Super Bowl hopes lurk as Chiefs, Jaguars tangle
ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sunday, Sept. 13
As published in print Sept. 8
AT A GLANCE: Kansas City visits Jacksonville in a matchup of two of
the AFC’s better teams. The Chiefs have one of the most dominant defenses in the
league, while the Jaguars have one of the NFL’s more explosive passing attacks.
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The Chiefs haven’t been to a Super Bowl since the
AFL and NFL united into one league. In their brief history, the Jaguars haven’t made
it to the NFL’s showcase event, either.
Both teams are considered to be among the top contenders for the
AFC’s berth in January’s big game, and this September meeting provides a
measuring stick as to which way the conference’s balance of power tips.
The Chiefs (1-0) and Jaguars (1-0) met for the first time in Week 11 of
the ’97 season, and Jacksonville claimed a 24-10 home win. That was the first of six
games Chief QB Elvis Grbac missed with a broken collarbone. Backup Rich Gannon threw for
314 yards in the loss.
Grbac’s status for the Chiefs’ return to Jacksonville was not
determined as of presstime. He suffered a bruised right shoulder in Week One vs. the
Raiders (check status).
Grbac’s top two receivers may also miss the game. WR Andre Rison
reaggravated a hamstring injury in Week One, and WR Derrick Alexander missed that game
with a rib injury (check status on both).
Neither the Chiefs nor the Jaguars are doing too well at keeping their
defensive ends healthy. Both of Kansas City’s projected starters, Chester McGlockton
(back) and John Browning (ankle), missed the season opener. McGlockton will not play vs.
Jacksonville; Browning may see some action(check status). Meanwhile, Jaguar DE Tony
Brackens missed his team’s opener vs. Chicago with a high-ankle sprain, and his
counterpart, Jeff Lageman, had to leave that game with a right biceps injury (check status
on both). |
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WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL:
With most of the key components of their passing game questionable due
to injuries, look for the Chiefs to try to establish the run. RB Donnell Bennett had a
solid debut as Kansas City’s featured back, rushing for 115 yards vs. Oakland. He
should get the bulk of the carries vs. the Jaguars, as well.
One reason Bennett was so effective was the solid interior of the Chief
offensive line. OG’s Dave Szott (arm; check status) and Will Shields and C Tim
Grunhard give Kansas City very solid play. They will try to clear the way for Bennett vs.
big, tough DT’s John Jurkovic and Renaldo Wynn.
The Jaguars hope SLB Bryce Paup, acquired as a free agent during the
offseason, brings a big-play dimension to their defense. His addition allows talented LB
Kevin Hardy to move to the weak side, where he should have more freedom to run around and
make plays. Both will play key roles in containing the run.
With Rison and Alexander, the Chief offense would appear to have an
explosive element that it had lacked in recent years. If they can’t go, backups Kevin
Lockett, who had a fine preseason, and Joe Horn, a long-range threat who is learning to
contribute in the intermediate game, would play. Jaguar CB’s Aaron Beasley and Dave
Thomas have excellent size, which would especially help vs. the 6-foot-2 Alexander.
WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL:
Jaguar QB Mark Brunell struggled at times in Week One vs. Chicago but
came up big in crunch time, driving his team to a game-winning TD. However, he will have
his work cut out for him against an aggressive and physical Chief defense.
Jaguar WR Jimmy Smith had success vs. the Chiefs last season, recording
four catches for 112 yards. He and Keenan McCardell, another dangerous receiver, will line
up against what is arguably the NFL’s best CB duo, Dale Carter and James Hasty.
For Smith and McCardell to have chances to make plays, the Jaguars will
have to hold off the swarming Chief defense. "Falcon" LB Derrick Thomas had six
sacks vs. the Raiders in Week One. He will line up all over the place but will not have an
easy time beating Jaguar OT’s Tony Boselli and Leon Searcy. They are both excellent
pass protectors.
