Cardinals at Chiefs - Week 11 - Record: 6-4

Is this a schizophrenic team or what? We blow out teams at home, but struggle on the road. We are now 5-0 at home, 1-4 on the road. At home the team stats are eye-popping, on the road they are barely average. Who are we, really?

Today we pasted a very average Cardinals team whose quarterback seemed to be wearing glasses that made everyone appear two feet taller than they really were, so I can't crow too effusively about our team's performance today. But what I can say is honestly very encouraging.

Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe are showing that when they are on, they are one of the best passing tandems in the NFL. Last week they had fun out there in Denver, torching the Broncos with 400+ passing yardage after the game itself was decided. If you counted only the last half or so, the Chiefs actually won last week  29-14. But that was last week.

This week the Chiefs defense didn't allow the Cardinals to do much after they started the game again roaring down the field. Only yielding a field goal then allowed us to make great use of our running game. The dynamic duo Jones and Charles put up 159 on the ground, a grip of good yardage that is kind of the standard now for the Chiefs running game.

But then there is Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe. Cassel has 18 touchdowns on the season and only 4 interceptions. That is pretty danged great. I really like seeing our receivers get some real separation out there today making it easier for Cassel. Bowe for his part set a Chiefs record with his sixth straight game with a TD catch, and Bowe's  fantasy league owners have been in a state of nirvana thus far. Critical in this game was the Chiefs 80-yard drive to start the second half, and very nice mix of runs and passes that showed what we can do.

The bazillion dollar question at this point: Can we do this kind of thing on the road?

Next week we go to Seattle. The Seahawks are pretty good but can be beaten. I truly think this will be the test. Again, will we show we are true contenders or not?

Can our offense hum like it did today in someone else's yard?

Furthermore, can our defense play with steady, sustained effectiveness -- especially in someone else's yard?

I was beginning to wonder if Dexter McCluster was that much of a factor, since he'd been out for several weeks. We also didn't have Tony Moeaki or John McGraw for today's game, and we had a banged up offensive line. Branden Albert went out with some injury today, and that concerns me. So another very crucial question is, how will our injury situation affect this team?

Next week, on the road. In Seattle is where the real question will be answered.

Are we actually truly really actually contenders?

We'll find out.
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