The 7-4 Kansas City Chiefs head to Cleveland this Sunday to face the 3-8 Browns as favorites by six points. Cleveland knows it will be up to its defense to weather the storm this week against the league’s leader in rushing yards and carries, Larry Johnson. This is a game the Chiefs desperately need to stay in the middle of things in the AFC playoff landscape. Kansas City has only reached the postseason once in the past eight seasons, that appearance in 2003. With the announcement that Priest Holmes will not return this season, Johnson’s health becomes vital and the Chiefs will face a dilemma. . . Perhaps he has helped Kansas City become a better football team with their best running back, LJ, getting all the carries. Maybe that’s why the Chiefs are 5-1 in their last six games. However, Priest Holmes’ time as a featured runner watching the ball on almost every play is perhaps the reason why he now can’t seem to stay on the field. The philosophy of Kansas City seems to be to drive them until their wheels fall off, but maybe they should learn from the past. Herman Edwards made the statement that it won’t wear Larry Johnson down, but if it comes at the cost of losing, all bets are off, I assure you.

The Browns’ 19th-ranked defense will face the challenge of stopping the league’s sixth-ranked running offense. I’ll be the first to tell you that the Browns’ defense is much stronger than its ranking indicates, but the offense hasn’t been able to move the ball well enough to give the defense a chance to take a breather. Kansas City’s 12th defense has proven susceptible at times, especially on the run. I’m not sure how much good that will do, as the Browns have the 30th ranked rushing offense with just 80.1 yards per game.

Cleveland’s best defensive scheme will be to stack the line and have quarterback Trent Green beat them. Green is making just his third start of the season after suffering a concussion in week 1. So far, he has rarely been screened and the Chiefs haven’t really called his number.

This week will be largely decided by how the Browns can respond after being beaten by their 30 rivals in the state last week. Morale is at an all-time low this season for the Browns after falling to 1-5 at home this season. Are the stars lined up for Cleveland to bounce back this week or will Kansas City continue to sail behind its Pro Bowl? I’ve analyzed every angle of this matchup inside and out and haven’t felt better about one play in the AFC all season. That’s why I make this match my AFC 5 Star Game of the year. You can take my winning side straight to the bank!