Buffalo Bills

Finally, the schedule is starting to shape up nicely for the Chiefs. If the Miami Dolphins are the best team you still have to face over the course of six games, we can finally start to expect wins out of this Chiefs team yet. There are simply too many holes to fill to expect wins over really good teams, but this team can beat mediocre teams. The individuals with jobs on the line should be in full display this weekend. Here is what I expect to see against the Bills:

1) Derrick Johnson is coming back from injury. Johnson and Gonzalez are probably our best trade bait in the offseason, and at this point I would say that I want Johnson gone. We spent a first round pick on a guy with every tool imaginable to perform in the NFL except one: brains. For a guy as big, fast, and experienced as he is, I think it is reasonable to expect more than 100 tackles and at least 5 or 6 sacks per season. He does neither, and also does not force turnovers or lead our young defense. He needs to go somewhere where others can make him perform better, he's a strain here. I would rather pickup a slower linebacker in the middle rounds than to let Johnson play another season as long as he has the smarts to read what the offense is doing.

2) Coaches on the hot seat. Gunther Cunningham, Mike Priefer, and Tim Krumrie. The secondary has played well, so I only place defensive blame on Cunningham and Krumrie, but the play of the front seven on this team has been horrible. The front seven has DJ, Hali, Dorsey out of the first round, McBride from the second, and Tyler out of the third in the past few years. These players are strong prospects who are not performing. The Bills don't score a lot of points but they can run the ball, and that does not bode well for the front seven. The special teams in Buffalo are Grade A quality, if the Chiefs give up a return TD, then those are the guys who need to go.

3) Larry Johnson. Right now, I want him cut. I understand he had a few big runs last weekend at the game. However, watching the game and seeing our O-Line open holes for him, and seeing him run for 8-10 yards a few times, I expected to return home to see a stat line with 100 yards. I saw 64. Those big runs were thanks to the offensive line play, the no-gainers that led to him only netting 3.5 YPC after all of those big runs makes it obvious that he is not getting it done. We can draft a guy in the mid rounds and head into next season with Smith/Charles and be fine. LJ better show a lot or he should be out of here for a 5th rounder this offseason.

4) Right side of the offensive line. We already know that none of you will have jobs after the season. Just open a couple of holes on the goal line as an audition for your next job....please?

Everyone else: KEEP IT UP. The passing game has been great behind Thigpen, and the young guys on offense just keep showing up each week. The pass blocking has been good as well. Brandon Flowers will be back this week, and we should be able to keep the Bills running the whole game.

If Gailey and Thigpen put us out to a 10+ point lead in the first half again, watch out. The Bills will not come back in that game. But we can't let them back in it either. We have to hit the gas pedal, and not let off until the game is over. The Bills will not beat us with Trent Edwards throwing the ball.

Also, watch JP Losman. He will make a nice backup to Tyler Thigpen along with a mid-round draft pick next season. He'll also be a free agent. If he plays, picture him in Red and Gold next season. It is very possible.