Good morning, Chiefs fans. We have a short Arrowheadlines today. Pretty much all of the stories out there are either playoff scenarios or speculation on when Cassel comes back. The good news is stories are beginning to look ahead. So, enjoy your Kansas City Chiefs news. It should be noted, I just did a search for Chiefs/Rams pics and most of them are either Croyle taking a sack or Bowe missing a ball. True story.
There’s little doubt that one of the most significant reasons this team is 8-5 and has a one-game lead in the AFC West is a defense that is usually solid, occasionally terrific, and at times awful.
It was awful last Sunday, when San Diego beat the Chiefs 31-0 and shifted pressure onto Kansas City’s shoulders if it has plans to clinch its first division title since 2003. Coach Todd Haley said that too many missed tackles allowed the Chargers to rush for 207 yards. Too many fundamental errors and too many lapses in judgment kept allowing San Diego to reach the end zone.
Chiefs’ defense needs to bounce back against Rams from KC Star
From 2007 through the 2009 season, the Rams went 6-42, saw longtime owner Georgia Frontiere pass away, changed head coaches and revamped the front office, removing a longtime executive (Jay Zygmunt) in the process.
From 2007 through 2009, the Chiefs went 10-38, saw longtime owner Lamar Hunt pass away (at the end of the '06 season), changed head coaches and revamped the front office, removing a longtime executive (Carl Peterson) in the process.
It is rare for any organization in today's NFL to undergo such a complete overhaul in such a short period of time. Even rarer is that it happened twice in the Show-Me State during basically the same time period for franchises separated by only 250 miles of Interstate 70.
Rams, Chiefs on similar track in rebuilding from The St Louis Post-Dispatch
KC Star Video: Haley did find some positives from Sunday's loss
ESPN Video: Countdown Daily: Who Needs It More?
But there's no guarantee the Jets will make the playoffs, and because of their killer schedule, it's possible that the second wild card could come out of the AFC West now instead of the North.
That's good news for the Chiefs and Chargers, who may not have to win the division to get in.
The Jets, who have not scored an offensive touchdown in their last nine quarters, play at Pittsburgh and at Chicago before finishing the season at home against Buffalo.
Now it's the Jets vs. Chiefs from The Red Zone
Anyway, this morning, it might be beneficial to go over the track record of other teams. Around here, we know all about the Chiefs taking a 49-29 loss in Denver that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicates, and then winning three in a row, including a blowout win at Seattle.
Win three in a row now, and the Chiefs are in the playoffs. Maybe it's encouraging that six of the other eight AFC teams with winning records have been blown out this year, and really, with only one exception, they've all responded well. Here goes...
Searching for precedents in the wake of the Chiefs' blowout loss from Don't Kill the Mellinger
The Chiefs are in a frantic push to stay ahead of the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. If both teams finish 10-6, the Chargers have the tiebreaker edge and would claim their fifth consecutive division crown. The Chiefs are unbeaten at home and have winnable home games against the Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders remaining after Sunday's game. A victory in St. Louis would give the Chiefs a great shot at their first division title since 2003.
Week 15 matchup: Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams from The Sporting News
The Kansas City Chiefs likely have to win the division, because they will be in trouble on the conference tiebreaker (currently 5-5) in most tiebreaker scenarios. KC would lose a tiebreaker at 10-6 to either the Jets or Ravens, either on conference record, or if that is tied, on the common opponents tiebreaker. The only contender they would win a tiebreaker against is Jacksonville (head to head). Kansas City wins the division if they win the last three, or lose one, but have the Chargers also lose one.
AFC Wildcard Race: Chargers In Good Position from The Big Lead
Former Iowa center Casey Wiegmann was named to the 2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team - Offense, USA Football announced today. During his career with the Hawkeyes, Wiegmann was a three-year letterman (1993-95).
Wiegmann Honored For Fundamentals from HawkeyeSports.com
A couple of years ago, Queen's Golden Gaels offensive lineman Matt O'Donnell spent a good chunk of his summer training with Cory Greenwood at Royal Military College.
Now, O'Donnell hopes to follow in his workout partner's footsteps and make it to the National Football League.
O'Donnell plans to head to the United States this winter to train with other draft-eligible players, just like the Kingston-born Greenwood did last winter before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Crossing the Border from The Kingston Whig-Standard
The new shoes will be in use in the NFL starting this weekend, and Nike athletes Felix Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Green Bay pass rusher extraordinaire Clay Matthews and Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams were on hand to not only model the shoes, but comment on them as well.
Nike introduces new football technology in Arlington from Fanster.com
Sometimes stats lie. The Chargers outgaining the Chiefs 426 to 67 tells you all you need to know. And I don't want to hear that K.C. was missing Matt Cassel. The Chargers were that good.
But here's a strong take for you.
I think BOTH the Chargers and Chiefs run the table. San Diego is 7-6 and has the Niners at home on Thursday before playing at the pathetic Bengals and Broncos.
Kansas City is in St. Louis then has the Titans and Raiders at home.
Think about it.
Which puts the pressure on . . .
Luck, skill and Jones-Drew carry Jaguars from Fox Sports