Alex Smith Out Vs. Chargers With Lacerated Spleen
The Kansas City Chiefs’ long odds of making the playoffs just got a lot longer.
QB Alex Smith will miss Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers with a lacerated spleen.
Ouch. That sounds painful.
From ESPN.com:
"Smith took a shot to his abdomen in last Sunday’s loss against the Steelers. He said he noticed discomfort after the game but didn’t think he had a serious injury. He practiced fully on Tuesday and Wednesday this week."
This sets up a kind of interesting scenario. Last year, the Chiefs had already clinched a playoff spot and played the San Diego Chargers in Week 17. Andy Reid decided to rest most of his starters and so backup QB Chase Daniel got the start. The Chargers needed to win the game to get into the playoffs. Daniel and the KC backups, playing on the road, gave the Chargers all they could handle and actually would have won the game had former Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop not missed a FG.
This time around the Chiefs have not clinched a playoff spot but the scenario for the Chargers is the same; win and their in.
For KC, the Chiefs need to beat the Chargers but also need the Cleveland Browns to beat the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Houston Texans. Strange things have happened before during the last week of the season but it s very unlikely the Browns and Jags will both come through.
That said, the Chiefs have nobody to blame but themselves for being in this predicament. They can’t beat the Broncos to save their lives and big wins against the Chargers, Patriots and Seahawks are useless when you can’t beat the Titans and Raiders.
Frankly, the Chiefs aren’t playing good enough football to do anything in the playoffs. This game gives them a chance to make Chase Daniel look good before an offseason in which the team will most likely need to jettison the veteran backup QB in order to create some salary cap space. If Daniel plays well again, the Chiefs may be able to trade him for some assets. Daniel will make $3.75 million next season if the Chiefs don’t move him. Sorry Chase, but that $3 million (and a lot more) is property of one Houston, Justin.
What do you think, Addicts? Can the Chiefs beat the Bolts with Daniel at QB?