NFL Match of the Week with Sportsfreak’s NFL Expert Hamish Girvan
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“Heeeeerrre’s Johnny”
Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs Monday 7am
Whilst on paper not a usual game of week, this match up brings some interesting potential story lines both past and present
The KC Chiefs are a heck of a team and the moment and will be gunning to win their 9th straight game – they created a NFL record last week in their win over the Baltimore Ravens by winning their 8th straight after losing the previous 5 games. Led by Quarterback Alex Smith, who is not the most exciting NFL Quarterback, he is one of the more efficient. A first round draft pick in 2005 by the San Francisco 49ers, Smith was traded to KC in 2013 and is having one of his most successful NFL seasons
He is getting the job done with his usual low-risk approach and ranks among the top three Quarterbacks in the NFL, in completions (64%), yards per attempt (7.6), and passing touchdowns (five) on screen plays. All of those numbers are career highs for Smith.
On the other side of the ball are the Cleveland Browns and their Quarterback – the polarising Johnny Manziel. Johnny “Football” was the 22nd draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2015. To be honest his ability can only be described as a “work in progress” – off field issues and a stint in rehab has meant his chances have been limited however after a number of starts and early finishes he now seems to be the No.1 on the Brown’s depth chart. He will be up against one of the more menacing defences and could be on his butt a few times if the Chiefs can get to him.
The Chiefs are highly motivated – the AFC West which was more or less Denver’s a month ago is achievable based on the Chiefs winning out and the Broncos stumbling. Momentum is everything in the NFL and the Chiefs are on a roll.
The Browns are being given a 13 point start in this one and a lot will be as to how well Manziel can get the ball to his offence to give them a chance of at least running this close. Expect the Chiefs to go a 9th straight win though.
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