Previewing Giants vs. Chiefs, 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style

Could be. I am certainly not discounting anything at all. I just know that if the Giants play to their abilities this should be a New York victory. But, anything can happen.

But I also think the WR corps is generally better than the “preseason preview,” too.

Chiefs had some success against Chokeland’s 4-man rush and had some success running against it. What they have NOT shown that they can do is make something happen with their skill players when the opposition shows no respect, blitzes and jumps on all the short routes.

No reason to think the Chiefs can beat the blitz until and unless they do, so that’s what I expect to see the Gi’nts do.

Part of the Chiefs’ struggles are because they’re shuffling people around, especially on O-Line. Pioli decided to use the draft to shore up (manufacture) the (a 3-4) D-Line, and late FA to shore up the O-Line. In early FA, they took RG Goff from San Diego and C Ghiaciuc from Cincy. Goff has held the #1 slot since then (but has struggled), and Ghiaciuc is gone. In late FA, KC picked up a couple also-rans from New England and Miami, where they had some connections and where there was an ongoing search, so the also-rans were (potentially) almost-made-its.

RG Ikechuku Ndukwe from Miami immediately started at RT (KC’s biggest issue), even though he’s a very good starting G. True RT O’Callaghan, from New England, the most recent (not practice-squad) acquisition is expected to start at RT, and I expect Ndukwe will challenge Goff at RG in coming weeks. O’Callaghan is known as a pass-protector, but not so much as a run-blocking mauler.

It’s hard to say that the Chiefs WILL fix their problems, but they continue pecking away with new people and with the current people spending more and more time together (almost ZERO stability at ANY position since December). Many of the big plays against them were just a hair’s-breadth from going the other direction, but the LB is maybe a beat too late to the ball or the 20-yard gain is called back for a penalty.

If the Chiefs choose this weekend to start firing on all cylinders, this could be a tough game for the Gi’nts, even though nobody who follows both teams will predict a KC win. OK, I will, but I’m a homer, and I’d believe the world was flat if Todd Haley said it was in a press conference. Haley is known for his success with QBs and WRs, and they’ve shown some flashes, and D-Bowe hasn’t dropped a single pass he’s gotten his hands on since becoming a Haley protege. But these are just road signs on the way to a MUCH better team, and they’ve been facing the best (and being spanked) – KC has faced Baltimore, (Oakland – no QB/WRs, yet), Philly, and faced Houston and Minnesota in preseason.

They haven’t been very good, YET, but they KNOW what good is, because they’ve had it rubbed in their face, and they’re a BIG team, with real stout in the middle of the D, in particular. Gi’nts don’t want to be the first team to see KC put it all together, and if they DO put it all together after last week’s humiliation, they’re just one or two lucky bounces (or INTs instead of knock-downs) away from making a 4-quarter match of it. Just ask Baltimore.

the only thing that really actually could happen is the turnovers, which usually with Eli in his career are just bad luck cuz the WR can’t catch.

Everything else, Coughlin and the staff won’t do, especially getting pass happy when they have the lead. The pass rush has never been a problem so far, and also the coaching staff won’t allow them to look ahead, they usually don’t even speak of next week’s opponent (which is the Raiders…so there’s no need to be worried about the next game)

KC shut down Baltimore’s run game early, and Flacco went to the air to beat ‘em. That same formula has worked for everyone else. Eli’s gonna have to beat ‘em with the pass, and, so far, there’s every indication that he will be successful in doing so.

KC has struggled to get pressure on the QB, and their corners, drafted and trained for cover-2, have not been able to single up on WRs long enough for their (so-far-ineffectual) blitz to get to the QB. Clancy Pendergast, the DC whose unit struggled all last season, until gelling for a STRONG playoff run in AZ, knows how to bring it, but this unit hasn’t yet jelled. If they learn to play with abandon within the new scheme, they could be very dangerous, but their LBs are mostly built to attack up the field, rather than cover the middle against the pass, but every time they abandon the middle, the CBs drop the ball, and every time they don’t, the LBs themselves have struggled.

You don’t know if it’s going to gel this week, and no reason to think it will, but the Gi’nts can’t afford to give ‘em any momentum on offense or defense, or they might start believing they can win. Beat ’em with the pass and show no respect for THEIR pass, and the Gi’nts should dominate, much as the Ravens and Iggles did. If they can dominate with the pass, Jacobs and Bradshaw should be able to stick a fork in the Chiefs in the 2nd half.

That’s why I said the Giants need to play like the Giants.

You would have to be referring to Showtime’s Inside the NFL. Collingsworth, Simms and Sapp are not on NFL.com, although Sapp does make guest appearances on NFL Network.

if you win those games in the playoffs.