Good morning, Chiefs fans! Let's start off with congratulations to Ryan Succop on his engagement (H/T hock57). Today's Kansas City Chiefs news has more looks at the upcoming playoffs and we're starting to look ahead to the Titans. Enjoy.
Undrafted out of college in 2008, defensive end Wallace Gilberry signed with the New York Giants, a team loaded with strong pass rushers.
"That’s one of the reasons I chose to go there as a free agent," Gilberry said. "In order to be the best, you have to beat the best."
Gilberry took that attitude to Kansas City and flourished with it now that he’s playing with the Chiefs. He had three sacks of Sam Bradford in Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the Rams and is rapidly filling what had been a huge void as a reliable pass rusher the Chiefs can pair with Tamba Hali.
Sack-cess story: Gilberry gives Chiefs help they need on pass rush from KC Star
There's nothing like a brutal loss to bring out the best in the Kansas City Chiefs.
It's not that fiascos such as 49-29 (loss to Broncos) and 31-0 (loss to Chargers) make them wild-eyed thirsty for revenge. Getting their heads handed to them seems to draw the Chiefs together and help everyone refocus and fortify their resolve.
The must-win in St. Louis is only the latest example.
First-place Chiefs making a habit of bouncing right back after bad losses from The Los Angeles Times
So, now that the Chiefs find themselves in the division lead, knocking on the playoff door... it's a recently unique phenomenon and one that we should absorb and participate in however we can.
As for anyone reading this, I'm not only encouraging you, butdemanding that you go to the final two games and yell your as;*%^s off. The home field advantage is a major issue againstTennessee and Oakland. Kansas City has a 9-5 record despite the fact they have played two more road games than home. That's a disadvantage up to this point. They should be rewarded by having the 12th man come to the rescue if things get tough.
Chiefs vs Titans - an early look from Upon Further Review
Willing and able: Matt Cassel completed 51.7% of his passes at St. Louis, his lowest mark since Week 1. He had a pedestrian 68.8 efficiency rating. Threw for a scant 184 yards.
But Cassel, who returned 11 days after having an appendectomy, had his most impressive game yet as the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback.
"For a guy to come back after having an organ removed from his body, playing the next week ... definitely extraordinary," said Chiefs running back Thomas Jones.
Three-and-out: Colts, Peyton Manning back in good position from USA Today
And on Sunday afternoon, Jones proved he's one of the National Football League's all-time best.
The Kansas City Chiefs running back became the 25th player in NFL history to surpass the 10,000-yard rushing mark during a victory over the St. Louis Rams.
The 5-foot-10, 212-pound Jones has amassed 10,045 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns in stints with theArizona Cardinals (2000-02), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003), Chicago Bears (2004-06), New York Jets (2007-09) and the Chiefs over the course of an 11-year career.
Thomas Jones cements place as one of NFL's elite from TriCities.com
The Kansas City Chiefs, because a week after suffering a humiliating shutout loss at San Diego, they were able to put together the sort of performance that had turned so many skeptics into believers on their way to the top of the AFC West. The St. Louis Rams might not exactly be a high-quality opponent, but it's impressive that Matt Cassel played well only 11 days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy and that the Chiefs were able to run better and play better on defense.
Battle-tested Colts not finished just yet in the AFC from NFL.com
"We control our destiny," Brees said. "It's too early to look at the playoff picture right now, but if we are a wild-card team, the road to the Super Bowl will be on the road. We can handle that."
The Kansas City Chiefs may not have to. Their victory against the Rams, on the strength of their running game, gave them a one-game lead over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West, with home games remaining against Tennessee and Oakland. San Diego's playoff chances were further imperiled when the Jets beat the Steelers, because the Jets and Chargers are vying for one of two AFC wild-card spots.
NFL Playoffs Analysis: Super scramble for postseason from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thomas Jones is all that and a side of baked beans. The veteran running back for the Chiefs, who had 62 rushing yards and a touchdown in yesterday's win over the St. Louis Rams, is powered by the sweet power of molasses and slowly cooked beans.
