Set to open the 2013-2014 NFL Postseason, two of the top teams in the AFC hope Saturday afternoon proves to be the first step toward a championship. Meeting for the second time in three weeks, the Indianapolis Colts (No. 4 AFC) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 5 AFC) feel good about their chances of advancement heading into the AFC Wild-Card showdown. Despite dropping two-consecutive games to end the regular season, Kansas City (11-5) appears to be getting back to full-strength in the health department since star wideout Dwayne Bowe, left tackle Branden Albert and rising talented linebacker Justin Houston are all expected to be back in the line-up after missing extended periods of time.
Familiar with the playoffs, Chiefs first-year coach Andy Reid – who led the Philadelphia Eagles to nine postseason appearances in 14 seasons as head coach – is excited about the opportunity to lead the Chiefs back to the playoffs but understands that the Colts (11-5) present multiple challenges on both sides of the football. “It's the start of a new season,” Reid said. “That's how the playoffs work. You're in the dance, as they say. It's another phase of the season. You've worked very hard as a team to get into this position. Now it's important that you exhaust yourself to make sure you're right.
“That's a challenge I think both ways, both offensively and defensively," he continued, regarding Indy's ability to remain poised on offense and not beat themselves with unforced errors. “The Colts are efficient with the ball, they don't have a lot of penalties that are called against them and they don't turn the ball over much. That's this time of the year, you've got to eliminate mistakes. Mistakes get magnified in the playoffs.” While Reid is focused on stopping quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis offense – after falling to the same Colts team 23-7 back in December – Indy coach Chuck Pagano says his team's defensive focus must be on Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles.
“We called him Public Enemy No. 1 and he still is,” Pagano said. “He totaled 1,900-plus yards from scrimmage, 1,287 rushing, 693 receiving yards, 19 touchdowns and didn’t play the last game. That’s the guy you’ve got to take away. It all starts with Jamaal.”
Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Saturday, January 4
TIME: 4:30pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: NBC
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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