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No team could use the home-field
advantage more than the Kansas City Chiefs.
They'll need some outside help to even have a chance at it.
Kansas City hopes to still be playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs when it takes the field at Arrowhead Stadium against the Chicago Bears.
While the Chiefs have lost two of their last three games, New England has continued to win and holds a one-game lead over Kansas City in the battle for the top seed in the AFC. If the Patriots beat Buffalo at home on Saturday, they will clinch home-field advantage throughout the postseason, forcing the Chiefs to potentially play the AFC championship at New England.
Should the Bills
upset the Patriots, a win Sunday over Chicago would assure the Chiefs of needing
just two home wins in the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl.
Having every playoff game at home would be a huge advantage for any team, but
maybe none more than Kansas City, which is 7-0 at home and 5-3 on the road this
season. The Chiefs, winners of 12 straight at home, have been a much stronger
team at Arrowhead Stadium on offense, special teams and particularly on defense.
``We've been a totally different defensive team on this field in that 12-game winning streak,'' coach Dick Vermeil said. ``I don't know what's different. Maybe we're putting the wrong guys on the plane. Maybe we're putting the wrong coaches on the plane. For some reason, it does make a difference. It's my job to solve that problem and so far I've done a lousy job.''
During their 12-game home win streak, the Chiefs are allowing a shade over 15 points and 103 yards rushing per game. In eight road games this season, they have surrendered an average of 25.7 points and 181 yards rushing.
Kansas City allowed 45 points for the second consecutive road game Saturday in a 45-20 loss at Minnesota.
Although their road defense has been particularly poor, the Chiefs have struggled to keep opponents in check most of the season. Their overall defense ranks 29th in the NFL while their rushing defense is last.
If New England does win Saturday, Vermeil could pull his best players off the field early and not take a chance on any unnecessary injuries.
``Right now, we're just trying to prepare to win and keep a 13-game winning streak, maybe play well enough to gain a little bit of momentum and confidence back in our defense,'' Vermeil said. ``That doesn't mean we wouldn't take Priest Holmes out of the game some time during the ballgame, or Trent (Green). But that's not my thought right now. I haven't even approached it.''
Holmes is within striking distance of two prestigious NFL single-season records. His 25 rushing touchdowns are tied for the league mark established by Emmitt Smith in 1995. Holmes needs two more scores to surpass Marshall Faulk's total TD mark of 26 set in 2000.
Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention, but has won four of five and could still salvage a .500 season with a win Sunday.
``We're going to play like it's our Super Bowl,'' center Olin Kreutz said. ``The Chiefs better be ready, because we're not giving anything away.''
Sunday's game could be Dick Jauron's last as coach of the Bears. Though Jauron has one year left on the contract extension he signed after the 2001 season, there is wide speculation he'll be fired next week.
Jauron guided the Bears to a surprising 13-3 record in 2001, but his team is 11-20 the past two seasons.
``The speculation is coming
from (the media),'' Jauron said. ``I'm only concerned with Kansas City. We have
one more game to play, and we'll do everything we can to win it.''