Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/14

Good morning, Chiefs fans! It's Tuesday and, according to my sources, we still got our butts beat last Sunday. The good news is that we're one day closer to the Rams. Another mostly dismal day of Kansas City Chiefs news lies ahead (but I did include an interview with a smoking hot SD cheerleader if that helps). Enjoy!

Cassel said he would prepare this week as if he would quarterback the Chiefs in Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis.

"That’s why I’m here," said Cassel, who was with his teammates at the Chiefs’ practice facility Monday as they reviewed the San Diego game. "I’ll do what I normally do. It will be a normal week of preparation. It will be a better week for me."

That doesn’t necessarily mean Cassel, who had an appendectomy last Wednesday, will play against the Rams. The Chiefs don’t hold their first practice of the week until Wednesday, and the first public indication of whether Cassel will play would probably come then.

Cassel says he’s preparing as if he’ll play against Rams from KC Star

KC Star Video: Haley | Sunday's loss not all Croyle's fault

If the Chiefs win their final three games, they will be 11-5 and win the division. However, if the Chargers win their final three games and the Chiefs stumble once, the Chargers will win their fifth straight division title based on tiebreakers.

How Chiefs and Chargers can win division from ESPN

Biggest area to build on: nothing. This was one of those throw-away-the-tape games and move on to next week.

Moving on: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

With Brodie Croyle replacing Cassel as the starting quarterback, the Chiefs had only 67 yards of offense, went 0 for 11 on third down conversions, mustered just 19 yards passing, punted eight times and had the ball for only 19:50.

Haley, however, said don't put the entire blame on Croyle's shoulders, calling it "a complete team loss.''

"From start to finish it was a team loss,'' Haley said. "Offensively, we never could get anything positive going. It's an 11-man operation. I want to be clear on that. Defensively, we were unable to stop San Diego. We could not stop the run. Our goal was to make them one dimensional.''

Status of Matt Cassel for Rams game undetermined from Sports Illustrated

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: It's tough to bash Bowe after all the good he's done for fantasy owners this season, but Sunday's meltdown in Southern California (one reception, three yards, no touchdowns) gives Bowe a grand total of zero fantasy points over the last two weeks. December is not the time to go on vacation.

Enter the Red Zone: Playoff Edition from National Football Post   

The same question applies for Kansas City (8-5), which saw its margin for error shrink considerably with a loss at San Diego that included one of the worst offensive showings in franchise history as Brodie Croyle (0-10 in career starts) failed miserably in replacing Matt Cassel, sidelined after an appendectomy.

As much as the Chiefs have to be concerned how long it will take for Cassel to return to form, their failure to lack the Chargers' intensity during what might have been a statement game about the shift of power in the AFC West turned out as an indicator of what's needed to maintain a first-place edge.

Three-and-out: Reeling Jets need to find offense quickly from USA Today

Editor's note: Next post is a reminder not all is bad in San Diego.

San Diego's sideline scorcher explains why Philip Rivers is MVP, why Brett Favre needs acupuncture, and why China is about to love the NFL

Monday Morning Cheerleader: Natalie of the Chargers from Esquire

"The goals that we're reaching for, which are still there, won't be achievable unless we get back on track and get focused on this one, because this Kansas City team is a pretty good football team," Spagnuolo said. "I think we all know that. It doesn't matter to me what they did yesterday. I don't care what quarterback they play, they're good."

Spagnuolo liked the way his team fought back and ran the ball against the Saints, but he was unhappy with the Rams' slow start, pass blocking and a couple of key third-down conversions allowed by the defense.

Spagnuolo believes Rams can be better from The Belleville News-Democrat

Missing Matt Sometimes, the lack of a respectable QB can make a fantasy owners' worst nightmares become real. Without Matt Cassel, the Chiefs offense made Carolina's unit look like a juggernaut. With Brodie Croyle"leading" the offense, Kansas City was shut out at San Diego.

Brady, Branch unfazed by blizzard from NFL.com

The Chiefs lost their starter, Matt Cassel, to an appendectomy and lost their offense under Brodie Croyle. Kansas City still leads the AFC West, but couldn't score a point against the Chargers. Croyle threw for 40 yards in 17 attempts, and the team was 0-for-11 in third-down conversions.

There are 72 quarterbacks that have thrown at least one pass in the NFL this season. It is imperative to have a quality backup on the roster.

Packers, Chiefs take step back with poor backup plans from NFL.com

It was a great day for football on TV yesterday, as the "NFL on CBS" doubleheader delivered an 18.5 rating/32 share according to Nielsen overnights. That would make it the highest-rated broadcast of any NFL game during the 2010 season so far.

The performance by CBS even out-rated NBC's "Sunday Night Football," which aired in primetime and tied a ratings record of its own.

‘NFL on CBS’ Doubleheader Becomes Highest-Rated NFL Broadcast in 2010 Season from MediaBistro.com