For the 2013 Kansas City their season is not quite over yet as they head to Indy to face Andrew Luck and the Colts in a rematch from the December 22, loss in which the Colts won.
With the upcoming game, some of the players from the Chiefs organization spoke to the media about being in the playoffs and the confidence that the team has when it goes into Indianapolis this weekend.
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C RODNEY HUDSON
Q: What about the excitement going into Saturday?
"“We’re very excited. Very excited for the opportunity to be in this position and go out and win a playoff game. We’re looking forward it.”"
Q: What do you see from their defense?
"“You know, we played them two weeks ago. They’re a pretty good team. They play really good team defense and they’re pretty good. We have to prepare well and be ready to play.”"
T Branden Albert
Q: How difficult is it for a guy like Donald Stephenson to move back and forth on the line?
"“That’s very hard to do and you have to be a special person to do it. I think Donald (Stephenson) has done a good job showing his versatility and his understanding. (There are) different mechanics on both sides when you switch and he’s been doing a good job with the game plan and executing things for the last (few) weeks.”"
Q: As far as pass rushers in this league, where does Robert Mathis stack up right now? Is it his moves or his energy level?
"“Right now he’s number one. He leads the league in sacks. (It’s) the energy level. He plays run and pass and he plays with a lot of energy and with a lot of vigor. You know it’s one of those games that you’re going to be fighting all game.”"
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LB Justin Houston
Q: How tough has it been for you to watch the defense struggle this past month?
"“It’s very tough knowing if you were out there you could make a difference and just sitting back watching it on TV and not being with the team. It’s very tough. I feel like we’re a family so anytime you’re with your family you feel comfortable, you feel like you’re at home and you’re enjoying being with them. Not being with them as much as I wanted to was tough.”"
Q: What’s the biggest reason you’re optimistic you’re going to do well in the playoffs?
"“I think it’s everybody’s mindset. We want to win. Everybody knows it’s playoff time. Win or go home. Everybody’s mindset is we are not ready to go home. As long as we keep practicing the way we are practicing and everybody is putting in extra work in the film room, we are going to be alright.”"
LB Derrick Johnson
Q: Do you feel like you need to relearn the Colts and what they do to get a fresh approach?
"“Well yes exactly, everybody knows it’s harder to beat a team the second time, but at the same time we have to take that confidence back that they took when they came to Arrowhead. As a defense we know that we can play a lot better so we plan to do that.”"
Q: How does the defense change when all of your guys are healthy like Justin Houston and Tamba Hali?
"“Pro Bowl guys, Tamba (Hali) and Justin (Houston) both on the outside and big (Dontari) Poe in the middle are all elite players in this league and to have those guys working up front is wonderful. I sit back and make plays; it’s great.”"
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P Dustin Colquitt
Q: How did you guys react when you found out the next day that you should have had another chance at that kick?
"“It’s one of those things that if we would have caught it then, everybody would have been going crazy, but to tell you the truth we didn’t even think about it until the next day when it came out. We just kind of buried it. The good thing is we get to play; we got to survive another week. We play Indy, so that’s what we’ve been focused on. We’ve put that behind us really.”"
Q: Where is Ryan Succop’s confidence right now?
"“Good, he’s in good spirits just like everybody else. You have to have thick skin in this league to play there whether it be quarterback or kicker or anything in between. He’s doing good, hit all of his kicks yesterday just like he always does. That’s why they’re called streaks, you go on a tangent where one year he hits 29 in a row or 22 in a row, it happens sometimes.”"
S KENDRICK LEWIS
Q: How do you approach this game? How is the team’s confidence after losing to Indy last time?
"“Definitely a fresh start, one game at a time and back to our old ways. I would say our confidence level is back to how we started off, how we started the season. We’re just taking it one game at a time. That’s how we approach this week.”"
Q: What do you notice with Andrew Luck and what surprises you about some of the throws he makes to his wide receivers?
"“I just believe that he believes in his own and he tries to get the ball into the playmaker’s hands. He’s a guy that believes he can make every throw. He’s real confident and he’s a competitor. That’s how he approached the game and our job is to apply pressure on that guy and put him in tough situations where he’ll have to make critical decisions with the ball.”"
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WR Dwayne Bowe
Q: How anxious are you to get on the playoff stage?
"“I’m just ready to go. You know games like this, big time players and big time games. These are the games that I mostly show up in with everything on the line and great preparation all week. It’s win or go home.”"
Q: Talk about adjusting to being a blocker and setting up things for Jamaal Charles instead of you being the spotlight player.
"“You know everybody has their year when they’re that guy and I’m just proud to be a part of a team that we have a lot of guys that are playing a role that I had previously in my career. You know being an all-around receiver or being on both ends, blocking and receiving just to see those guys prosper, I feel good and I’m happy to be his teammate.”"
Sound Off Addicts, do you think the Chiefs can do accomplish something that has not been done for 20 years? Win in the playoffs? Speak your minds below and as always…
Go Chiefs!!