Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/3

Good morning Chiefs fans! Once again, we've gathered your Kansas City Chiefs news for you. There are some good articles today. Good stuff on the O-line, a new look at why we go for it on 4th, and a shocking stat for Missouri teams are ahead. Enjoy!

Anything to help fortify a line that allowed 45 sacks in 2009.

A season later, the Chiefs are on pace to allow fewer than 20 sacks, and they have the league’s best rush offense. Running back Thomas Jones has said that he runs behind one of the NFL’s best lines.

"Last year," Waters said, "we were trying to do so much. We were just trying to figure out what works. This year, we just clearly have a better understanding of what we’re going to do."

Chiefs discover improvement on down the line from KC Star

If you are consciously more aggressive on fourth down, it opens up the playbook on third down.  Obvious passing downs become not so obvious, the defense has to be expecting anything, and the offense can function more efficiently.  By embracing an aggressive fourth down strategy, where, as Haley notes, they are in four down mode in many situations, Cassel is not put in as many situations where the defense is "pinning their ears back" and rushing the passer with abandon.

Todd Haley’s Aggressive Fourth Down Strategies Are Linked to Fewer Sacks for Cassel from The Big Lead

A few weeks ago, the Chiefs were unbeaten, and Oakland was back at its familiar place as the disaster of the AFC West. Kansas City could have marked the first Raiders game as a likely victory, another stop during the lightest part of its schedule.

But after the last two Sundays, when the Raiders combined to score 92 points and the Chiefs simply survived* against two weak teams, this Sunday's contest is much more interesting.

Re-examining the schedule: Can the Chiefs win 12 or 13 games? from The Red Zone

KC Star Video: Chiefs Todd Haley recaps Bills game

If on his best behavior, Moss, still a capable deep threat, could, theoretically, provide the Chiefs with one more weapon in their quest to not blow the division, or go deep into the playoffs, or win the Super Bowl, or whatever it is they're trying to do. (I really can't tell after an OT squeaker against the Bills.) And the beauty of the NFL (unless you're in the players' union) is the low-risk nature of player contracts. If it doesn't work, they can simply cut him, and won't be on the hook for too much cash.

But that theory was tested in Minneapolis, and it failed with flying f-bombs.

Randy Moss to Kansas City? Please don't let the Chiefs take this stupid risk from The Pitch

When Matt Cassel signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs I thought he would take a big time beating before KC grew up enough to protect him. Well he did for a while, but now the running game is King in KC and Cassel will have a fighting chance to shine on his own.

QBs Still Drive the Bus on Sundays from The National Football Post

Which is why the Broncos' first game after the bye is so noteworthy, because it's the Chiefs who play Nov. 14 at Invesco Field at Mile High.

The Chiefs, who have spent some time wandering around the missing-the-playoff wilderness in recent years, also happen to be the team currently residing in first place in the AFC West, at 5-2.

They are the NFL's top running team and have allowed 101 fewer points than the Broncos at this point.

Analysis: Broncos better wake up after bye week from The Denver Post

First of all, it isn't like a coach can just flip a switch and decide his team will be a rushing or passing team. It's possible that it begins with a philosophy, but it's more likely that it evolves based upon personnel. So, regardless of which may be superior, you go with what you have.

In the Chiefs' case, we all know what they have.

Rushing vs Passing: Which Wins Most? from Upon Further Review

Look who the Chiefs play the next five weeks: at Oakland Raiders, at Broncos, versus Arizona Cardinals, at Seahawks, versus Broncos. In terms of fantasy points per games allowed to opposing running backs, those defenses have afforded the fifth-, third-, fourth-, ninth- and third-most.

2010 fantasy football rankings update from ESPN

In the AFC West Division, the standings are exactly opposite the way they were predicted in the preseason. San Diego and Denver are on the bottom of the standings while Kansas City and Oakland are at the top.

The Chiefs are sporting one of the best records in the NFL (5-2), boast one of the stingiest defenses in the league and are among the leaders in rushing offense.

NFL season hits halfway point with surprises from TheRecordLive.com

Theismann likes Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley and New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, both with 5-2 records. Haley has a team with six wins the last two seasons in first in the AFC West.

"Todd Haley took a group of guys nobody thought much of and got them to play together as a team," Theismann said. "Four weeks ago, we thought the Giants were a house of cards. Now they're the best team in the NFC."

Packers LB Clay Matthews among early favorites for NFL awards from USA Today

Through four home games, the two teams in the state of Missouri, the Kansas City Chiefs & St. Louis Rams, are a combined 8-0 at their stadiums, Arrowhead Stadium & Edward Jones Dome, respectively. The Chiefs are currently in first place in the AFC West, and the Rams are a 1/2 game behind the Seattle Seahawks for first place in the NFC West.

Cheers & Jeers Week 8 from The Gridiron Grind