Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs Have a Shot Against Peyton Manning and the Colts

Peyton Manning has had one remarkable career in the NFL. He has played well enough to be considered as one of the top quarterbacks to ever play the game. Many teams have struggled in stopping Manning from putting up big numbers. He has never missed a game and has always been available for his team.

Although Manning owns only one Super Bowl ring, he is the fastest player to throw for 50,000 passing yards and 4,000 completions. For three years, Manning held the record for most touchdowns thrown in a single season. However, the four-time NFL MVP isn’t as invincible as people seem to think. After all, he does have only one Super Bowl ring and has struggled against a couple of teams.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had Manning’s number in recent games. In the three previous contests against the Chiefs, including the 2006-07 postseason, Manning has thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns. Despite not being able to come away with a win in these games, the Chiefs have done something that not many teams have been able to do and have another chance this season.

I know this game is still a while away. But bare with me and look into these three games and give me your thoughts.

2007 Playoffs

Manning and the Indianapolis Colts eventually won the Super Bowl this postseason. However, the road to the Super Bowl was a bumpy one, and it all began when the Colts hosted the Chiefs in Week 1 of the playoffs.

While many believed the Colts would put away the Chiefs by halftime, the Chiefs held the Colts to three field goals and were down 9-0 going into the locker room with a legitimate shot at making a comeback. Manning threw three interceptions and only one touchdown against the Chiefs. He was forced to make ill-advised throws, as Ty Law came away with two interceptions while Jarred Page got one.

But because of Kansas City’s abominable offensive performance from Trent Green and Larry Johnson, the Colts walked away with an ugly postseason win and eventually captured their first Super Bowl since 1971.

Manning did not throw more than two interceptions in any game that season.

Manning's Stats vs Chiefs: 30/38, 268 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs

2007 Regular Season

Many may disagree with this statement, but this was probably Jared Allen’s best game as a Chief. That says a lot due to the fact he recorded zero sacks. Manning knew that, in order for him to succeed, he could not allow Allen to get to him.

All game long, Manning was chased by Allen and as such, many of his passes were incomplete. Manning went 16-for-32 in the game and was outplayed by Brodie Croyle.

During the second quarter, Manning threw a pass intended for Dallas Clark. But Manning’s pass backfired when Allen tipped the pass, forcing the ball to go up a little bit higher. This gave Page enough time to snag the pass and come away with an interception.

The Chiefs limited Manning and prevented him from having a 300-yard game. However, with six seconds left to go in the game, the Colts brought the ball to the Kansas City six-yard line and sent Adam Vinatieri to kick the game-winning field goal. The Colts walked away with a win at home, 13-10.

Manning's Stats vs Chiefs: 16/32, 163 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

2010 Regular Season

While Manning was expected to once again have a God-like performance against the Chiefs, he ended up beleaguering.

By this time, the Chiefs had already traded Allen to Minnesota. Tamba Hali stepped up as the team’s dominant pass rusher and provided the pressure on Manning throughout the game. Just like his game against the Chiefs in 2007, Manning was unsuccessful in connecting with a receiver in the end zone.

Late in the third quarter, with 3:51 to go and a 3rd-and-13 play coming up, Hali made an attempt to approach Manning from the outside and tried to get to him as quick as possible. Manning decided he did not want to deal with Hali’s pass rush, so he immediately threw up a pass intended for Pierre Garcon.

However, Manning missed Jon McGraw’s presence in the backfield and threw an interception to him.

Unfortunately, Dwayne Bowe dropped a pass in the end zone that would give the Chiefs to go-ahead score following the rare takeaway.

Going into the fourth quarter, the game was still up for grabs, as the Chiefs and Colts were tied at nine. Vinatieri came away with his fourth field goal of the afternoon to help the Colts take the lead. Backup running back Mike Hart came in and scored the only touchdown of the game with 5:33 to go, extending the Colts' lead, putting away the Chiefs and handing them their first loss of the season, 19-9.

Manning's Stats vs Chiefs: 26/44, 244 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Chiefs vs Colts, October 9th, 2011: Can Kansas City Do It?

It is disappointing that the Chiefs never took advantage of Manning’s woes when visiting the Colts in these three games. In all three games combined, Manning went 72/114, throwing for 675 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.

Why has Manning struggled against the Chiefs? It’s because of pass rushers like Allen and Hali. This doesn’t mean that Manning is overrated. This simply shows that Manning isn’t invincible and that teams tend to play poorly against the Colts offense because they don’t have the pass rushers that the Chiefs have.

The only problem with Kansas City is that they cannot capitalize when they have been given the opportunity to win.

The Chiefs and Colts play this season on October 9th. Just like the previous three games, this game will take place in Indianapolis.

I understand the game is more than a month away and we’re still in the preseason, but I cannot help but to think that the Chiefs can win this game if they stay consistent on all three phases of the game.

I look forward to hearing everyone talk about how Manning will most likely dominate the Chiefs in this game.

It looks like Hali will have some help when applying pressure on Manning (as well as in other games). Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers have grown a lot and are slowly being recognized as two of the better defensive backs in the league today. They could help the Chiefs get more takeaways in this game.

I can’t promise you that the Chiefs will win this game, but I might give the Chiefs the edge when that game comes. What I am willing to promise you is that this game will be closer than many will expect.