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Sunday was a good day for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs beat the Cardinals of Arizona, and everyone was waiting for it. The help they received from Titans of Tennessee was not expected.
The Titans dominated the New England Patriots. It's the Patriots' third loss, and it's about as big in Kansas City as it is in Massachusetts. With that, the Chiefs are two games behind the Patriots, the team that represented the biggest threat to beat the Chiefs and get the AFC's No. 1 advantage and field advantage in the playoffs. New England has the tiebreaker because of a win face to face. It might not matter anymore.
The Patriots and Southern Texans of the AFC each have three defeats. The Pittsburgh Steelers, leaders of AFC North, have two losses and one tie. The biggest threat to the No. 1 seed 9-1 leaders is the Los Angeles Chargers, who are 7-2 and keep the pressure on Kansas City in the west. from the AFC. But the leaders have already beaten the Chargers on the road. Realistically, the Chargers will have to win at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13th, Thursday night. The Chargers lost to Kansas City last season.
It's probably at this point that the Chiefs' fans are getting upset, as their playoff history is marked by memorable disappointments after a good, regular season. They have not won a home playoff game since 1993. And at least we need to wonder if Arrowhead Stadium in January is the perfect place for the Chiefs team this year.
Arrowhead is a considerable advantage on the field, perhaps the best atmosphere in the NFL. But we all know the DNA of this team of leaders: score, score and score even more. They are third in the NFL in yards and 29 in yards allowed. And in the playoffs, scoring becomes more difficult. Defenses generally become more important. Especially on the outside in Kansas City.
Since 1971, the Chiefs have played eight home playoff games. They averaged 16.1 points in these games, and most of them were played in bad weather. Their best match, a famous shootout against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at the end of the 2003 season, was also held during the hottest day. They scored 31 points, but they lost on a sunny day to 51 degrees. Each home playoff game was less than 36 degrees at kickoff. At the end of the 1995 season, a team of 13-3 leaders had been upset by the Colts in a wind chill minus 15 degrees. At the end of the 1997 season, another 13-3 Chiefs team was beaten 14-10 by the Denver Broncos in a cold (20-degree wind chill) and physical game. The Chiefs have lost six home playoff games. Even though Marty Schottenheimer and Elvis Grbac lived two decades ago has a lot to do with the present, it's a reminder that seed number 1 could be a blessing and a curse for the Chiefs.
Maybe this offense is different. Patrick Mahomes has the type of arm that can cross the wind at Arrowhead, better than anyone else beside the leaders. Tyreek Hill will always be faster than anyone, no matter the weather or the conditions on the ground. Kareem Hunt is effective if the conditions require it. It's just that, as the Chiefs head for No. 1 seed, you will hear a lot of speculation that their incredible offense will get the same success in the cold of January. It's a good question. The highest ranked offenses are not always at their best in arctic conditions.
For now, chefs can continue to bask in the light of a truly fun and wonderful season. They may have the best and most exciting team in the NFL. When they arrive in the playoffs, whether it is bad weather or not, they are likely to be the favorites to win the AFC. But as Chiefs fans can tell you, that would not guarantee anything.
There was a lot to digest in Mark Davis' long interview with ESPN, but an important conclusion: it seems that Davis is still completely behind Derek Carr. He seems to believe that the cast around Carr did not help the quarterback, and that's right. Now the biggest question: Does Jon Gruden have the same feeling?
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At least the Cardinals have found a way to get David Johnson out. It should not have been so long.
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<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "A report from Rich Cimini of ESPN on Monday One of the reasons that Todd Bowles will not be fired during the season is that there is no obvious candidate to assume the acting role. First of all, it's embarrassing to see that the Jets have no staff members who can take on this role for the rest of the season. Secondly … what? It seems unfair for everyone to keep Bowles for the rest of the season simply because you do not want to give the essentials to any staff member for six weeks now meaningless. "Data-reactid =" 46 "> A report of Rich Cimini of ESPN on Monday One of the reasons that Todd Bowles will not be fired during the season is that there is no obvious candidate to assume the acting role. First of all, it's embarrassing to see that the Jets have no staff members who can take on this role for the rest of the season. Secondly … what? It seems unfair for everyone to keep Bowles for the rest of the season just because you do not want to give anyone on the team a try for six weeks now without any sense.
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In the last two seasons, it seems the 49ers are leading the NFL with overwhelming losses. But credit Nick Mullens to give the 49ers a late lead and nearly rally them for a crazy win in the end. He becomes an interesting player.
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What a day for Matt Barkley. Before signing Halloween, Barkley had to wonder what his future was like in the NFL. He has not managed to form two different teams in each of the last two presences. Then, on November 11, he racked up 232 yards and two touchdowns in a dazzling victory. Who knows what will happen next, but it must be good for him. It was only the second time that he started and won in the NFL.
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Eli Manning had a historic career, and with the walls closing on him, it was fun to see Manning still having at least one big moment, leading the Giants to a win on Monday night.
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The Broncos play two straight games against two of the top NFL teams, first with the Chargers and then with the Steelers. Either it's an opportunity for Vance Joseph and his team to start changing the perception about them, or things could get really ugly in Denver. We will see how much pride they have.
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By keeping Ryan Fitzpatrick in the starting lineup for the 11th week, once the team is virtually eliminated from the playoff race, the Buccaneers tell you what they think of Jameis Winston.
