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MONDAY FREE PLAY
9.05pm ET
New England (8-1) at Kansas City (3-6)
Recommended Play: Kansas City +3.5 -120
Preview courtesy of The Sports Network:
The electric atmosphere of Arrowhead Stadium will be the site of a potentially thrilling Monday night tilt between the Kansas City Chiefs and the visiting New England Patriots.
The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots will try to continue rolling toward the postseason following a 29-6 rout of Buffalo last Sunday. The win, coupled with a loss for the New York Jets, gave Bill Belichick's club a cavernous two- game lead in the AFC East. A victory for the Pats this week would be their first in eight trips to the nation's barbecue capital.
Kansas City will take to the field on Monday night with little margin for error, after the defending AFC West champs dropped a 27-20 decision in New Orleans last Sunday. The Chiefs, who went 13-3 last season, entered Week 11 three games behind co-division leaders Denver and San Diego.
SERIES HISTORY Kansas City holds a 15-10-3 lead in its all-time series with New England, and is unbeaten in its last seven home meetings with the Patriots dating back to the 1965 season. The Chiefs, who are 6-0-1 at home against New England during that stretch, sustained their only home loss to the Patriots during the 1964 campaign. The Pats have won the two most recent head-to-head matchups, however, downing Kansas City in Foxboro during the 2000 and 2002 seasons. New England scored a memorable 41-38 overtime victory in the latter contest. The home team has won the last six games in the series.
Belichick is 4-1 in his career against the Chiefs, including 2-0 while with the Patriots, but lost in his only trip to Arrowhead, while with the Cleveland Browns in 1994. Vermeil is 2-3 against New England all-time, including one win each while with the Eagles and Rams, and is 0-1 head-to-head against Belichick.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. CHIEFS DEFENSE Running back Corey Dillon (900 yards, 4 TD on the year) was the Patriots' most significant offensive force in last week's win, bolting for 151 yards on 26 carries in the blowout of Buffalo. Dillon now has five 100-yard games on the season. Also given a chance to carry the ball was backup Kevin Faulk (117 yards on the year), who provided a reliable change-of-pace with 13 carries for 61 yards. The once pass-happy Patriots have steadily moved up the NFL's rushing chart, and now rank 12th in the league in rushing offense (124.3 yards per game).
Kansas City's inconsistent run defense was back to its porous ways last Sunday, allowing New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister to bolt for 127 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries. This week, the unit will try to turn it around by handling Dillon, but complicating that effort is the possible absence of linebacker Monty Beisel (36 tackles) due to a calf injury. Fellow LBs Scott Fujita (47 tackles, 4 sacks) and Kawika Mitchell (23 tackles) will have to pick up the slack if Beisel is unavailable. The club will also need help from a defensive line that has had few noteworthy run-stuffing moments in '04. Defensive tackle John Browning (22 tackles) leads the line with 22 stops, including two recorded last week against the Saints.
New England quarterback Tom Brady (2127 passing yards, 17 TD, 8 INT on the year) was effective as usual last Sunday, completing 19 of 35 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win over the Bills. Brady hooked up most often with David Givens (42 receptions, 3 TD on the year), who caught five passes for 66 yards, and David Patten (29 receptions, 5 TD), who had three grabs for 43 yards and a score. Brady scattered the football to 10 different targets last Sunday, and could get a boost if Deion Branch (knee), who has not played since Week 2, can return. Branch is listed as questionable for Monday night. The New England line allowed two sacks last week, and has now given up a total of 17 in 2004.
The Chiefs' secondary didn't have its worst day of 2004 against New Orleans last week, but it did allow former Kansas City backup receiver Joe Horn (5 receptions, 167 yards, 1 TD) to have a huge game. Safety Greg Wesley (41 tackles), who tallied his third pick of the season versus the Saints, will have to lend assistance to the team's sometimes-shaky corner tandem of Eric Warfield (35 tackles, 4 INT) and William Bartee (21 tackles). Kansas City sacked Aaron Brooks four times in last week's loss, with Fujita coming up with two of those from his linebacker spot. Fujita and end Jared Allen are now tied for the team lead with four sacks apiece. Vermeil's crew enters this week ranked 26th in NFL passing defense (235.9 yards per game).
CHIEFS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE The NFL's No. 1 rushing offense (164.2 yards per game) will once again be without All-Pro runner Priest Holmes (892 yards, 14 TD on the year), who will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. The Chiefs didn't miss a beat without Holmes last Sunday, as backup Derrick Blaylock (336 yards, 5 TD on the year) filled in with 186 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.
