(My Sportsbook) - The Chiefs used a surprising defensive effort to squeak by the Buffalo Bills last week, 17-16. Priest Holmes carried 31 times and gained 104 yards, but it was the work of Kansas City's secondary that was the highlight of the game. CB Eric Warfield made the play of the day with an interception of Buffalo QB Drew Bledsoe late in the fourth quarter and almost single-handedly won the game for the Chiefs.

This week, the Chiefs travel to the Pacific Northwest to face their first sub-.500 opponent since Week 5. Kansas City will try to stay in the playoff hunt versus a team that has nothing to lose. That's a scary proposition.

"NFL football players - specifically Kansas City Chiefs football players - are human. They're susceptible to letdowns. I don't anticipate it; I don't expect it. I think I know the character and quality of kids on this football team. I think they feel the sense of urgency and I think they recognize our opportunity as well as anybody else in our organization does. They know if we're going to end up being playoff competitive in December we've got to keep winning football games," said head coach Dick Vermeil.

Seattle suffered a 31-9 loss to the Broncos in Week 11, due primarily to its inability to establish the run or stop Denver's ground game. RB Shaun Alexander ran for an embarrassing 18 yards and Denver's Clinton Portis ran for 123 yards. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the result.

Coach Mike Holmgren has remained calm, and he thinks that returning to the fundamentals will go a long way in helping to regain his team's waning confidence.

"It's not the curse, it's not the moon, and it's not these things that are bandied about on occasion," said Holmgren. "We all have a tendency to make the game a little more complicated than it is, coaches included. Really, if you're honest, it comes down to a simple thing, real simple things. Not understanding blocking, tackling, catching, and playing smart. To win a couple of games in a row, which we haven't been able to do this season, snaps any group out of that thing where we're playing to lose."

SERIES HISTORY: The Chiefs have won three of the past four meetings to open a 30-17 lead in the all-time series. These teams last met on January, 6, 2002, when Seattle QB Trent Dilfer threw for two TDs in Seattle's 21-18 victory.

Kansas City has won seven of the past 11 in Seattle.

Vermeil is 3-2 versus the Seahawks, while Holmgren owns a 3-5 mark against KC.

CHIEFS OFFENSE

Thanks to the remarkable work of Holmes, the Chiefs possess the top-ranked rushing offense in the AFC. Kansas City averages 148.3 rushing yards per game, and the Seahawks will be in for a tough challenge. Seattle has the worst rush defense in the entire NFL, surrendering 170.1 yards per game.

Holmes may get the ball 30 times or more this week, and he should victimize the poor-tackling Seahawks. Green has ankle and rib injuries, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. With with that in mind, Holmes will be a workhorse this week.

Green will play, but Vermeil is somewhat concerned.

"Trent has not missed any real reps," said the coach. "It's been recommended that he take limited reps so we take him out and as soon as we do he's going full speed again. Take him out of the some of the practice fundamental routines that we do that require the same kind of movements that are required when you're in a non-game environment, but right now I don't know. You always have to be aware of the injury level if it's the quarterback."

KC has had a hard time on third downs, and went 4-for-11 last week on third down.

"We've been efficient in certain specific areas on third down. Recently we have not been on the third and two to five [yard] range. We've actually improved in the third and long range. So, we number one, evaluate what we're doing and how we do it. We do a better job of critiquing what our opponent does within those situations and attack accordingly."

Green is the NFL's fourth-best fourth-quarter passer, completing 51-of-82 attempts (62.2 percent) for 633 yards and eight TDs and one interception for a 113.5 QB rating. Seattle was outscored 21-3 in the fourth quarter of last week's game.

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE

After allowing 136 yards to Portis last week, the Seahawks need to quickly figure out a way to stop the run. Holmes is the second-leading rusher in the NFL, and Seattle's run defense will be tested early and often. It's no secret that Kansas City's bread and butter is the run, and Holmgren knows what he's in for.

"They have a great running back, we know that," said Holmgren. "Their offense has been very, very productive and early in the season they were giving up a lot of points on defense and they seemed to have kind of come together nicely on defense and are playing pretty well right now."

Seattle will welcome LB Anthony Simmons back to the defense, just in time for Holmes. He won't be able to single-handedly stop the run, but Holmgren thinks it should help. it should help.

"It's just nice to have him back, first of all. You have to be careful. He might play 20 plays, 15 plays. He hasn't played any football for 11 weeks. And might play 20 plays, 15 plays. He hasn't played any football for 11 weeks. And he hasn't even practiced," said Holmgren. "It's nice to have him back. That's he hasn't even practiced," said Holmgren. "It's nice to have him back. That's where you start. Now you get him feeling good, you get him in the game just a little bit and see what he can do...We're just going to get him back on the field and get him playing." field and get him playing."

The Seahawks would love to focus all of their attention toward Holmes, but The Seahawks would love to focus all of their attention toward Holmes, but Kansas City's passing game is also dangerous. Stopping TE Tony Gonzalez will be critical, since he is due for a big game. Gonzalez has had only three catches in the past two weeks.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE

Seattle's inability to establish Alexander has plagued the team as a whole. Alexander has not rushed for more than 67 yards since Week 6, and that has allowed opposing defenses to gear against QB Matt Hasselbeck. With that pressure to lead the offense himself, Hasselbeck threw for only 180 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns last week.

Holmgren is hopeful that the return of WR Darrell Jackson can provide some sort of help to an otherwise stoic offense. Jackson has not played since getting a concussion and seizure in Week 8.

"Just go out there and play," said Jackson of his goal this week. "Sometimes we just beat ourselves with mental mistakes and we just have to go out there and cut down on those and put some points on the board, and I think the offense will be back to normal."

Problems along the offensive line have been the downfall of the Seahawks all season, so that's where the team needs to begin evaluating talent for next year. Holmgren isn't ready to give up on Alexander, since he knows that much of the fault lies with the O-line.

"I think he has very, very good running ability. This year, because of some injuries and some different things on the offensive line, we haven't blocked as well as we could have. Now, are their some plays when he should hit in there instead of trying to make something else happen? Sure. It's never just one guy. It's never just the offensive line, it's never just the back, and it's never just one position.

"Shaun's working really hard. If he stopped working hard or something like that, then I'd be concerned. But he's not doing that."

CHIEFS DEFENSE

Although Alexander hasn't been effective, he is still a threat. Kansas City allows 4.9 rushing yards per carry, and Alexander has the skills to make an impact against that sort of a defense. Per game, the Chiefs surrender 120.3 yards. Last week, Buffalo's Travis Henry rushed for 126 yards on 24 carries (5.3 average).

KC's secondary is dealing with some injuries, and Hasselbeck may have some opportunities. Vermeil address the situation with his DBs.

"William Bartee is still doubtful and we're preparing Ray Crockett to go and getting Taje Allen to play some too and Corey Harris," said the coach.

Vermeil wants his defense to prevent the Seahawks to get off to an early start. He thinks that will be one of the keys to this week's game.

"They are the eighth best scoring team in the first half," said the coach. "But they struggle putting points on the board in the second half. That's where they've been taken advantage of. Just like other teams that have problems winning and losing in the league today."