Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/18

Good morning Chiefs fans! A somewhat shorter version of Arrowheadlines this morning. Not a lot out there. Enjoy your Kansas City Chiefs news. Oh, and don't forget about football tonight (Go Bones!).

They’re trying to hit the reset button and get back to the team that runs the ball well, stops the opponent from doing so and commits few turnovers and penalties.

The Chiefs haven’t been that team in their last two games, including last week’s 49-29 loss in Denver where they fell behind 35-0 in the first half. They’ve dropped to 5-4 and into a tie with Oakland for the lead in the AFC West.

Reboot camp: Chiefs go back to basics after losses from KC Star

"We got a bunch of base work," he said. "We were in pads, just trying to get back to fundamentals, fundamentals of doing things the right way - offense, defense, special teams. I thought we had a good day's work. I thought we made progress."

Progress seemed urgently needed after the Denver loss. In fact, after a 3-0 start to their second year under Haley, the Chiefs (5-4) have played poorly their last three in a row.

Chiefs buckle up, knuckle down in tough practice from The Washington Post

Rookie Kendrick Lewis, who missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury, returned to full participation during Wednesday’s practice. The free-safety position was a clear weakness in Sunday’s blowout loss at Denver, as Lewis and veteran Jon McGraw were inactive. McGraw, who has injuries to his knee and head, was limited Wednesday.

Chiefs notebook | Team prepares for bad weather from KC Star

At the top end, some think he can be maybe the 10th to 15th best quarterback in the league. At the bottom end, some think he's not fit for Rockhurst High. Me, I'm guessing he's 15th to 20th, and much more dependent on what's around him than even most quarterbacks.

But none of that's the point today.

The point today is to recognize two facts about Matt Cassel*, one that's sometimes overlooked, the other that's sometimes twisted.

Two quick points about Matt Cassel from Don't Kill the Mellinger

Matt Cassel is the NFL's ninth-rated passer - throwing 12 touchdowns and one interception over the last five games - and Kansas City ranks among the upper half of the league in scoring and total offense. However, the Chiefs have stumbled since their 3-0 start, losing two straight and four of six.

"We have had some success but we are not a good team yet because good teams show certain traits on a consistent basis and do things a certain way on a consistent basis and we are just not there yet," Haley said. "It is going to be difficult and there are going to be bumps in the road. The key is that we handle those bumps and that adversity and show the ability and resiliency to bounce back."

Kansas City vs. Arizona from CBS Sports

"There are a ton of people back there that I care for, you included," Haley said Wednesday during a conference call with Arizona reporters, "but right now my focus really is on the Chiefs. We're not a good team yet. We're trying like heck to be one."

Whisenhunt and Haley shared an office at the Jets complex for only a year, but they became nearly as close as brothers, and fought like it.

Arizona Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt, Kansas City Chiefs' Todd Haley intersect again from The Arizona Republic

Priest Holmes will be visiting Valley Falls High School on November 17, 2010, as part of the Refuel America Grant program, sponsored by the "got milk?" Campaign, which recognizes coaches who've changed their team's recovery game plan to include lowfat chocolate milk to help give teen athletes the competitive edge.

GOT MILK? CAMPAIGNHONORS DESERVING COACH AT VALLEY FALLS HIGH SCHOOL from KSNT.com

Jeremy Bridges left work on Monday with his usual job as a Cardinals backup offensive lineman. He returned Wednesday morning, after a day off, with the starting right tackle job.

Bridges, in his eighth NFL season, isn't exactly in a panic over replacing Brandon Keith, who is out for the season after suffering a torn hamstring last Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals' Jeremy Bridges finds comfort zone as starter from The Arizona Republic

Tyler Thigpen doesn't consider himself the same helter-skelter quarterback who scrambled and scurried for yards when he made 11 starts for the Chiefs in 2008.

He'll get a chance to prove that tonight when he makes his first start of the season for Miami against the Chicago Bears in a nationally televised game on NFL Network.

Ex-Chiefs QB Thigpen will start in Miami from KC Star