Week 14 Preview: Bills at Chiefs: Can Either Team Convert a Third Down?

If you are looking forward to an offensive showdown this Sunday when the Buffalo Bills travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs, you have now been given sufficient notice to look elsewhere.

These are two struggling offenses, and their ineptitude in converting on third downs throughout the year is bordering on the ridiculous. Kansas City has only been able to convert on 22 percent of their third downs this year, while the Bills are only slightly better at 26 percent of the time.

The Chiefs inability to get a first down off of their third down plays is the worst level of converting in this decade. They at least were able to pick up six first downs last week out of 17 third downs against Denver.

The Bills on the other hand only converted once out of eleven tries on third down against the Jets. Like I said, these are two sorry offenses. Then you look at the defenses and you would have to realistically say that these are two sorry defenses.

Kansas City was torched for 413 yards last week against Denver. The Chiefs give up a whopping 394 yards a game on average, with 250 of that coming from the passing game. Hello Terrell Owens and Lee Evans!

As bad as the Chiefs passing defense is, the Bills rushing defense is their equal, as they have been gouged for 172 yards per game on the average, worst in the league.

So, as sorry as both offenses have been, they will now get a chance to go up against sorry defenses, so maybe this will be a chance for both offenses to pad their stats a little bit.

Overall, These Are Two Sorry Excuses for NFL Teams

Chiefs last week saw their prized, off-season acquisition, QB Matt Cassel go 10-29, netting 84 yards and two interceptions, good for a passer rating of 14.6. Needless to say, Cassel was yanked from the game in the third quarter, and sat out the rest of the game on the bench.

The Bills offense was absolutely dreadful in the Toronto home game contest last Thursday night, as they were only able to generate 36 yards in the entire second half. Another low light performance for the Bills offense, featuring talented players like Fred Jackson, Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, and Marshawn Lynch.

Both of these teams have a number of gaping holes and will be looking forward to the upcoming 2010 draft to fix some of their needs. Speaking of the draft, how will this game help to position both teams for where they make their selection next year?

Looking Ahead At The 2010 Draft - Where They Stand Now

Listing the teams with the fewest wins and working up in order from there:

One win so far this year: St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland

Two wins so far: Detroit

Three wins so far: Kansas City and Washington

Four wins so far: Buffalo and Oakland

Five wins so far: Tennessee, Houston, Chicago, Carolina, San Francisco, and Seattle.

If the season ended today, Kansas City would be picking either fifth or sixth overall slot in the draft, while the Bills would be picking either seventh or eighth. You would feel pretty excited about getting a major talent with either of the team selection options at those lofty slots.

However, if the Bills win, they could leap up to somewhere in the twelfth or thirteenth position, which is a considerable change. I know we all want to see the Bills be a competitive team, but there are clearly ramifications with each win, and this is one of them.

For the record, the Bills played the Chiefs last year, and Buffalo came away with a 54-31 victory.