The experts have weighed in and there’s no real consensus on what will happen when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Seattle Seahawks.
Well, hopefully the Kansas City Chiefs have got all the Chief-iness out of their system.
After a signature K.C. meltdown that allowed an inexplicable Los Angeles Chargers comeback, the Chiefs have the tall task of going into Seattle on Sunday night to face the Seahawks and their second-to-Arrowhead high decibel crowd.
Eric Berry should play more this week, which will be huge for the Chiefs. It seemed last Thursday the only time the secondary was in position was when Berry was doing all but physically moving them where they were supposed to be. He could stay in every snap without making an impact play and still be the difference in the defense’s performance—simply by being able to hold everyone’s hand and guide them through their assignments. That’s not something that’s in his job description, though at this rate he may be the most impactful defensive coach the Chiefs have.
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As for the Seahawks, they’re coming off an overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers that surely has them desperate to show was a fluke. As cliche as it is, the idea that a good team coming off a bad loss is extra dangerous is apt here. Although the Chiefs are also coming off a bad loss, albeit to a team that now also 11-3, so perhaps this is a wash.
While no longer the all-time terrifying squad of a few years ago, the Seahawks defense is still one of the better units in the league, and offensively they’ve finally gotten back to the run-focus they found so much success with. The way the Ravens were able to drag the Chiefs into overtime dialing up run after run should more or less lay the blueprint for what Seattle will do Sunday night.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the experts are fairly split this week. Seattle’s home field advantage is no doubt playing a big role in many predicting an upset.
ESPN is almost fully in the Chiefs’ camp this week, with only Matt Bowen picking Seattle.
CBS is the near opposite, with only Jared Dubin and Ryan Wilson taking K.C. Though as of this writing Jason La Canfora’s pick hasn’t been posted.
FiveThirtyEight’s model gives the Chiefs a slight edge, with a 54% win probability. On the season their Super Bowl win probability has dropped a point to 17%, though that is now good for second in the NFL, with the Saints jumping to a 32% probability.
The Chiefs have backed themselves into a bit of a corner. They could have made home field advantage throughout the playoffs a near guarantee last week, and instead allowed the Chargers back in the division hunt and put K.C. in the rare position of having to drop all the way to the 5 seed if they can’t secure the top seed.
Sunday night should be a close, potentially high scoring game. On the surface, the Chiefs should win despite their deficiencies on defense and the hostile Seattle crowd. Then again, on the surface, they shouldn’t have given up 15 points with less than four minutes left last week. So it goes when you’re a Chiefs fan.