BL Predicts: Game 13 vs KC Chiefs

Football is an emotional game and in game 13 vs the Kansas City Chiefs, the Browns have to be on the guard against a team that may have an emotional advantage.   On paper the Browns should win this game considering that they have the home field advantage and are playing what can only be labelled as one of the NFL's worst teams.

However KC have two coaches and two players in key roles who were rejected by the Browns.   Head Coach Romeo Crennel and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll were fired by the Browns.  Running back Peyton Hillis has been sparring in the newspapers all week with Browns tackle Joe Thomas over Hillis' letting down his Browns teammates during the 2011 season.   Finally, Chiefs QB Brady Quinn is a former 1st round pick who the Browns gave up on in 2010.   Quinn played well last week and it would be sweet vengeance for him to come in and beat Cleveland.

As a team, the Chiefs are dealing with an unprecedented situation.   The tragic murder suicide involving  Jovan Belcher, who was a popular player in the Chiefs.   The emotional scars from the horrible story are still fresh and the tragedy can either unite the Chiefs or drain them of energy.   The power of a united football team is undeniable and if the Chiefs are able to harness such power out of tragedy it can help them overcome many factors, including a lack of talent.

While the Chiefs are in the middle of factors that may unite them, the Browns were in the middle of rumors this week that might confuse or demotivate them.   Words is that Tom Heckert is out as Brown's GM and that he'll be placed by NFL Network announcer Mike Lombardi.    The fact that Joe Banner leaked this information shows a lack of judgement because he has created a major distraction, in particular with many players who Heckert picked to build the Browns.  In particular, Brandon Weeden and Josh Gibson were panned by Lombardi as being bad picks.

Lastly, weather promises to be a factor today.  It will be cold and quite probably rainy.   Brandon Weeden has been tested twice in "Cleveland weather" this year and both times, vs the Chargers and Ravens, he was mediocre.

My prediction is that the Chiefs will be ready to put it all on the line vs the Browns.  They have nothing to lose.  Meanwhile the Browns will show up with too much on their minds today and get off to a bad start that they'll not recover from.

BL Predicts:

Kansas City Chiefs       24
Cleveland Browns        20

The BL are 8-4 year to date in predicting the winner of Browns games.