Good morning Chiefs fans. We have a lot of Kansas City Chiefs news today. From playoff perspectives to the many ways the Chiefs can win a game, we've got some good stuff for you. Enjoy!
Much more than fun is at stake Sunday when the 8-4 Chiefs can go a long way toward clinching their first AFC West title since 2003 by beating the 6-6 Chargers in San Diego.
"It’s been a long time since we’ve been in a situation that a game will count as much as it will this weekend," said guard Brian Waters, who joined the Chiefs in 2000 and is their longest-tenured player. "I’m sure it will be an emotional football game for both sides."
Chiefs haven’t played a game this big in a long time from KC Star
It's a positive sign that Kansas City can win even when its run defense is subpar and passing game is held in check. Few people would have believed the Chiefs could win Sunday if WR Dwayne Bowe did not catch a pass and they allowed Knowshon Moreno 161 yards on the ground, yet that's exactly what happened. It's a positive sign for the team moving forward, as adversity like this could come their way in the postseason.
Chiefs finding new ways to win, getting help out West from Pro Football Weekly
Imagine Don Meredith playing quarterback for the Chiefs. It nearly happened.
Lamar Hunt, who founded the American Football League and Dallas Texans, selected Meredith in the inaugural 1960 AFL draft.
Meredith instead went on to fame and fortune as a Dallas Cowboys quarterback and as a household name for 13 years as the folksy analyst and Howard Cosell's protagonist for ABC's "Monday Night Football."
He died on Sunday at age 72.
Dandy Don could have been a Chief from The Red Zone
The 8-4 Chiefs can eliminate Antonio Gates (above) and the 6-6 Chargers from the AFC West race with a win. The Chargers could still wind up tied for first at 9-7 with the Chiefs alone or the Chiefs and Raiders, but would lose the tie breaker. If the Chiefs lose Sunday, they could still control their own destiny.
Chiefs’ road map to securing the AFC West from KC Star
I'm struck more by the fact that KC found a way to win despite their best efforts not to. And, although that's great news, I'm not even sure it's the best news of the day...
...San Diego lost. And, they lost at home. And, they lost to a divisional opponent. Consequently, the Chiefs lead the Chargers and Raiders by two full games.
Chiefs Wrap: Winning in spite of... from Upon Further Review
Again, prior to this season, I would have said it was nearly impossible for a Matt Cassel (regardless of the system) to win the Super Bowl - especially with the increasing emphasis on passing in the NFL. However, I've seen enough and done enough research this season to realize how critical are issues such as sacks, fumbles and interceptions. It's not that I didn't know it before, but I never realized a player (team system) could be so off the charts good that it could make up for (at best) average passing ability. Although this could all change as early as Sunday, at least up to now, Cassel is in largely uncharted territory.
Matt Cassel - The Dennis Rodman of QBs from Upon Further Review
Biggest area to build on: pass defense. The Chiefs suffocated Denver quarterback Kyle Orton. He completed just nine of 28 pass attempts for 117 yards. With Philip Rivers on the horizon, the Chiefs have to feel good about their pass defense.
Moving on: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN
Remember when the AFC West was going to become New England West?
It was all the rage when on back-to-back days in January 2009, the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs entrusted their future to the Patriots' Way. First, Denver hired New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach. The next day, the Chiefs hired New England executive Scott Pioli to become general manager.
Both McDaniels and Pioli embraced their New England roots and didn't hide their intentions: They were going to build their organizations using the Patriots' model.
Well, it worked in one place.
Patriots' Way works in K.C., not Denver from ESPN
Kansas City once had an NBA team, the Kansas City Kings, now the Sacramento Kings, formerly the Cincinnati Kings, formerly the Rochester Royals, and briefly the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. But the team was terrible, management was terrible, and soon the team was off to Sacramento and the welcome bosom of cowbells. Kansas City is most often criticized as being a "college town," "a baseball town," "a football town" (what isn't?) and unable to support three major pro teams. The last of these criticisms ring most true as both the Royals and Chiefs struggle to fill their stadiums to reasonable capacities during down years (or as we Kansas Citizens like to call them, "the last ten years."
The Hornets' potential relocation future examined from CBS Sports
Longtime South Orange County resident Brad Budde will be one of three collegiate greats to be inducted into the 2010 Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, officials announced Monday...
...In 1980, Budde again made history. As the 11th pick in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs, Budde became part of the first and only father and son tandem in NFL history to be drafted in the first round, to the same team and play the same position. His father Ed was also drafted by the Chiefs as an offensive lineman.
