Chiefs at Colts

The rat-a-tat-tat sounds of gun fire echoing out of the Colts' stadium Saturday will be much like that of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. When Kansas City RB Larry Johnson's cleats start banging on the Colts' defensive helmets it will make a rapid-fire racket. Flack jackets are suggested for the front row fans.

When one of the best teams meets one of the weakest teams on a key stat it typically creates a record setting environment. And in this first round playoff game the most important stat separating winners from losers is Rushing Yards. On offense the Chiefs average 134 yards and face a puny Colts' rush D which gives up 173.

In the stat graphic below the Colts' rush D rests at the bottom of the ladder. They are the league's weakest. Ouch.

The Colts have been weak on this rush D stat all season. The two stat graphics below picture the running game balance for both teams.

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The difference in these two stats gives the Chiefs' offense a 7.5-point advantage.

Passing efficiency stats also belong to the Chiefs' offense. If they use a ball-control passing game each catch can be counted as a running play. Since the clock continues to roll with each rush the Chiefs could have 55 or more rushes plus completions--and dominate clock.

Remember the N Y Giants' Super Bowl Coach Bill Parcells ran up 40 minutes of clock time? Parcells kept Coach Marv Levy's superior play makers (QB Kelly and RB Thurman Thomas) on the sideline. They never saw the ball. It might just be a winning script for Coach Herm Edwards' Chiefs.

When the Colts have the ball QB Manning and WR Harrison will make their magic. But if their clock time is limited it is going to be a most interesting game decided on the final possesion.

Bud Goode

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