Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/30

Morning AP. Here's your Kansas City Chiefs News from across the internet.

The Chiefs and Bowe don’t have much time left to prove themselves. Kansas City finishes its season on the road Sunday at Denver. If this season has shown anything, it’s that the Chiefs’ coaches are evaluating players and trying to learn who’s capable of helping the team in the future — without having to tolerate continued setbacks from those same players.

Haley said the team has made decisions on many of its players, and some have failed tests or proved they’re just not capable. The coach didn’t name anyone, but Bowe would probably have a less worrisome offseason if he’d paid more attention to the details. For now, the Chiefs will keep waiting on him to prove himself one way or the other.

"He’s had a difficult month and a half," Haley said of Bowe. "I think this is all part of the process for Dwayne and growing and becoming the player that we think he’s capable of being."

As season nears end, Chiefs continue to wait on Bowe from KC Star

For the first time in 31 seasons, the Chiefs do not have a player on the AFC squad for the Pro Bowl.

Now, with various injuries to those players announced Tuesday evening, there’s always a chance a member of the Chiefs can be added as an injury replacement.

But right now there will be no arrowhead covered helmet at the game for the first time since the 1978 season.

Chiefs Get Pro Bowl Shutout from Bob Gretz

The Chiefs long string of Pro Bowlers is done.

For now.

But the landscape of the AFC roster will change. In fact, it’s guaranteed to have alterations this year.

The NFL’s decision to play the Pro Bowl the Sunday before the Super Bowl means representatives of at least two teams will not be available for the all-star game. More than likely, that will be two teams with quite a few players on the conference all-star teams.

Chiefs Pro Bowl Streak Ends … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

The Chiefs’ game Sunday is in Denver, and that means they will face their annual prospect of playing in the Mile High City.

Denver is 5,280 feet above sea level, meaning the Chiefs players may have to deal with altitude sickness. The term "playing at altitude" (or "playing at elevation") is often bandied about, but what happens physiologically to the body?

Peter Hackett, the director of the Institute for Altitude Medicine in Telluride, Colo., explained.

What the Chiefs could feel while playing at elevation from KC Star

The toughest part about the Broncos making the playoffs as an AFC wild card will not be the Houston Texans beating the visiting New England Patriots. It will not be expecting the Oakland Raiders to win at home against the Baltimore Ravens. It may not even be the Cincinnati Bengals, with a backup quarterback, beating the New York Jets in the final game at the Meadowlands' Giants Stadium.

The biggest challenge for the Broncos will be beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High.

How can a team with a 2-7 record for its past nine games be a 13-1/2-point favorite against anybody?

Do you know how bad a team has to play to go 2-7, which the Broncos have done?

Analysis: Broncos, in 2-7 slump, sure to be challenged by Chiefs from The Denver Post

Your Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to double last season's win total in Denver this Sunday.

Of course, the 2008 team was all kinds of lousy. Even if the Chiefs, who are 13-point underdogs, prevail at Fur Locker Field at Mile High, the '09 season will go down as one of the franchise's worst. Elvis Grbac kind of sucked, but his performances were never blacked out.

So, tell us, Chiefs fans, which is the most likely to occur between the merciful end to Halioli: Year One and the start of the 2010 season?

What will happen to the Chiefs this offseason? from The Pitch

31. Kansas City Chiefs [32] — Can we stop basing our assessment of quarterbacks on their team's results? We bash great players like Dan Marino who carried weak teams but never won a championship, while praising mediocre passers like Eli Manning who had great teammates, and unduly celebrating genuinely great players like Tom Brady who happen to also have lots of help. Matt Cassel looked great in New England last year, throwing to Randy Moss and Welker behind a top-notch offensive line. Playing with Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers behind a poor line, he has a passer rating of 70.1, lower than Matt Hasselbeck, Jay Cutler, and Marc Bulger. No player has more effect on his team's fortunes than the QB, but he can't do it alone.

NFL Week 16 Power Rankings from Sports Central

Remember the pained look upon the face of Macaulay Culkin and the accompanying scream of agony he elicited when he applied the aftershave in the movie "Home Alone"?

New England Patriots fans will sport a similar look — and sound — this Sunday.

The man who will be wearing No. 31 for the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium  was the same man wearing No. 49 for the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7, 2008.

In some respects, it all seems like yesterday.

The memories are that fresh — the safety blitz, Sammy Morris’ inability to prevent Bernard Pollard from penetrating, Tom Brady writhing in pain, clutching his left knee after the lunging safety made contact as the franchise quarterback threw downfield to Randy Moss.

Pats' Brady to face old 'villain' Pollard this week from The Norwich Bulletin

Player Tweets

MrKolbySmith RT @msmichelleb: RT @lexichow: people take twitter wayyy to seriously... *so true*

almighty31 is there a woman out there that wont get on my nerves

almighty31 im hungry angry and irritated. bad combo

almighty31 in outback. in independence. y is everybody starin at me

Media and Fans

Adam_Schefter Redskins rookie Brian Orakpo voted to the Pro Bowl - quite the honor.

jimgaffigan It's only December and I'm already going through NFL withdrawal.

Chudini: Watching the KU game and the best part is listening to Mitch Holthus do play by play. Chiefs football he's good but basketball he's amazing.

BrianMcGannon: No #Chiefs players on the Pro Bowl roster...But I guarantee of these guys will be next year: Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali or Glenn Dorsey

LIzann49: @thedavidcook I know it's early but who would you like to see the Chiefs draft in April?