While the Jaguars have a decent running game, they are determined this
year to be more effective on the ground. RB James Stewart is the go-to guy for now. He
gave a solid performance in the opener, rushing for 115 yards on 26 carries. He will run
against a Chief run defense that is stout even without McGlockton. NT Tom Barndt is the
stuffer in the middle, while LB Donnie Edwards is a fine athlete who will pursue plays all
over the field.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Sept. 6 |
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Chief Depth
Chart
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Offense
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| WR |
89 RISON, 81 Lockett, 83 Hughes |
| OLT |
69 CRISWELL, 66 Riley* |
| OLG |
79 SZOTT, 64 Tamm, 73 Swanson |
| C |
61 GRUNHARD, 65 Smith, 64 Tamm |
| ORG |
68 SHIELDS, 73 Swanson, 64 Tamm |
| ORT |
62 PARKER, 70 Spears |
| TE |
88 GONZALEZ, 48 Popson, 80Tate |
| WR |
82 ALEXANDER, 81 Lockett, 84 Horn |
| QB |
11 GRBAC, 12 Gannon, 15 Collins |
| RB |
30 BENNETT, 22 Shehee*, 87 Vanover |
| FB |
38 ANDERS, 49 Richardson |
Defense
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| DLE |
91 O'NEAL, 97 Parten, 75 McGlockton |
| NT |
71 BARNDT, 99 Holland, 75 McGlockton |
| DRE |
93 BROWNING, 91 O’Neal, 95 Ransom* |
| FALC |
58 D. THOMAS, 77 McDaniels, 98 Hicks* |
| ILB |
56 SIMMONS, 54 Favors* |
| MLB |
59 EDWARDS, 51 Manusky |
| ROLB |
50 DAVIS, 55 George |
| LCB |
34 CARTER, 45 Brooks, 46 R. Williams* |
| RCB |
40 HASTY, 29 McMillian, 44 Warfield* |
| SS |
25 TONGUE, 35 Johnson |
| FS |
21 WOODS, 45 Brooks |
Specialists
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| P |
5 AGUIAR, 12 Gannon, 10 Stoyanovich |
| PK |
10 STOYANOVICH, 5 Aguiar |
| H |
5 AGUIAR, 12 Gannon |
| PR |
87 VANOVER, 84 Horn, 81 Lockett |
| KR |
87 VANOVER, 84 Horn, 22 Shehee* |
| KC |
64 TAMM, 80 Tate, 48 Popson |
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* Rookie |
Back to Handicapper's Corner |
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Jaguar Depth
Chart
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Offense
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| WR |
82 SMITH, 86 Whitted*, 81 Moore |
| OLT |
71 BOSELLI, 62 Coleman, 67 Novak |
| OLG |
62 COLEMAN, 67 Novak |
| C |
65 NEUJAHR, 66 Wade* |
| ORG |
73 DeMARCO, 78 Fordham, 76 Tylski |
| ORT |
72 SEARCY, 73 DeMarco |
| TE |
83 MITCHELL, 88 Jones, 85 Griffith |
| WR |
87 McCARDELL, 84 Barlow, 81 Moore |
| QB |
8 BRUNELL, 10 Martin, 12 Quinn* |
| RB |
33 STEWART, 28 F. Taylor*, 22 Banks* |
| FB |
31 SHELTON, 34 Janes* |
Defense
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| DLE |
99 SMEENGE, 96 Smith |
| DLT |
97 WYNN, 95 White, 94 Pritchett |
| DRT |
64 JURKOVIC, 91 Payne |
| DRE |
56 LAGEMAN, 98 Threats, 90 Brackens |
| SLB |
95 PAUP, 57 Kopp, 54 Hamilton |
| MLB |
58 SCHWARTZ, 55 McManus |
| WLB |
51 HARDY, 52 Boyer |
| LCB |
21 BEASLEY, 23 C. Taylor* |
| RCB |
41 D. THOMAS, 27 Figures, 26 Devine |
| LS |
20 DARIUS*, 45 Davis |
| RS |
32 LOGAN, 37 Hudson |
Specialists
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| PK |
1 HOLLIS |
| P |
4 BARKER |
| H |
4 BARKER |
| KC |
65 NEUJAHR, 64 Jurkovic, 66 Wade* |
| KR |
84 BARLOW, 22 Banks*, 86 Whitted |
| PR |
84 BARLOW, 22 Banks*, 87
McCardell |
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* Rookie |
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