NFL Kansas City Chiefs

With Alex Smith Ruled Out, Playoff Hopes Rely on Chase Daniel at QB For Chiefs

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By @DanParzych

(Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

They may need some help from other teams, but the Kansas City Chiefs still have a fighting chance to make the playoffs on Sunday with a win over the San Diego Chargers along with some help from the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. Unfortunately, it looks like making the playoffs just became even more difficult for the Chiefs as they’ll have to figure out a way to win against the Chargers without Alex Smith at quarterback.

Smith has been officially ruled out for Sunday’s big game thanks to a lacerated spleen–meaning Chase Daniel will get the start for Kansas City. After looking like one of the hottest teams in football during the middle of the season, the Chiefs have struggled since the end of November as they’ve lost four of their last five games–with their latest coming last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What’s even more frustrating–three of those four losses have come by single digits.

With the way the Chiefs’ offense has played lately, the argument can be made that nobody expected them to be in position to still make the playoffs in the final week of the regular season. Losing Smith is obviously a huge blow for the offense as the quarterback has always been considered one of the most underrated leaders in the NFL, but there’s no reason why the defense can’t carry the way for Kansas City against San Diego to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

As for Daniel starting at quarterback–well let’s just say there should be some concerns considering this will only be the quarterback’s second career. Not to mention the wide receivers for the Chiefs haven’t given this team anything to brag about throughout the 2014 season.

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