Will anybody pick the 2-6 Cardinals?
Last week, we saw the Arrowhead Pride contributors go 10-2 with their picks. Two of the contributors picks the Browns to win last week — looks like it may take some time for all Chiefs fans to get over the scars of the past. I know I’m still recovering myself.
Let’s see what FanPulse has to say about the Chiefs this week:
FanPulse is a survey of fans across the NFL powered by SurveyMonkey. Each week, we send 32 polls to 100-plus plugged-in fans from each team.
Arrowhead Pride FanPulse predicts the Chiefs to win by 17
Revenge of the Birds FanPulse predicts the Chiefs to win by 11
You can sign up for AP FanPulse here to take the weekly survey.
Now let’s get on to the predictions:
Shawn Barber, Chiefs 30-20
My Week 10 Prediction is just an ”orange justice” tribute to the Fortnite & NFL partnership beginning tomorrow with the release of uniform skins.
Keys to Victory “Royale”
1. Josh Rosen should be a “Bush Camper” while in pass protection, meaning the Cardinals’ O-line might provide a little camouflage but no real protection from the Chiefs’ D-line.
2. Any Cardinals wide receivers should be immediately “knock(ed)” if they dare to complete any passes longer than five yards.
3. Be alert for Kareem Hunt “launch(ing)” himself into the end zone.
4. Yes, All the Chiefs players are ready to share “mats.” We have more than enough material to keep building more room for fans to get on the wagon.
5. As a team, the Cardinals are definitely “one-shot.” Make sure the Chiefs start fast and don’t give them any hope of victory.
6. We know the Cardinals are a team full of “storm troopers.” Once the game kicks off, there will be where for their defenders to hide.
7. When Chris Jones asks, “Do we have any Heals?” by signaling the Kingdom to make some noise. The Sea of Red response is the best way to ensure a “Victory Royale.”
Aaron Borgmann, Chiefs 38-10
The Cards are coming to town. Clearly, a rebuilding team trying to find its own identity. While David Johnson is a talented running back, they just don’t have the horses to compete with the Chiefs. This is essentially a warmup game for the big showdown—kind of like the midday meal you eat before Thanksgiving. A real stretch it out and get ready kind of game. I’ve been saying it for weeks, but it’s gotta happen sooner or later right?
Look for some backups in the fourth as this will be out of hand.
John Dixon, Chiefs 33-20
The Cardinals have a decent defense, but the Chiefs offense has already rolled over a bushel basket full of those. The Cardinals have a new offensive coordinator in Byron Leftwich, who managed to get his team’s offensive output above 300 yards for the first time all season two weeks ago in a victory against the 49ers. It’s fair to wonder that with a bye week, Leftwich can do some things to clean up the mess left by former OC Mike McCoy -- and maybe cook up a solid plan to beat Bob Sutton’s defense -- but it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs losing a game like this at home. There’s enough uncertainty about Leftwich that the Cardinals might make it closer than we’d expect against a 2-6 opponent, but the Chiefs should handle this one easily.
Matt Lane, Chiefs 35-17
This is the more “trap” like trap game for the Chiefs, given the extra attention to the Browns with the coaching carousel and the looming Mexico City Showdown with the Rams. The Chiefs very well may not come out with a ton of juice early for a game against an inferior opponent playing Arrowhead but the remaining questions is, does that matter?
When Arizona has the ball their offensive line play has been absolutely horrendous this year, if there was ever a get-right game for the Chiefs run defense this is it. The Cardinals will mostly, unless Byron Leftwhich is coming up with new stuff post-Bye, continue smashing David Johnson into the A and B gaps in which their OL generates no movement. In the passing game their interior OL is just as porous as their offensive tackles constantly allowing a ton of pressure to young Josh Rosen. Rosen has made some beautiful throws this year but really struggles when pressured and moved off his spot which is something Ford, Jones, and the rest of the front should be able to do. The WR group for the Cardinals has also been subpar struggling to separate and haul in basses all year.
