Is the loss of Jamaal Charles for the season the final blow for the Kansas City Chiefs this year?
They’ll get a chance to resurrect their season and end a five-game losing streak when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are down to third string quarterback Landry Jones.
ODDS
With Pittsburgh undecided on a starting quarterback the line has yet to hit the board. Michael Vick injured his hamstring last week and Ben Roethlisberger is still healing from a knee injury, leaving Jones as the only healthy quarterback. There are rumblings out of Pittsburgh, however, that Big Ben is itching to play.
KEY INJURIES
Michael Vick – Left last week’s game with a strained right hamstring and didn’t return. He was replaced by Landry Jones, who played well against the Cardinals. With Vick hampered and Ben Roethlisberger’s status uncertain for this week, the Steelers are preparing with Jones as their starting quarterback.
Jeremy Maclin – Suffered a concussion in last week’s game with Minnesota when he slammed his head into the turf. He’s likely out for Sunday’s game after the diagnosis. The Chiefs have received little from their receivers other than Maclin, but Albert Wilson will get a chance to change that.
KEY MISMATCH
Pittsburgh’s offense was supposed to carry the club this season. But it’s the defense that’s stepped up so far. The Steelers couldn’t ask for much more from a defense that gives up yards but doesn’t give up points. Three straight games of forcing multiple turnovers has the Steelers ranked fifth in scoring defense, despite ranking 23rd in net yards allowed. Through six weeks only one team has scored more than 23 points against the Steel Curtain. That would be the Patriots with 28 on opening night. Last Sunday was a perfect example. Carson Palmer threw for 421 yards but had one touchdown to show for it. The Cardinals averaged 38 points per game before the 25-13 loss. The Steelers are willing to bend a little. The offense is wounded right now with the quarterback position in flux. But the defense has produced despite injuries to two starters, linebacker Ryan Shazier and safety Will Allen.
KEY STAT
27.8 – Kansas City’s third down conversions rate. The Chiefs are last in the NFL in converting third downs. Pittsburgh allows its opponents to convert 38.3 percent of the time on third down.
BETTING ANGLE
The Chiefs had a chance to win last week’s game in the fourth quarter, twice getting the ball with a chance to win or at least take the lead. They failed each time. Charcandrick West lost a fumble to kill one drive and two errant Alex Smith passes to an open Wilson ruined the other. History says the Chiefs were doomed to fail. It was the sixth time since Smith joined the Chiefs that they needed a late fourth-quarter touchdown to win a game. It’s never happened. Last year they didn’t score in clutch, late-game situations four times and it cost them a playoff berth. KC can’t possibly have much confidence in those situations. The common thread to the failures is Smith. The problems aren’t all Smith’s fault. West could have helped last week by not fumbling. But it doesn’t change the fact that the Chiefs have led into the fourth quarter in nearly all of their wins with Smith as their quarterback.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
West and Knile Davis didn’t help out the Chiefs ground game last week, combining for 46 yards on 14 carries. That just won’t get it done and further highlights the absence of Charles from the backfield. Now Smith will likely be without his top receiver in Maclin, who was concussed last week. KC was able to score in the 20s the first four games, but slipped to 17 when Charles went down two weeks ago and scored just 10 last week. It could be worse against a tough Steelers D that will likely be getting linebacker Shazier back. Of course the Chiefs might have a chance against a third-string quarterback, but Jones is quite familiar with the offense and played well in relief of Vick last week. As much as I like the Chiefs, it’s time to hit the reset button.
Pittsburgh 25, Kansas City 18
With Pittsburgh undecided on a starting quarterback the line has yet to hit the board. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted NFL moneyline, totals and spreads. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
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