Backup and former first-round draft pick Larry Johnson (11 carries, 40 yards on the year) did not play last week, and fullback Tony Richardson (10 carries, 48 yards in 2004) was the only back other than Blaylock to garner a carry.
New England comes off a week in which it shut down Buffalo's Willis McGahee, holding the back to just 37 yards on 14 carries. Linebackers Mike Vrabel (46 tackles, 3 sacks) and Tedy Bruschi (60 tackles) each had six stops in the win, and Ty Warren (27 tackles) chipped in with five tackles from his defensive end slot. Bruschi left the Bills contest after having his leg bent back in an unsightly fashion after making a tackle, but is not listed on this week's injury report. New England is 13th in NFL rushing defense (111.3 yards per game).
Kansas City quarterback Trent Green (2463 passing yards, 13 TD, 8 INT on the year) put up his fourth 300-yard passing day in five games last Sunday, but threw two interceptions and lost a costly fumble in the defeat. Green (22-33 passing, 311 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT against New Orleans) will look to be more precise while attempting to locate receivers Eddie Kennison (31 receptions, 1 TD) and Johnnie Morton (43 receptions, 2 TD) along with tight end Tony Gonzales (49 receptions, 5 TD). Kennison had seven catches for 121 yards and a score against the Saints, while Gonzales contributed six catches for 51 yards.
A quality Kansas City line allowed a pair of sacks last Sunday, the 18th and 19th times Green has been dropped this season. The Chiefs rank fifth in NFL passing offense (257.9 yards per game) entering Monday's game.
The Patriots' biggest defensive question marks still reside in the secondary, where cornerbacks Ty Law (foot) and Tyrone Poole (knee) are both expected to be out of the lineup this Sunday. Randall Gay (15 tackles, 1 INT) and Earthwind Moreland (6 tackles) were the starting corners last week, as Asante Samuel (19 tackles) did not play for unspecified reasons. Wideout Troy Brown has been helping out in dime situations, and last week notched the first interception of his 12-year pro career. Safeties Rodney Harrison (84 tackles, 3 sacks) and Eugene Wilson (51 tackles, 3 INT) will have to remain sharp against Green and his litany of receivers. The pass rush has managed 26 sacks this season, including three recorded against the Bills last Sunday. Outside linebacker Willie McGinest (24 tackles) added one sack to his team-leading total of 5.5 in the contest.
Good luck
Mike Thomas
www.ChampionPlays.com
9.05pm ET
New England (8-1) at Kansas City (3-6)
Recommended Play: Kansas City +3.5 -120
Preview courtesy of The Sports Network:
The electric atmosphere of Arrowhead Stadium will be the site of a potentially thrilling Monday night tilt between the Kansas City Chiefs and the visiting New England Patriots.
The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots will try to continue rolling toward the postseason following a 29-6 rout of Buffalo last Sunday. The win, coupled with a loss for the New York Jets, gave Bill Belichick's club a cavernous two- game lead in the AFC East. A victory for the Pats this week would be their first in eight trips to the nation's barbecue capital.
Kansas City will take to the field on Monday night with little margin for error, after the defending AFC West champs dropped a 27-20 decision in New Orleans last Sunday. The Chiefs, who went 13-3 last season, entered Week 11 three games behind co-division leaders Denver and San Diego.
SERIES HISTORY Kansas City holds a 15-10-3 lead in its all-time series with New England, and is unbeaten in its last seven home meetings with the Patriots dating back to the 1965 season. The Chiefs, who are 6-0-1 at home against New England during that stretch, sustained their only home loss to the Patriots during the 1964 campaign. The Pats have won the two most recent head-to-head matchups, however, downing Kansas City in Foxboro during the 2000 and 2002 seasons. New England scored a memorable 41-38 overtime victory in the latter contest. The home team has won the last six games in the series.
Belichick is 4-1 in his career against the Chiefs, including 2-0 while with the Patriots, but lost in his only trip to Arrowhead, while with the Cleveland Browns in 1994. Vermeil is 2-3 against New England all-time, including one win each while with the Eagles and Rams, and is 0-1 head-to-head against Belichick.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. CHIEFS DEFENSE Running back Corey Dillon (900 yards, 4 TD on the year) was the Patriots' most significant offensive force in last week's win, bolting for 151 yards on 26 carries in the blowout of Buffalo. Dillon now has five 100-yard games on the season. Also given a chance to carry the ball was backup Kevin Faulk (117 yards on the year), who provided a reliable change-of-pace with 13 carries for 61 yards. The once pass-happy Patriots have steadily moved up the NFL's rushing chart, and now rank 12th in the league in rushing offense (124.3 yards per game).
