’ve seen has not been good. Less of a disaster but still a loss for the ill-prepared, Eric Berry-less Chiefs.
Randy
Chiefs 24, Lions 21 (OT)
Double D
Lions 31, Chiefs 10
I suspect that the Chiefs will predictably try to get the running game going, that the Lions will be expecting exactly that and they will be well-prepared for it. Also look for Gunther to pull out all the stops and bring the rush a lot because he knows that Cassel does not respond well to pressure. What would change my mind? Chiefs go no huddle from the start with a spread attack and, well, execute it flawlessly.
Big Matt
Lions 41, Chiefs 7
I think this game will look a lot like the last game, but with more touches for Thom Jones.
Victor Wishna
Chiefs 23, Lions 21
Any promising but young team is going to win games it shouldn’t win and lose games it should win…and one of the few teams better than the Chiefs at disappointing newly hopeful fans is the Detroit Lions. Also, Haley is shamed into a run-first attack, though both KC TDs will come on short red-zone passes, at least one of them to Anthony Becht.
Nick Rodgers
Chiefs 17, Lions 10
Chiefs still flounder against a young Lions team in an ugly win. The Lions defense gives Matt Cassel hell all day, but luckily the Lions offense shoots themselves in the foot with too many mistakes. A late interception gives KC great field position and they take advantage by scoring the go-ahead touchdown. It’s an ugly way to win, but in the end all that matters is KC goes to 1-1 instead of 0-2.
Ladner Morse
Chiefs 24, Lions 17
The Chiefs bounce back with a close win. Dwayne Bowe has a big game and so does Dexter McCluster. The Chiefs defense shuts down the Lions running game and makes the Lions one dimensional. The Chiefs and the Lions each give up points because of a failure on Special Teams. Both Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones have good games and La’Ron McClain does too. The Chiefs offense finally wakes up for stretches and the tight ends contribute quite a bit to gain a hard fought road win.
Tony Rangel
17-14 Chiefs. The Chiefs eat and extra bowl of Wheaties and pull out the win on the road.
Taylor Green
Chiefs 21, Lions 17
The Chiefs defense decides to play this week despite the absence of Eric Berry. Jamaal Charles and Le’Ron McClain both score a touchdown. Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel develop a connection this weekend but it does not lead to a touchdown for Bowe. Brandon Flowers makes an interception of Matt Stafford early in this game. Lions make it close late but the Chiefs prevail.
Natasha Sims
Chiefs 24, Lions 21
I’m not ready to throw in the towel, yet! Chiefs take this game a la 2010 style: JC runs the ball, while Tamba Hali makes some crucial defensive plays. We still miss Berry, though, so Lions get some TDs. Thus, the Chiefs keep the fans grudgingly unsure of the season.