Kansas City vs. Arizona: Complete Week 14 Preview for Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) and the Arizona Cardinals (9-3) both share some commonalities going into their Week 14 matchup. The two squads are both riding two-game losing streaks after hot starts as each was tabbed as a top-five team in the NFL.

Neither team can afford to lose. A loss for the Chiefs would continue to set the team far behind in a crazy wild-card race while the Cardinals would drop immensely in the NFC playoff chase.

The loss of quarterback Carson Palmer has derailed Arizona's season while the Chiefs have allowed their opponents to get off to hot starts in each of the last two games.

This Sunday, one team will likely come away victorious while the other will likely have to settle with a crucial loss.

Week 13 Recap

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos built a 17-0 lead in the first 22 minutes of Week 13 when they visited the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Broncos incurred very few issues and handed the Chiefs their second consecutive loss.

The Chiefs were simply dismantled Sunday night by the Broncos in front of a national audience. Quarterback Alex Smith was sacked six times as running back Jamaal Charles was limited to just 14 touches in the game, the second fewest he's had all year.

The Chiefs not only find themselves far behind in the AFC West but also out of the AFC playoff picture as the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins possess the two wild-card spots.

News and Notes

USA TODAY Sports

Jamaal Charles earning few touches

This is not breaking news by any means as we continue to see Chiefs coach Andy Reid play keep away with his best offensive player. To put it into perspective, 610 Sports Radio morning host Bob Fescoe said Thursday morning that Charles has 61 fewer touches than he did at this point last season.

Charles is clearly the team's most viable and best player, but it confuses everyone as to why Reid keeps the ball away from the only player who can consistently make plays.

Chiefs no longer in the playoff picture

Although the Chiefs own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Dolphins, many were surprised to see the Dolphins take a wild-card spot away from them. ESPN.com's Adam Teicher does a good job of laying out why the Dolphins jumped ahead of the Chiefs. 

The tiebreaker rules change when three or more teams have the same record. In this case, the Chiefs are one of six teams with a 7-5 record. Had Miami and Kansas City been the only 7-5 teams, the Chiefs would still possess a wild-card spot.

Injury Report

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

NAME	POSITION	INJURY	WED.	THU.	FRI.	GAME STATUS
Avery, Donnie	WR	Groin	LP	LP	-	-
Bailey, Allen	DE	Concussion	DNP	DNP	-	-
Charles, Jamaal	RB	Knee	FP	FP	-	-
Colquitt, Dustin	P	Right Calf	FP	FP	-	-
Fasano, Anthony	TE	Knee	LP	LP	-	-
Fleming, Jamell	DB	Hamstring	FP	FP	-	-
Ford, Dee	LB	Quad	FP	FP	-	-
Hali, Tamba	LB	Knee	LP	LP	-	-
Hemingway, Junior	WR	Concussion	DNP	DNP	-	-
Johnson, James-Michael	LB	Back / Knee	FP	FP	-	-
Mauga, Josh	LB	Back	FP	FP	-	-
McGlynn, Mike	G	Quad	DNP	LP	-	-
Owens, Chris	CB	Knee	FP	FP	-	-
Smith, Sean	CB	Groin	FP	FP	-	-

Defensive end Allen Bailey and offensive guard Mike McGlynn recently joined the injury list as both suffered injuries against the Broncos last week and left that game early.

Vance Walker, who was acquired from the Oakland Raiders, or Kevin Vickerson will likely start in Bailey's place.

As for the offensive line, the Chiefs would likely do some shifting in order to allow Donald Stephenson to start as he has the most experience, and the Chiefs don't want to let an inexperienced lineman start on an already atrocious offensive line that has allowed 33 sacks.

Injury report courtesy of KCChiefs.com.

X-Factors and Key Matchups

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

OLB Justin Houston vs. RT Bobby Massie

Justin Houston leads the league in sacks with 14 as he goes up against Bobby Massie, a three-year veteran who has given up 4.5 sacks, according to STATS, LLC. Given Kansas City's major woes on offense, a low-scoring game would not be a surprise. 

Houston should have an easy time getting around Massie and bringing down Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton. If Houston and the rest of Kansas City's front seven can pressure Stanton, Arizona will have little offense to work with as its ground game averages just 3.1 yards per carry.

DE Calais Campbell and OLB Alex Okafor vs. LT Eric Fisher and RT Ryan Harris

Kansas City's offensive line has allowed six sacks in two different games within the past four weeks. This week, the Chiefs face a defense that features Calais Campbell and Alex Okafor as team leaders in sacks. Both pass-rushers have six on the season, and that season total could go up for both players, given the talent the Chiefs have blocking for Smith.

On the road against a team that desperately needs a win in order to stay in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Chiefs must utilize the passing game and be three-dimensional. If Arizona takes the passing game away from the Chiefs, then Kansas City must try to run the ball against an Arizona defense that is sixth and has given up 89 yards per game on average on the ground.

X-Factor: RB Jamaal Charles, per way of Andy Reid

We all know what Charles is capable of. There is no secret as to what Charles can do with his breakaway speed. Even on his bad days, Charles finds a way to still be productive for the team. He is one of the most consistent players the Chiefs have had since he took over the No. 1 running back spot in 2009.

However, with Reid continuing to limit his total touches on offense, it is hard for Charles to be productive. Charles could be the reason the Chiefs win, but a lot of that is on Reid and whether or not he can fix the play-calling.

Prediction

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Continuing off the previous slide, Kansas City's fate simply rests in Reid's decision making. 

If Reid can make the right play calls and keep Charles active in the game, the Chiefs have a great shot at winning. If Reid decides to pass more early in the game and not have Charles be part of the plan, then Kansas City could drop its third straight game.

The biggest key for the Chiefs and the deciding factor in this game all depends on Reid and how he manages the offense.

Reid currently has a lot of power. If he misuses that power, the Chiefs will fall behind in the playoff race and could go from 7-3 to 7-6, doubtful of making the playoffs.

Will Reid pull through? 

Given his veteran experience, he has to know his own wrongdoings. He knows that a majority of Kansas City's losses have to do with Charles not getting the ball enough. The losses have to have served as wake-up calls for him.

This is the game where Reid finally erases those mistakes. Even if the Chiefs trail early, abandoning the running game is not the same thing as abandoning Charles. The Chiefs can keep him active in the game through the air.

Prediction: Kansas City 17, Arizona 13