Kansas City's inconsistent run defense was back to its porous ways last Sunday, allowing New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister to bolt for 127 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries. This week, the unit will try to turn it around by handling Dillon, but complicating that effort is the possible absence of linebacker Monty Beisel (36 tackles) due to a calf injury. Fellow LBs Scott Fujita (47 tackles, 4 sacks) and Kawika Mitchell (23 tackles) will have to pick up the slack if Beisel is unavailable. The club will also need help from a defensive line that has had few noteworthy run-stuffing moments in '04. Defensive tackle John Browning (22 tackles) leads the line with 22 stops, including two recorded last week against the Saints.
New England quarterback Tom Brady (2127 passing yards, 17 TD, 8 INT on the year) was effective as usual last Sunday, completing 19 of 35 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win over the Bills. Brady hooked up most often with David Givens (42 receptions, 3 TD on the year), who caught five passes for 66 yards, and David Patten (29 receptions, 5 TD), who had three grabs for 43 yards and a score. Brady scattered the football to 10 different targets last Sunday, and could get a boost if Deion Branch (knee), who has not played since Week 2, can return. Branch is listed as questionable for Monday night. The New England line allowed two sacks last week, and has now given up a total of 17 in 2004.
The Chiefs' secondary didn't have its worst day of 2004 against New Orleans last week, but it did allow former Kansas City backup receiver Joe Horn (5 receptions, 167 yards, 1 TD) to have a huge game. Safety Greg Wesley (41 tackles), who tallied his third pick of the season versus the Saints, will have to lend assistance to the team's sometimes-shaky corner tandem of Eric Warfield (35 tackles, 4 INT) and William Bartee (21 tackles). Kansas City sacked Aaron Brooks four times in last week's loss, with Fujita coming up with two of those from his linebacker spot. Fujita and end Jared Allen are now tied for the team lead with four sacks apiece. Vermeil's crew enters this week ranked 26th in NFL passing defense (235.9 yards per game).
CHIEFS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE The NFL's No. 1 rushing offense (164.2 yards per game) will once again be without All-Pro runner Priest Holmes (892 yards, 14 TD on the year), who will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. The Chiefs didn't miss a beat without Holmes last Sunday, as backup Derrick Blaylock (336 yards, 5 TD on the year) filled in with 186 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.
Backup and former first-round draft pick Larry Johnson (11 carries, 40 yards on the year) did not play last week, and fullback Tony Richardson (10 carries, 48 yards in 2004) was the only back other than Blaylock to garner a carry.
New England comes off a week in which it shut down Buffalo's Willis McGahee, holding the back to just 37 yards on 14 carries. Linebackers Mike Vrabel (46 tackles, 3 sacks) and Tedy Bruschi (60 tackles) each had six stops in the win, and Ty Warren (27 tackles) chipped in with five tackles from his defensive end slot. Bruschi left the Bills contest after having his leg bent back in an unsightly fashion after making a tackle, but is not listed on this week's injury report. New England is 13th in NFL rushing defense (111.3 yards per game).
Kansas City quarterback Trent Green (2463 passing yards, 13 TD, 8 INT on the year) put up his fourth 300-yard passing day in five games last Sunday, but threw two interceptions and lost a costly fumble in the defeat. Green (22-33 passing, 311 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT against New Orleans) will look to be more precise while attempting to locate receivers Eddie Kennison (31 receptions, 1 TD) and Johnnie Morton (43 receptions, 2 TD) along with tight end Tony Gonzales (49 receptions, 5 TD). Kennison had seven catches for 121 yards and a score against the Saints, while Gonzales contributed six catches for 51 yards.
A quality Kansas City line allowed a pair of sacks last Sunday, the 18th and 19th times Green has been dropped this season. The Chiefs rank fifth in NFL passing offense (257.9 yards per game) entering Monday's game.
The Patriots' biggest defensive question marks still reside in the secondary, where cornerbacks Ty Law (foot) and Tyrone Poole (knee) are both expected to be out of the lineup this Sunday. Randall Gay (15 tackles, 1 INT) and Earthwind Moreland (6 tackles) were the starting corners last week, as Asante Samuel (19 tackles) did not play for unspecified reasons. Wideout Troy Brown has been helping out in dime situations, and last week notched the first interception of his 12-year pro career. Safeties Rodney Harrison (84 tackles, 3 sacks) and Eugene Wilson (51 tackles, 3 INT) will have to remain sharp against Green and his litany of receivers. The pass rush has managed 26 sacks this season, including three recorded against the Bills last Sunday. Outside linebacker Willie McGinest (24 tackles) added one sack to his team-leading total of 5.5 in the contest.
Good luck
Mike Thomas
www.ChampionPlays.com