Some Quick Notes Before the Game

Today, the Kansas City Chiefs battle the Detroit Lions in the second game of the regular season (if you can even count last week as a game). Since I'm running out of time before kick off, I just wanted to throw some quick notes out there:

• These two teams haven't played each other since 2007 (a 25-20 Chiefs loss), so neither team is all that familiar with one another. Unfamiliarity is a blessing and a curse, but I'll take it over the familiarity the Bills had last week.
• Even while having the Defensive Rookie of the Year, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, on the team last season, they still finished 24th in the league at stopping the run, giving up an average 124.9 rushing yards a game. In pass defense they were better, finishing 16th in the league with 218.6 yards per game. As far as total defense, they were 21st. Sacks is where the Detroit defense is feared. They finished sixth in the NFL with 44 last season, and Suh had 10 of those. The whole defensive line is capable of getting sacks because they are all good at rushing the passer; defensive ends Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril and Lawrence Jackson combined for 18.5 sacks as well last year. With Matt Cassel still playing with hurt ribs, his protection is going to be very important today.
• Matthew Stafford continued his excellent preseason into the regular season, completing 24 of 33 passes (72.7%) for 305 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception against Tampa Bay. Stafford, the number one pick from 2009, has always had a lot of potential, but is usually too hurt to show it. Well, when he's not hurt, it looks like he can put up some pretty gaudy numbers, I just hope last week's performance doesn't carry over, especially his chemistry with wide receiver Calvin Johnson (Megatron) who had six receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson is questionable going into today's game, but he's already guaranteed himself to play, so we'll see what happens. 
• Detroit is favored at home in this game, but that doesn't mean the Chiefs can't win. For one, it's Detroit, the worst franchise since the league realigned. Two, the reason they're favored is because the Chiefs got blown out last week, but one game isn't all that telling. Three, we have some pretty good players on our team as well, they just have to learn not to get hurt or fumble the ball. And finally four, they have the guy up top of this post. No not the player, the angry old guy.