When the NFL created the 2010 NFL schedule, it appears as if they were thinking of the Kansas City Chiefs during the entire process. Not only did they give the Chiefs a weak schedule against a plethora of unproven opponents, but when it came time for them to match the Chiefs up against a more formidable opponent, they gave us two weeks to prepare for them. An opponent that has prevented the Kansas City Chiefs from reaching the promised-land during times when the Chiefs were the most qualified. In 1995 and 2003, the Kansas City Chiefs posted 13-3 regular season records, only to be defeated in the Playoffs by this evil villain. This villain has defeated the Chiefs in three of their last four Playoff appearances. And since 2000, this same team has beaten the Chiefs three out of their four regular season match-ups.

This opponent is the Indianapolis Colts. A foe that in 1995 when the Chiefs posted a 13-3 regular season record, defeated the AFC West champions in the Divisional Playoffs by a score of 10 -7. The Colts are also the same foe, who in the 2003 Divisional Playoffs, defeated the 13-3 Chiefs again by a score of 38-31 (the first PUNT-LESS game in NFL Playoff history, and also a game that led to the Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson’s resignation a week later in disgrace). Both games were played at Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Chiefs. Then in 2006, when the 9-7 Chiefs (under the Herm Edwards regime) got lucky and snuck into the playoffs with a team less capable than the two previous playoff squads, they were convincingly defeated again by the Colts 23-8 at the RCA Dome.

The Indianapolis Colts moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008 where the Chiefs have never played.

Peyton Williams Manning was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft after a standout college football career with the Tennessee Volunteers. Manning is a four-time NFL MVP, who has led the Colts to the playoffs every year since his arrival except the 2001 season, and has appeared in two Super Bowls, one of which (Super Bowl XLI) he was named the MVP. The Chiefs haven’t faced a quarterback of this caliber since November 22nd, 2009 against “Big Ben” Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers; a game that the Chiefs won in overtime 27-24.

In this decade the Kansas City Chiefs have only beaten the Indianapolis Colts once in the regular season. The game in question was played in 2004 at Arrowhead Stadium, and the Chiefs won it by a score of 45-35. The remaining three regular season match-ups were lost by the scores of 27-14 at Arrowhead in 2000, 35-28 at Arrowhead in 2001, and 13-10 at the RCA Dome in 2007. In each game the Chiefs had an opportunity to win.

In Manning’s first regular season game against the Chiefs during the 2000 NFL season he passed for 273 yards with one touchdown, one interception (Donnie Edwards), and was sacked once by Eric Hicks (remember him?). In this game Edgerrin James rushed for 124 yards and the score was 14-14 going into the 4th quarter. The Chiefs gave up 13 points in the 4th quarter, and went on to lose 27-14.

In his second regular season game against the Chiefs in 2001, Manning passed for 201 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions, and was sacked three times (Duane Clemons, Mike Maslowski, Derrick Ransom). In this game James rushed for 102 yards, and the Colts led 14-17 going into the 4th quarter. The Chiefs gave up 18 points in the 4th quarter, and went on to lose 35-28.

Moving forward, Manning faced the Chiefs again in 2004, and in this game he passed for 472 yards with five touchdown passes, and only one interception (by the non-tackling Greg Wesley). He wasn’t sacked the entire game. While the Chiefs scored 24 points in the 2nd quarter of this contest, they only gave up seven points to the Colts in the 4th quarter. In addition to this, the Colts only had 34 yards rushing, while Priest Holmes rushed for 143 yards, and three touchdowns, and led the Chiefs to victory. This was the only game in which the Chiefs rushed for over 100 yards against the Colts in the regular season during the Manning era.

Then came the most recent match-up with Peyton Manning in 2007, in which the Chiefs held him to no touchdown passes. Manning threw for a mere 163 yards, with one interception (Jarrad Page), and was sacked twice (Ron Edwards, Tamba Hali) in a 13-10 victory for the Colts. And with the score tied 10-10 going into the 4th quarter, the Chiefs gave up an Adam Vinatieri field goal in the final seconds to lose in the 4th quarter once again. And Chief fans, guess who was our quarterback for this game? The winless Brodie Croyle, who orchestrated a pretty good game. He was 19-27 for 169 yards with one passing touchdown.

Peyton Manning’s regular season career totals against the Chiefs are as follows: 138 passing attempts with 82 completions for 1,109 passing yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and he has been sacked six times. This next game for the Kansas City Chiefs will have many implications of whether the 2010 Chiefs are legit or not. The 2010 Chiefs have faced Phillip Rivers, Seneca Wallace, and Alex Smith, none of which are as proven as the one and only Peyton Williams Manning.

In short, the keys to victory for the Chiefs are very simple. Rush for more than 100 yards, don’t lose the game in the 4th quarter, stop the run, and put points on the board. You can’t stop Peyton Manning, you can only hope to contain him. I know that in my last article I was a bit hard on Thomas Jones because I want Jamaal Charles to get more carries, however, in this game he will prove to be a very valuable asset. For this game we must believe, and have faith, and repeat the official Kansas City Chiefs slogan for 2010: CHIEFS WILL !!