Is Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue the secret to Thomas Jones' success? from The Pitch
Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said on Monday he's uncertain whether veteran tight end Bo Scaife will return to the lineup against the Chiefs on Sunday.
The sixth-year pro was benched against the Texans even though he was coming off 11 straight starts and the first two-touchdown game of his career.
Tennessee Titans' Bo Scaife might not return this week from The Tennesean
Not only did Moss go without a catch in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Texans, for the second straight game he wasn't even targeted by quarterback Kerry Collins. In six games with the Titans, one of the greatest receivers of all-time has pretty much been a non-factor.
Coach Jeff Fisher, however, said adding Moss to the roster "was not a mistake whatsoever" even though his statistics have been lackluster.
Coach Jeff Fisher defends Randy Moss' role with Titans from The Tennesean
Kansas City came right after the home team and showed themselves very comfortable in the elements. Tailback Mike Garrett was just what the doctor ordered as he ran for over 100 yards on the day opened up the passing game. The Chiefs took the lead with two touchdowns in the opening half with Otis Taylor catching the second after a playaction fake to Garrett.
The Chiefs defense on the other side completely shut down the New England running game and Tom Brady was on the run most of the game. Even when the Patriots did make a good drive work they were held out of the end zone and had to depend on the leg of Adam Vinatieri. The home side trailed 14-6 at the break.
1966 KC Chiefs at 2001 New England Patriots from Operation Sports
6. Oakland is unbeaten in the AFC West
I'm not sure which is the bigger shock: the Raiders breezing through the division, or that they're 5-0 in the AFC West and not sitting in first place. Look, the last time the Raiders didn't lose an AFC West game in a non-strike year was 1976, with the Silver and Black dropping 13 straight to San Diego before this season. But the last time anyone -- and I mean anyone, anywhere -- didn't lose or tie a division game and failed to win the division was ... well, it was never. That's right. According to the NFL office, since the 1970 merger it hasn't happened. But it could in two weeks. The Raiders have one AFC West game remaining, and it's in Kansas City. The Chiefs are unbeaten at Arrowhead this season, so that makes it tough. But these are the Raiders, and they won their last three there. That should make everything tougher.
Top 10 surprises: Vick goes from unwanted to MVP candidate from CBS Sports
Also, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at St. Vincent's Phoenix Dining Room, 1075 W. Jackson St., the nonprofit, in partnership with the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation, will host "Champions for the Homeless." Scheduled guests include Valley resident and Kansas City Chiefs hall of famer Nick Lowery and other retired NFL players, the release said.
St. Vincent de Paul society to serve 4,000 Christmas meals from The East Valley Tribune
If the season ended today, the Ravens (10-4) would travel to face the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) in the playoffs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Despite Indianapolis' record, we like Baltimore's chances better against any other playoff contender. The Colts have been an awful matchup for the Ravens. Quarterback Peyton Manning is 8-2 in his career against Baltimore, including Indianapolis' playoff win last season. The Kansas City Chiefs or Jacksonville Jaguars would be easier playoff opponents.Seven-step drop: Ray Rice explodes from ESPN
CALL ME CRAZY but I'm putting my full faith in Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe this week. In the last three games, the NFL's leader in touchdown catches hasn't so much as sniffed the end zone (just three catches for 56 yards). But now that Matt Cassel is healthy, Bowe should begin to get back on track. Plus, Tennessee ranks 26th in passing yards allowed and has been out-scored 82-42 in its last three road games combined.
Fantasy soda: Packers likely to cool passing attack of Giants' Manning from Sports Illustrated
If you were looking for the coach who has overachieved the most, you would choose among the Chiefs' Todd Haley, the Bucs'Raheem Morris and the Falcons' Mike Smith. If you were looking for who overcame the biggest challenges, you would choose among the Saints' Sean Payton, the Eagles' Andy Reid and theSteelers' Mike Tomlin.
But if you simply chose the coach who coached the best, you would choose Bill Belichick. As usual, Belichick has gotten more out of less with his team than any coach in football.
Who has done the best coaching job in the NFL? from The Baltimore Sun