In recent years it has become fashionable to call the NFL Playoffs "The Tournament". I won't do that, because that's gay.
I've got 4 days to preview 4 games. Today, we start with this:
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-7)
AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (12-4)
Saturday, 3:30 PM CST NBC
*COLTS O (3RD OVERALL, 18TH RUSH, 2ND PASS)
V. CHIEFS D (16TH OV, 18TH R, 18TH P)
I'm guessing you're going to hear a lot of town fathers saying this week about how the Colts are doomed, doomed, doomed because they can't stop the run, and now they have to somehow keep Larry Johnson in check. Those town fathers are probably right. However, let us not ignore the flip side to that argument, which is that the Chiefs defense is mediocre at best, and in the month of December allowed 20 or more points in 4 out of 5 games.
ADVANTAGE- COLTS
*CHIEFS O (16TH OVERALL, 9TH RUSH, 22ND PASS)
V. COLTS D (21ST OV, 32ND R, 2ND P)
And, of course, herein lies the point that will be hammered home, over and over and over again for the next 4 days. How will the Colts keep Larry Johnson from completely eviscerating them and thereby triggering the Colts' annual January disintegration? Well, in truth the Colts defense probably can't stop him. However, the Colts offense certainly can play keep away from the Chiefs. What I think will determine the winner of this game will be how long the Colts can keep their defense off the field. KC is 18th against the run, which isn't exactly impermeable either.
ADVANTAGE- CHIEFS
*VARIOUS AND SUNDRY
The Colts have shit the bed in the playoffs so many times that it is now totally expected of them. That's going to work against them in this game and any other playoff game they may play from now until they win a Super Bowl. However, if you throw out the psychological boogeymen, you see that the Colts are 8-0 at home this year, and KC is 3-5 on the road. I'm not going to ignore that.
ADVANTAGE- COLTS
HERE'S YOUR FORECAST
Yes, the Colts may be unable to stop me from running for 100 yards against them, and may be unable to keep LJ from rushing for 250 yards against them. They also have a style of play that does not seem to help them win in the postseason. But, it's still going to take a very good team to go into the dome and beat them, and the Chiefs, who are in the playoffs only by virtue of the Broncos being unable to beat the 49ers at home this past weekend, are not that team.
COLTS 31, CHIEFS 23
*Apologies to Patrick Nguyen, who I told yesterday that I thought the Chiefs would beat the Colts. I am now flip flopping. Be sure to do your homework kids, or else you get stuck in Iraq.
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