Detroit offense vs. Kansas City defense

	LIONS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	8
	Pass	17
	Tot. Yds.	15
	Scoring	10
	Int's allowed	10
	Sacks allowed	6
	CHIEFS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	7
	vs. Pass	20
	Total yds. allowed	14
	Ints.	15
	Sacks	20
	Turnover differential	+2

Two weeks into the season it is becoming very clear that this is a Bobby Ross style of offense. Without Barry Sanders, the Lions have surprisingly assumed a "smash mouth" type mentality with a running back-by-committee approach. Gone is Sanders and the zone blocking schemes of years past.

This game promises to be a matchup of two physical units. After piling up huge yardage with an impressive ground-oriented attack versus Seattle, the Lions were not impressive in last week's upset win over the Packers. Forced to play with No. 4 OG Kerlin Blaise for much of the afternoon, the Lions mustered only 82 yards on 31 carries, led by RB Ron Rivers (17 att., 54 yds.).

Detroit will find it tough to run against a surprising Chiefs front seven that is holding opponents to 84.5 yards per game and a mere 3.1 per carry. Kansas City's stout run defense has been a surprise because starting DEs Leslie O'Neal and Eric Hicks are generally regarded as rush ends, but they are shutting down the run well with slants to the inside.

Derrick Thomas' shift back to OLB and the addition of MLB Marvcus Patton have been the two keys thus far defensively for the Chiefs. The inside circle of DTs Tom Barndt, Chester McGlockton, and MLB Patton will get plenty of work against a Lions offense that rarely runs outside the tackles. The success of the Detroit ground game will depend largely on the play of LOG Blaise, who will replace injured Tony Semple in the starting lineup.

Detroit's passing game was not overly impressive a week ago, but QB Charlie Batch made the big throws when he needed to. In the Week 1 victory at Seattle, second-year WR Germaine Crowell stepped up in Herman Moore's absence and caught seven passes for 141 yards. Last Sunday it was Johnnie Morton's turn to get involved (4 rec., 118 yards, 1 TD). Without Moore, the Lions must rely on their starting receivers to make plays against CBs James Hasty and Chris Dishman, who held Denver's wide receivers to just four receptions last week.

The Chiefs have had trouble generating a pass rush with their front four and have been forced to blitz in order to get pressure. When they blitz, the Chiefs usually leave CB Hasty on an island and rotate deep help to Dishman's side. Look for Batch to test Hasty when he is matched up on Crowell, because of the receiver's height advantage and ability to make the tough catch in a crowd.

The key matchup in the passing game will be TE David Sloan versus OLB Donnie Edwards. Sloan only had one catch last week, but his 74-yard touchdown -- in which he ran away from Packers' All-Pro SS LeRoy Butler -- showed what a weapon he can be if he is included in the game plan. Edwards, who is improving in pass coverage, held Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe to six catches and 52 yards on a day where Sharpe was the first option on a high percentage of passing downs.

Kansas City offense vs. Detroit defense

	CHIEFS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	7
	Pass	13
	Tot. Yds.	10
	Scoring	13
	Int's allowed	17
	Sacks allowed	26
	LIONS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	13
	vs. Pass	19
	Total yds. allowed	15
	Ints.	22
	Sacks	10
	Turnover differential	-2

In last week's victory over the Broncos, the Chiefs did exactly what they need to do to win football games -- control the line of scrimmage and control the clock. Kansas City needs another inspired effort Sunday against a vastly improved Lions defense.

The Chiefs suffered a big blow last week when starting RB Kimble Anders, who had rushed for 142 yards on 22 carries, suffered an Achilles' tendon injury in the fourth quarter. With few other options, the Chiefs will turn to Bam Morris, who has been in coach Gunther Cunningham's doghouse since training camp. After not receiving a single carry against the Bears, Morris totaled 32 yards on 11 attempts last week. Morris generally plays much better when he has a week to prepare as the starter. He will be spelled on passing downs by Rashaan Shehee.

The addition of LDT James Jones and the health of MLB Stephen Boyd have really upgraded Detroit's run defense. Packers' RB Dorsey Levens rushed for 153 yards last week, but the Lions stiffened up in the red zone, allowing Levens to score only one TD. After facing two versatile RBs like Ricky Watters and Levens, the Lions must make the proper adjustments for Morris. In particular, they must constantly rotate players along the front four in order to keep players' legs fresh. DT Kelvin Pritchett and RDE Tracy Scroggins, who will spell starter Travis Kirschke on passing downs, must be ready to contribute significant minutes.

If the first two weeks are any indication, the Kansas City passing game is far too one-dimensional. Aside from WR Derrick Alexander, who already has two 100-yard games to his credit, the Chiefs are getting minimal contributions from guys like WRs Andre Rison, Kevin Lockett, and even TE Tony Gonzalez, who had only two receptions in his debut last week.

The possible loss of LCB Bryant Westbrook (hamstring) is a huge concern for the Lions. Nickel back Robert Bailey played fairly well last week against the Packers but Westbrook's loss would be most felt in nickel situations, where veteran J.B. Brown would take over Bailey's assignment. Whether Westbrook plays hurt or Bailey starts, the Chiefs must concentrate on attacking the left side of the field. Bailey and Brown are steady players but the Chiefs should feel confident that they won't hold up all afternoon.

With question marks in the secondary, the Detroit's front seven must get pressure on QB Elvis Grbac. Although he did a better job last week, Grbac has been locking in on receivers and holding the football too long, which will become a problem if LDE Robert Porcher starts having his way with ROT Victor Riley, who often struggles against high motor pass rushers.

Special teams

	NFL RANK
	Category	DET	KC
	Punt return avg.	11	25
	Kickoff return avg.	1	22
	Opp. punt return avg.	9	1
	Opp. kickoff ret. avg.	4	19
	Time of possession	15	18

After using backup FB Brock Olivo on kickoffs in Week 1, Bobby Ross made the right decision -- he handed the kick return duties back to Terry Fair. Fair, the NFL kick return leader last season, was being held solely to punts by Ross in order to keep him fresh for his CB responsibilities. All Fair did to validate Ross' move was return a second-half kickoff 90 yards, defusing a Green Bay rally.

The Chiefs were solid on special teams a week ago, holding the Broncos to six yards on three punt returns and just over 22 yards on five kickoffs.

It will be interesting to see how Chiefs P Daniel Pope responds to playing against the team (Lions) that cut him in the exhibition season. Pope has been average the first couple of weeks but should have more incentive against Detroit. Expect the Lions to go after their ex-camp guy, who has come very close to getting a few kicks blocked the past two weeks.

Key matchups