(2006 9-7 >AFC Wild Card Birth - lost to Colts<)

Chiefs 2007 Offensive Rank:  28^th --- Bears 30^th

(2006-KC <16^th> Bears <15^th>)

Chiefs 2007 Defensive Rank: 20^th --- Bears 11^th

(2006-KC <16^th> Bears <6^th>)

Chiefs Points For/Against: 3/20 --- Bears 3/14

All Time Series:

Since their first meeting on Monday Night Football back in 1973, the Bears lead the all-time series 5 games to 4.

Last Meeting:

The Chiefs pounded the Bears 31-3 in K.C. on the last day of the 2003 season.  The all-out ass kicking dropped the Bears final record to 7-9 that season and was the last game for Dick Jauron at the helm in Chicago. 

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The Skinny…

As much as the Chicago Bears did not play like the defending NFC Champions in their opener last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs did not play like a team one season removed from a playoff appearance in the ultra-competitive AFC in week 1 in Houston. 

The Chiefs looked out of sync in getting smoked 20-3 by the Texans.  Larry Johnson was held to just 42 yards rushing and QB Damon Huard threw a couple of picks and got beaten up by Mario Williams and his mean Texas friends.  In their season opener against a franchise that has never won more than 7 games in a season, the Chiefs lost the turnover battle, managed just 219 yards of total offense, couldn’t run the football, and had trouble stopping an offense testing out newcomers at running back and QB.  It’s safe to say that Chiefs Head Coach Herm Edwards envisioned his second season in K.C. to start differently.        

Much like our Bears, the most frightening aspect of the Chiefs week one performance was their inability to run the football.  With the exception of the freakish (yet aging) skills of TE Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs are not a passing team.  They live and die with Larry Johnson running the football… and when he piles up 42 yards, they die.

The Chiefs parted ways with veteran QB Trent Green in the off-season (not to mention G Will Shields and WR Dante Hall) and they certainly weren’t firing on all cylinders under the direction of Damon Huard in week 1.  There is no doubt that this team is going to come into Soldier Field and try to establish the run on Sunday, and the Bears are going to be trying to do the same thing.  The Chiefs defense is an average group, but they become very vulnerable when their running game can’t buy them a little time on the sidelines.  Against the Bears vaunted D, Larry Johnson should have to fight for every inch.        

Your standing in the world of the NFL can change in the blink of an eye, and you can bet the house that both of these teams will be fighting hard to avoid falling to 0-2.  The team that fails to win this game will be facing a pretty steep uphill climb in their attempt to return to the post season.  With both teams fighting for their first win while simultaneously trying to establish their rushing attacks, there should be more than a few ferocious collisions come Sunday afternoon in what should be a slugfest of a football game.

The Kansas City Chiefs are a wounded, dangerous beast and the Chicago Bears better be ready for a fight.

For a look at the Chiefs depth chart, click here.

For a look at the Chiefs schedule and stats, click here.

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Key Injuries…

We all know about the injuries suffered on the Bears defense to Mike Brown and Dusty Dvoracek, but the Chiefs also were dealt a stiff blow to their depth chart in week 1.  The Chiefs lost WR Eddie Kennison to a hamstring injury on their first play from scrimmage and it is serious enough to keep Kennison on the bench for a couple of weeks.  Taking his place in the Chiefs receiving core is Bobby Sippio, star receiver for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League.  Though many Chicagoans will be looking forward to seeing Sippio on the field, rookie Dwayne Bowe (LSU) is the bigger threat to spoiling the Bears home opener.

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The Prediction…

I have the feeling that things are going to get worse in KC before they get better.  Damon Huard is a decent player, but not a game changer, and I see a QB controversy in the making with young Brodie Croyle waiting in the wings.  Unless Larry Johnson goes absolutely bananas, the Chiefs are a very average team. 

I think that the Bears D should be able to contain LJ.  If you can shutdown LT… you should be able to hold just about anyone in check.  Much like playing the Chargers, if you shutdown the tight end and running back when playing the Chiefs, you’ve got a pretty good chance of winning the football game.  Playing against an average D in front of the comfort of the home fans, the Bears offense should start pointing the ship in the right direction and help pull their weight towards a victory.

Bears 23 – Chiefs 9