I don’t know about everyone else, but as I sat down this past Sunday to watch our Chiefs, I had a little uneasy feeling about what that pain in the rear Mike Vick was going to do on the day. Little did I know that the days of the past were planning a reunion at Arrowhead, and were planning on giving Mr. Vick a history lesson about what happens to teams that come into Arrowhead. This past Sunday, Mike Vick and his Falcons got that lesson, and then some.

It was kickoff time and the Falcons got the ball first, I think that’s the way most people would have wanted it because we could see what our defense was going to do from the get go. Vick was OK during the first couple of plays as he moved his team down the field. Close to midfield Vick received the snap, several Chiefs defenders were in his face fast, but just as I was thinking we had him, he popped out of the group of players and was on the loose, and a great terror came over me as I watched him run in the open field. Finally they got him out of bounds and the Falcons were all set up, ready to score the first touchdown of the day, but the Chiefs defense decided that no way in world were they going to let the Falcons come right down and put a touchdown on the board so easy. On 3rd down Vick tried to do the old bootleg that has been killing the Chiefs defense all year, but not this time, the pass was batted down by a charging defensive lineman and the birds had to settle for a field goal. After the Chiefs got the ball for the first time my uneasy stomach was turned into mush because of a miracle that happened, Priest Holmes fumbled! My first thought was Oh (insert expletive here)! Great now what is going to happen, this was the mental question I asked myself. Little did I know that from that point on there was going to be a total domination of the Atlanta Falcons both offensively and defensively. The Falcons were held to a three and out series and had to punt, order was restored, and the Chiefs offense went to work.

Trent Green was nothing short of workman-like all day long, picking apart the Atlanta defense when he wanted to, giving them play action fits all day long and keeping them off balance, he was not spectacular, but he was very much in control. Priest Holmes quickly recovered from his fumble and proceeded to treat the Falcon defense like they were not even there, gutting them for over 130 yards and four touchdowns without even playing for all of the 4th quarter and most of the 3rd.

The Chiefs defense was as dominate as it has been in years, harassing Mike Vick all day long, hitting him every chance they got. Defensive end Jared Allen was a particular thorn in the side of Mr. Vick sacking him twice and nearly getting him a third time causing a bad pass. Allen was showing exactly why this Idaho St. product has worked his way into the defensive line rotation. Eric Warfield and Greg Wesley both picked off passes from Vick and made what was already becoming a bad day for him even worse.

By the time the game reached the end of the 4th quarter, Todd Collins had made his first appearance of the season and Tony Richardson was playing the role of featured halfback, and the Chiefs were still moving up and down the field. Eight rushing touchdowns for the Chiefs and no offensive touchdowns for Atlanta resulted in a 56-10 whipping of the first place Atlanta Falcons. Mike Vick got the results that most teams do in Arrowhead, particularly NFC teams which have not seemed to win there in ages.

I take full responsibility for the Falcons only touchdown by the way. I was sitting there watching the game with my entire Chiefs garb on when we were about to punt in the second half. At about the same time I took my hat off and set it on the seat next to me, then I proceeded to watch the Falcon return man take the punt all the way back for the score. Needless to say the hat quickly returned to my head after that play and the Chiefs then returned to punching the ball in the end zone over and over again. I felt bad though, 56-3 would have looked even better.

Chiefs fans should feel proud of what they saw this past Sunday, and should be expecting this again. I hope the Chiefs remember what it felt like all game long, how there was no panic when the Falcons went down and scored on their first drive, then recovered a fumble right after that. The Chiefs did not even blink once about any of that stuff, they just smacked the Falcons in the mouth and took it to them for the whole game. Running at will and passing when and wherever they wanted to. It was a total game from the Chiefs, a full 60 minutes of beat down for the birds from Atlanta.

Now we have a bigger task at hand though, and a much bigger monster to contain on the up coming Halloween afternoon. The Indianapolis Colts are coming to town and they know what they have done here in Kansas City the past few years. Two of the last three playoff games at Arrowhead were played against the Colts, and both times the Chiefs were beat in the end, once by an inept kicker and last year by a lack of defensive heart. I have heard several people ask me over and over why we should think we have a chance this time against the Colts, and all I have to say to them is defense. Believe it or not ladies and gentleman the Kansas City Chiefs now have a top 10 defense. Gunther Cunningham has turned the 2003 Chiefs Wee-Fense into the 2004 Chiefs DE-FENSE! The Chiefs have the number 9 defense in the league right now, and the Colts have the 31st ranked defense in the league, that alone is enough to believe in, but if you want more the Colts also have to face the leagues leading rusher and a quarterback who is racing up the passer rating chart. Priest Holmes and Trent Green are leading this team to what we all hope is a long winning streak, but before we get a long streak going we have to win two in a row.

It is now prediction time, and this one I think is a no doubter. The Chiefs need to keep their new offensive groove going and control the ball all game long. If the defense can make the Colts punt at least four times this Sunday then I think we have it made, because I will be shocked if we punt more than that. Chiefs 38, Colts 28. We will be 3-4 and headed to Tampa Bay where a very good defense will be waiting for us. This Sunday folks, bring it loud and bring it proud!

GO CHIEFS!