Chiefs Nation is staring at Kansas City’s 7-4 record this morning and muttering into their Carlos Carson coffee mug. "Shouldn’t we be happier?” It’s true, the Chiefs stand three games over .500 as we enter December and are shoulder-deep in the playoff race. But, with a missed opportunity against the Bills, a pasting by the Bolts, a sickening comeback by the Eagles and a shellacking by the Broncos, no Chiefs fan is comfortable right now. This team has given Kansas City a holiday variety pack of letdowns this season. So forgive us if we’re just a little more optimistic that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will forgive and forget.
Nevertheless, the Chiefs truly do hold destiny in their hands. Win out in these final five games? You’re going to the playoffs. No team has ever gone 12-4 and missed the post season. While it’s mathematically possible the Jaguars and Steelers also run the table, win the tiebreakers and keep the Chiefs out of January, it ain’t happenin.’ So, how does the final five weeks of the season breakdown? Do the Chiefs have a reasonable shot at making the playoffs? If they get there, will they be one-and-done? Are we just biding time until the next defensive debacle? I, omnipotent DA, provide the answers.
The AFC playoffs include four division winners and two Wild Card entrants, so let’s divvy up the division titles first. No, the Chiefs won’t catch the Donkeys in the West. Even if Kansas City defeats Denver at home this weekend, it would still have to make up a game somewhere else (DEN is 9-2, two games up in the division) and then win the tiebreaker (division record, then conference record). The Broncs have the Ravens, Bills and Raiders left. Let's all admit it. Jacob Plummer is playing out of his mind and the Broncs are finding ways to win (witness Turkey Day OT in Dallas). Give Denver the division, as well as the Patriots the East, the Colts the South, the Bengals the North. Cincinnati leads Pittsburgh by a game and still has to travel to the Steel City next weekend. But even with a loss there (which I'm predicting), the Tiggers mop the floor with Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo their next three games.
That means, two Wild Card spots come down to the Chiefs, Steelers (7-4), Chargers (7-4) and Jaguars (8-3). The beauty is the Chiefs have the Chargers coming to Arrowhead. San Diego has been a force traveling to the east coast this season, beating Washington, New England, the Jets and taking the Eagles to the wire. They know how to win on the road. It’ll be a slugfest in Kansas City Christmas Eve. But it’ll be frigid and messy at One Arrowhead Drive, and right now the Chiefs are playing bad weather football, leaning on LJ’s physical running and a solid rush defense. I like the Chiefs in that game. The Bolts also have the Colts and Broncos left on the schedule. That gives the Chargers seven losses, not enough to make the playoffs, so I'm taking them out of the mix.
The Jags are in an enviable position. With only three losses and four non-playoff teams left on their schedule, things look rosy for Jack Del Rio to make his maiden voyage into the postseason. But, Byron Leftwich’s broken ankle (which will keep him out a month) makes this a little more interesting. David Garrard, as everyone has pointed out, is a solid backup. He’s physically imposing at 6-2, 250 with a cannon for an arm and thighs like a race horse. I covered a Syracuse-East Carolina game in 2000 and was struck by how large this guy is in person. The ex-Pirate looked like Hightower from "Police Academy." Oh, by the way, Garrard led ECU to a stirring upset victory that afternoon in a tropical storm which knocked over most of the Carolinas. Yep, the guy can win, but don’t automatically think he’s the same guy as Leftwich. The offense has struggled at times even with Lord Byron at the helm and will still have its ups and downs with a new quarterback. But with a schedule that includes CLE, SF, HOU and TENN I don't see the Jags losing more than two games. That would put them at 11-5 and nailing down one of the two WC spots.
So, it’s down to the Steelers and Chiefs. Dick Vermeil's squad is just a different bunch on the road. Would the Chiefs really lose to the Bills at Arrowhead? Isn’t that Chargers game different at home? I like the Chiefs in all three remaining home games. The Broncs, the Bolts and the Bengals will all fall at the feet of 78,000 screaming Red Coaters. But going to Dallas and the Meadowlands will be more road heartache for the Chiefs. That puts them at 10-6.
Pittsburgh isn't the same team as last year. Injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and all the running backs have hurt their offensive rhythm and losing Kendrell Bell has just destroyed that defense (ok, that was just to make Chiefs fans feel better about the signing and get on his good side for Thursday’s show). The Steelers will beat the Bengals this weekend, but lose to the stingy Bears and then slip up at the Metrodome to a surprisingly rejuvenated Vikings squad. After wins against CLE and DET to end the season, the Steelers will also be 10-6.
So, it comes down to tiebreakers for the Kansas City and Pittsburgh. There was no head-to-head meeting, so it’ll be decided by each team's record within the AFC. The Chiefs will be 9-3 at the end of the season against AFC foes, padded by the final two home wins against the Chargers and Bengals. The Steelers will be... drum roll, please... only 8-4. That fourth loss? Monday night’s kick in the happies by the Colts.
There it is. The Chiefs grab the AFC's final playoff berth and are rewarded with a trip to Cincinnati for a first round tilt. As for what happens there? The omnipotent DA says... wait until January.
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and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
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one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
Chiefs Nation is staring at Kansas City’s 7-4 record this morning and muttering into their Carlos Carson coffee mug. "Shouldn’t we be happier?” It’s true, the Chiefs stand three games over .500 as we enter December and are shoulder-deep in the playoff race. But, with a missed opportunity against the Bills, a pasting by the Bolts, a sickening comeback by the Eagles and a shellacking by the Broncos, no Chiefs fan is comfortable right now. This team has given Kansas City a holiday variety pack of letdowns this season. So forgive us if we’re just a little more optimistic that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will forgive and forget.