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Nick Chubb looks like a very good back. Do not forget that the Browns offered him the rough draft for eating $ 16 million from Brock Osweiler's contract. We can argue if it's a prudent investment, but the Browns probably do not complain.
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After the Lions defeated the Packers and won a road game against the Dolphins, they were 3-3. They had won three of four. Since then, they have been outclassed 86-45 and the closest match has been a 12-point loss against the Bears. They trailed this game 34-10 after three quarters. The first season of Matt Patricia started badly, she looked good for a few weeks and now seems to be a total mess.
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Some teams are in the "most disappointing" category, but the Jaguars have every interest in placing first. They are in last place in AFC South and must play at least 6-1 to try their luck in the playoffs. Coach Doug Marrone did a bad job this season.
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<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "According to the Niners NationFrank Gore spent 500 rushing yards for the 14th consecutive season, an NFL record. While Gore plays more than Kenyan Drake remains confused, Gore's career has been absolutely incredible. "Data-reactid =" 68 ">According to the Niners NationFrank Gore spent 500 rushing yards for the 14th consecutive season, an NFL record. While Gore plays more than Kenyan Drake remains confused, Gore's career has been absolutely incredible.
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Well, the climb of the Falcons was fun for a moment. The remaining program was too difficult and his 1-4 start was too steep to drop games like Sunday in Cleveland. Falcons will always be difficult to play but post-season dreams must be suspended until further notice.
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Given what we have seen worst among the Bengals, it seems crazy that they are 5-4 years old. They were outclassed by 53 points this season. The 4-5 Ravens outscored their opponents by 53 points, a difference of 106 points between the second and third place teams in the AFC North region. The Bengals are in a mess and although they had five wins and it helps, it is difficult to see them make a real push in the playoffs. This embarrassment against the saints was revealing.
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The best story of the NFL that does not attract enough attention is, strangely, the return of Andrew Luck. Has everyone forgotten more than a year and a half of speculation that luck is the same day? He returned to the Pro Bowl level.
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Joe Flacco's hip injury could pave the way for Lamar Jackson, and is it the worst thing? Crows need a kind of sparkle. Maybe starting Jackson would provide one.
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I want to keep the Rams off the field, and the Seahawks are running the ball well lately. I still can not really understand an offensive game plan focused on minimizing Russell Wilson. Wilson racked up eight attempts and 39 passing yards in the first half on Sunday against a Rams defense set on fire by Drew Brees the previous week. Wilson is one of the best players in the NFL, not a game manager.
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The Eagles did not look ok all season. The bump injuries at the corner half are a real concern and I do not know how they overcame this week at the Saints. But they will probably need to be upset if they want to play in the playoffs.
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Leighton Vander Esch seems to be a very good first-round pick. Sean Lee could not stay healthy, so it was important for the Cowboys to think about the future (knowing that he would probably play a lot as a rookie when Lee was injured). The Cowboys may have had other needs in attack, but they managed a good player.
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From top to bottom we go. The Titans seemed to have some tough victories at first, were miserable during a stretch, then won at Dallas and lashed out at the Patriots in seven days. You determine what will follow.
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No one believes in the Redskins and they have given people a lot of reasons to be skeptical. But they continue to win, getting a Sunday when they had virtually no offensive line. The Eagles are in turmoil, the Cowboys are 4-5 and offensively challenged … when should we just admit that the Redskins are the favorites of the NFC East?
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Thursday night, the Packers play in Seattle and then in Week 12, Minnesota. It's hard, but the Packers have to make things happen. Making sure that Aaron Jones (145 yards rushing, two touchdowns) becomes an important player of difference in the offensive can not hurt.
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The Titans' win was not good news for the Texans. Tennessee has already won a win over Houston this season and is just a second leg. It should be an interesting race in this division.
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I think the Panthers are a quality team. But good teams are not usually thrown out of the stadium like Thursday night. I guess we just attribute that to the random events that occur when teams only have three days off. But it was worrying.
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The Bears allow the lowest rate of smugglers in the NFL, at 79.8. Mitchell Trubisky has a rating of 101.6, and the Bears offense ranks ninth in this category. Passing the ball effectively and preventing the opponent from doing so is a very good way to form a first-place team.
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Who would have thought Sunday's game in Chicago, Minnesota, could be the biggest North of the NFC this season? It's a very good match on Sunday night.
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Tom Brady's stats are down from last season: yards, completion percentage, steals, touchdowns, touchdowns, passerings. It's still a quality quarterback, of course, but we have to ask if it's Brady who shows his age or lack of weapons (including Rob Gronkowski, who had a very quiet season before miss two games due to injury).
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Strange things are happening on Thursday night, but beating a good Panthers 52-21 is a sign that the Steelers are on the rise. They will be fun to watch the rest of the way.
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Melvin Gordon, before this season, had not been very effective. He wore his yards per race from 3.9 last season to 5.4 this season. Gordon also scored 11 touchdowns in eight games. He became a star.
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Cooper Kupp's ACL injury is a blow. The Rams averaged 124 fewer passes per game without Kupp this season. Los Angeles has a lot of good players, but Kupp will miss them. It's hard to replace what he can do.
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I can not imagine what the saints think of Brandon Marshall. Marshall has accumulated 1,078 yards and four touchdowns. He is 34 years old and will be his fourth team in three seasons. It looks like a strange addition.
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The Chiefs-Rams in Mexico are going to be incredible.
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<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Send him an e-mail at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @YahooSchwab"data-reactid =" 118 ">Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Send him an e-mail at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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