Indianapolis Colts look to spoil Kansas City Chiefs' perfect record
Pundits around the NFL are rubbing their eyes when they look at the current standings and see the Indianapolis Colts, who as recently as last season were on the verge of a perfect season before they decided to rest their starters for the play-offs, currently
with a 2-2 record. Meanwhile the Kansas City Chiefs, who won only four games last season stand at 3-0 – the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFL. The Colts will certainly be looking to test that perfect record when they play host to the Chiefs at Lucas
Oil Stadium this Sunday.
How they match up
You don't mess with Peyton Manning. The Colts quarterback has the numbers and the credentials to ensure that his team will be tough to beat every game. After four games this season, Manning is the NFL's highest rated passer and second in the NFL in passing
yards and completion percentage, and first in touchdown passes with 11. Though they boast a seemingly unstoppable offence, the Colts have been unable to stop anybody on the other side of the ball, and rank in the bottom half of the NFL in most defensive categories.
They lost their premier defensive back Bob Sanders in their opening game of the season and then lost his replacement Melvin Bullitt last week. The Colts are embarrassingly thin on defence and will rely heavily on their pass rushing duo of Dwight Freeney and
Robert Mathis. The gateway to the Colts success has always been, and will continue to be, their offence, and they will have to have a big game on Sunday if they hope to win.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the biggest surprises of the first quarter of the season. They managed a huge upset against the San Diego Chargers in week one, and followed it up with wins against decidely weaker opposition in the Cleveland Browns and
the San Francisco 49ers. Although he hasn't put up Pro Bowl numbers, quarterback Matt Cassel has done a good job of leading the offence, and the one-two punch of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles at running back has been unstoppable so far this season. The Chiefs
have also been solid on defence led by linebacker Tamba Hali who has 3.5 sacks and cornerback Brandon Flowers who has two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, so far this season.
What to expect
Judging by each team's record you'd be wise to expect the unexpected. The Chiefs, despite their perfect record, come into the game as underdogs, which is what happens when you come up against a team like Indianapolis who have the reputation for winning every
time they take the field. It's sometimes undervalued in sports, as well, the idea of confidence, and the Chiefs should have it in spades after not only having an extra week to prepare, but also having just watched Jacksonville upset the Colts last week. If
the Chiefs can run the football, which they should be expected to do, then the Colts will have no chance. No matter how good Peyton Manning is, it will be hard for him to lead his team to victory if his offence can barely get on the field. Kansas City will
defy all the odds by going another week undefeated and winning 30-28.
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