When the Chiefs have the ball, it’s pretty simple that you need to stop Chandler Jones and you can have your way with the Cardinals defense. Their linebackers, in particular, have been a real issue easily drawn out of place and flowing before they need to be. Combine that with a lot of spot-zone coverage and it should be a situation that Mahomes can continue his dominance vs zone. The Cardinals have athletes to get sideline to sideline vs the run BUT they aren’t good at quickly flowing outside and instead look to shoot gaps, especially vs a zone blocking scheme. This could lead to large chunk runs for Hunt outside the tackles, again.
I don’t forsee the Chiefs coming out with 110 percent effort in this game, but it really won’t matter as at some point pure talent takes over. A relatively ho-hum performance that showcases the Chiefs as a better team but the Cardinals are able to make a few schematic changes that surprise the not completely focused Chiefs.
Gary McKenzie, Chiefs 35-10
This is a week where the Chiefs defense can work to improve. Justin Houston should return and the Chiefs defense will be facing one of the worst offenses in the NFL. It is a wasted opportunity for the Chiefs defense if they do not sack, intercept, and just generally give this weak Cardinals offense a horrible time on Sunday.
Matt Stagner, Chiefs 52-28
This is uncharted territory for the Chiefs. 1) they are favored by more than 2 TDs. 2) they finally have the franchise QB that makes a letdown less likely. It’s clearly the type of trap game that would be a problem for previous Chiefs teams. It feels like the KC defense is improving, so they certainly have the opportunity to dominate with pass rush against the Cards. The league’s best offense and special teams will continue to be the story, though. Watch for Tyreek Hill to have another big week, it’s his turn.
Craig Stout, Chiefs 38-10
The Cardinals have more holes than they do players to this point. They’re not particularly good in the trenches, they’re still trying to find an identity on offense, and their defense got 45 points hung on them by Denver *at home.* This game will be over at the half, and we’ll be watching Chad Henne and Spencer Ware move the ball on the ground in the third quarter.
Kent Swanson, Chiefs 28-14
The Chiefs are going to win and Patrick Mahomes is going to break Len Dawson’s single-season TD pass record in week 10. Amazing. I don’t expect the Chiefs to cover. This will be a game where the Chiefs get up and just try and get out of it. The energy probably won’t be sustained for four quarters.
Pete Sweeney, Chiefs 35-21
There will be a couple games down the final stretch of the season in which the matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs equates to the Super Bowl for the other team—this one against the Cardinals is the first. I think the Cardinals challenge the Chiefs in their passing game, but they are not simply enough for all the things Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Kareem Hunt are capable of. The Chiefs’ defense plays much better against a weak opponent, giving a dose of false hope ahead of the game on everybody’s mind—the Rams in Mexico City. A late, trash-time touchdown by the Cardinals provides the dreaded backdoor cover for you betting folks.
Joel Thorman, Chiefs 44-17
Let’s not spend too much time on this one. It’s a 17-point line which isn’t enough.
Aly Trost, Chiefs 48-13
Well, *cough, cough* after getting RIPPED apart by Chiefs fans far and wide for predicting the Browns would upset the Chiefs, I am BACK to my optimistic ways. Chiefs win 48-13. Josh Rosen doesn’t stand a chance. The 2-6 Cardinals couldn’t upset the Chiefs if they try. Chiefs victory. At home. 48-13. Sunday. Drop mic.
Dane Van Why, Chiefs 38-13
This game is simply a stepping stone for next Monday night against the Rams. I don’t necessarily care about this game, and I don’t think the fan base does either. But don’t get me wrong, this, and the rest of the games down the final stretch of the season, do matter. If the Chiefs decide to sit this one out and let a lackluster Cardinals team beat them at home, it WILL come back to bite them come January. But I’m not expecting that to happen.
Each contributor picked the Chiefs to win this week, which means the staff rankings shouldn’t see any movement next week. However, this week, Pete and Craig were able to get themselves out of the basement. The current rankings are as such:
I’m looking forward to next week against the Rams, where the Chiefs’ picks will be much more difficult. Maybe we’ll see a little movement then!
from Arrowhead Pride - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Pj2coO
No comments:
Post a Comment