If KC can get this playoff win monkey off its back, then and only then, will I be able to sit back and enjoy the ride. The AFC looks to be WIDE open this year and if KC can just get that one elusive win who knows what could happen from there. They just have to get that first win. I mean, how hard can that be right?
Well the 2013 team under Andy Reid couldn’t get it done in Indianapolis. The 2010 team under Todd Haley couldn’t get the job done at home against the Ravens. The 2006 team under Herm Edwards couldn’t beat the Colts and then there were the THREE different 13-3 teams (1995, 1997, 2003) that couldn’t get that one elusive win either. If you’ve been a die hard fan of the team for the past 20 years you know just how soul crushing the playoffs have been. Whether its the no punt loss to the Peyton Manning lead Colts in the Vermeil era or the epic second half collapse just two years ago its been excruciating. The Chiefs may not get the national attention of teams like the Chicago Cubs or Cleveland Browns, but we true fans know how painful its been.
It’s time for all of that to end. This Chiefs team can and should end this drought. The Texans are ripe for the picking. Now, that’s not to say that this Texans team is a push over. The Texans have also played well down the stretch winning seven of their final nine games after a 2-5 start. They are also one of only a few teams in the NFL with defensive numbers on par with Kansas City. They have an absolute super star player on both sides of the ball with JJ Watt on defense and DeAndre Hopkins on offense. The Chiefs will only win this game if they play well, but if they do play well there are a few reasons to believe that Kansas City should finally come away with a playoff win.
The first is the quarterback matchup. Yes, Alex Smith has his detractors and admittedly threw a pair of bad looking interceptions on Sunday against the Raiders. However, he still has much more of a proven track record than the Texans’ starter Brian Hoyer. Hoyer has never started a playoff game before and his numbers this season aren’t the kind that should strike fear in the hearts of KC fans. While Smith isn’t known for lighting up the stat book, his numbers are still better than Hoyer’s.
Brian Hoyer: 60.7% completions, 7.1 YPA, 19 TDs, 7 INTs, 44 rushing yards
Alex Smith: 65.3% completions, 7.4 YPA, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 498 rushing yards (and 2 TDs)
So basically, Alex Smith is a more accurate and much more mobile version of Brian Hoyer. When you add Smith’s playoff experience the advantage at quarterback in this matchup favors Kansas City. In case some of you are doubting Smith’s playoff resumé, here are his numbers in his three playoff starts:
58.9%, 7.7 YPA, 291 yards per game, 9 TDs, 0 INTs, 41.7 yards rushing per game
You’d like to see a little higher completion percentage but overall those are numbers you can win with, especially with a solid defensive performance.
Next: Get them on the ground