Capo Beach resident to be inducted into Rose Bowl Hall of Fame from The Orange County Register
The Kansas City Chiefs, because they demonstrated in their victory against Denver that they can always return to their foundational strengths -- solid defense and a strong running game -- when Matt Cassel struggles and Dwayne Bowe is held without a catch. That should serve the Chiefs well as they continue their run to their first division championship since 2003.
Big Ben's broken nose a symbol of Steelers' power to endure from NFL.com
The Raiders seemed humbler Monday than the last time I ventured into their Alameda facility the day after a victory.
"Beat it. Don't try getting on the bandwagon now," a snarling veteran player told me during that Nov. 8 visit.
Back then, the Raiders were coming off a third straight win. The New York Times was in the house, documenting their revival. The players were preaching "brotherhood."
Then, after a bye week, the Raiders got whipped by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins, outscored 68-20 in those two defeats.
Cam Inman: No time for Oakland Raiders to get cocky from The San Jose Mercury News
We may start seeing playoff elimination games in Week 14. I'm talking about Chiefs (8-4) at Chargers (6-6), a do-or-die game for San Diego's playoff chances. Kansas City, meanwhile, has the opportunity to lock up the division, capping a nice turnaround season. Prediction: The Chargers win and stay in the playoff hunt, but Philip Rivers won't win the game by himself. His defense will stop the Chiefs' running game in a conservative victory.
Bus Stops: Talented Bengals need to regroup; lay off NFC West from Sports Illustrated
"What do we say every game about penalties and turnovers?" Dawson asked during yesterday's 10-6 win over the Broncos. "They are killers."
Turnovers and penalties are harmful to a football team's success. Got it.
Of course, it's not just the clichés or the throat clearing. Late-period Dawson also has a terrible habit of interjecting before his partner, Mitch Holthus, has finished calling the play.
Len Dawson ('Oh, man!') needs to stop trampling on his partner's call from The Pitch
7. Hard Knocks
Hard Knocks is one of the few shows on this list that is not a fictional show. Instead Hard Knocks is a documentary style television show that gives fans a look behind the scenes at a certain football team. The first season took place in 2001 and followed the Baltimore Ravens and then the Dallas Cowboys in season 2. After a long hiatus the show returned in 2007 and since has followed the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys again, theCincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets.
Top 8 sports television shows of all time from Yahoo! Sports
Oh no, Bowe! The seemingly unstoppable Dwayne Bowe was stopped by Denver CB Champ Bailey on Sunday in what was the most disappointing game of the week from a fantasy perspective. Those who were expecting a shootout between the Chiefs and Broncos only received 16 points worth of action between the two teams. In Week 10, these two ballclubs combined for 78 points, with Bowe catching 13 passes for 186 yards and two TDs. In Week 13, fantasy football's hottest receiver was blanked by longtime shutdown cornerback Bailey.
After weeks of big production, Bowe takes step back from NFL.com
There was no room for error, and the Chargers made plenty.
Now, instead of just win, the Chargers have to win and hope.
"Is it the best-case scenario? No," quarterback Philip Rivers said on Monday. "But we put ourselves in that by this game yesterday and by the games in September and October to where you don't have any wiggle room."
Chargers plan: Win and hope from The San Diego Union-Tribune
A day after being run on for 251 yards, there was some accounting to do.
The entire Chargers defense met without coaches to watch film as a group and see the mistakes they made on Sunday - as individuals and collectively.
Bolts D assesses the damage from The San Diego Union-Tribune
"He felt pretty good today (from) talking to him," head coach Norv Turner Monday. "He has got a headache. He will go through the process in terms of being cleared and all of that, but James was optimistic."
"James" is the team's head athletic trainer, James Collins, and the process means more scrutiny on Sproles' return than if he'd come off the field with a knee or shoulder injury. He has to be cleared by team medical staff and an independent doctor.
Although he was said to show vast improvement even by Sunday night, Sproles' concussion made him subject to the stricter return-to-play policy laid down by the NFL almost a year ago to the day.
Sproles faces increased scrutiny to get back on field from The San Diego Union-Tribune
In a move that was both sudden and carefully planned, the Broncos management team of Pat Bowlen and Joe Ellis ended the brief but stormy era of Josh McDaniels by firing the head coach Monday afternoon.
McDaniels was called into Bowlen's office at 4 p.m. and was informed of the move by the team's 27-year owner and right-hand man, Ellis.
"They said they decided to make a change," McDaniels said from his home Monday night. "It was very complimentary. It was a very nice discussion. I thanked them for the opportunity they gave me and my family. I told them I respected their decision."
McDaniels fired as Broncos coach after controversy, losses pile up from The Denver Post