Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 1/6

Good morning Chiefs fans! Here's today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

Sure, Todd Haley admits now, there were days when he wondered if he would turn the Chiefs around in time. Or whether the clock would expire, and he’d be back on some other coach’s staff, in some other city, trying to get some other team to its next big game.

Instead, in the 12 months since Kansas City’s final game of the 2009 season, Haley’s team didn’t revolt against him. It became him.

Players could have given up on their coach’s fiery, sometimes off-putting way, but they instead gave his way a shot — and, a year after things seemed as bleak as ever, here the Chiefs’ validated coach sits, three days from hosting a playoff game.

As a team, Chiefs’ identity was forged in adversity from KC Star

Being out of a job and with the playoffs beginning, Kevin Curtis was sitting around at home in Miami already planning for next season.

"I thought the year was over," he said.

That was before the Chiefs, in their time of need, summoned the veteran wide receiver. He could be a key figure for the Chiefs in Sunday’s first-round playoff game against Baltimore at Arrowhead Stadium.

With Bowe and Waters ill, Chiefs add receiver Curtis from KC Star

KC Star Video: Teicher's Take | Where are Bowe, Waters?

KC Star Photo Gallery: Biggest Chiefs Fan contest entries

Chiefs fans of all ages can show their team spirit this Friday, January 7 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Official Chiefs Red Friday Playoff Rally presented by Miller Lite. From 6:30-7:15 p.m., Chiefs Insider Josh Looney will be joined on stage by special guests including General Manager Scott Pioli at the Kansas City Power and Light District.

OFFICIAL CHIEFS RED FRIDAY PLAYOFF RALLY SET from The Mothership

"It’s almost like there’s a (quote) handbook you get when you’re a coach," joked center Rudy Niswanger, who is in his fifth NFL season. "Every one of them has their favorite stuff (to say)."

Which leads to the obvious question: Can this stuff really hit home with grown men, all of whom have their own ideas about how to live life both on the football field and off?

For the answer, let’s start with boisterous defensive tackle Shaun Smith, a six-year veteran who can often be heard three counties away.

Chiefs’ Haley is fond of the motivational game from KC Star

While talking about Sunday’s playoff matchup between the Chiefs and the Ravens, Todd Haley recalled last year’s game between the teams in Baltimore. The Ravens won the season opener 38-24.

Haley indicated there wasn’t much to be learned from that game that would be applicable to Sunday’s faceoff, because each team has changed.

Chiefs buzz: Not really a rematch from KC Star

It was the timeout that got the Chiefs into the playoffs.

The Chiefs beat the Bills 13-10 in overtime on Halloween, but the game turned when coach Todd Haley called a timeout that froze Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell.

In overtime, Lindell made a 53-yard field goal, but it came just after Haley called a timeout. On the second attempt, Lindell missed and the Chiefs went on to win the game. And they won the AFC West by a game.

One timeout got Chiefs in the playoffs from KC Star

Chiefs coach Todd Haley has been making unconventional decisions all season, especially on fourth down.

Now in the playoffs, Haley and other coaches may be confronted with the most daunting decisions of all if their games go into overtime.

The NFL’s new overtime rules for playoff games will go into effect this weekend, in which each team is guaranteed a possession unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial drive.

Working overtime will create new decisions for coaches in playoffs from KC Star

Anyway, if this helps about this weekend, Bill Maas is swearing up and down that the Chiefs match up better with Baltimore than the Jets. I won't get into the X's and O's of what he said, but he sounded really confident, and the guy did play 10 seasons, make two Pro Bowls and sure isn't shy about saying exactly how he feels.

So there's that.

A little Chiefs and a link to the noon chat from Don't Kill the Mellinger

Kansas City has a far more potent offense than most people realize. There have only been 11 teams since the merger in 1970 that have passed for 185+ ypg and rushed for 164+ ypg. That's a powerful combination and will win most of the time...

...These teams were 7-1 at home in the playoffs and three of them made the Super Bowl.

Chiefs: How to beat the Ravens from Upon Further Review

Led by a veteran defense, the Baltimore Ravens are in the playoffs for a franchise-record third straight year, undeterred by the fact that their path to the Super Bowl will again come on the road.

The Kansas City Chiefs might not have the experience to match the Ravens, but their talented offense has them feeling they are not quite the underdog many see them as heading into Sunday's AFC wild-card showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City vs. Baltimore from CBS Sports   

The temptation to be content can be alluring.

The Kansas City Chiefs have turned a 4-12 campaign last year into a 10-6 record and their first AFC West championship since 2003. But many NFL analysts and pundits have already picked Kansas City to fall to the Ravens in Sunday's AFC Wildcard game, and the Ravens are favored by 3 points.

Reaching the playoffs, however, isn't the ultimate goal for the Chiefs.

Chiefs claw their way from cellar to playoffs from The Baltimore Sun

The Kansas City Chiefs announced today that Scout Investments has joined the organization as the naming rights sponsor of the Club Level at the New Arrowhead. Additionally, Scout Investments will be the presenting sponsor of this Sunday's AFC Wild Card matchup vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

As part of the multi-year deal, beginning with the 2011 season, the Club Level at the New Arrowhead will be branded the Scout Investments Club Level and will feature signage that incorporates the Scout Investments brand.

Chiefs Announce Club Level Naming Sponsor from WIBW

Here's a guy who, over the final 14 games, was the NFL's No. 2-rated passer (103.4), throwing 24 touchdowns and just five picks.

And the Ravens' record over that span was 11-3.

Guess who was the only quarterback to finish with a higher rating?

If you guessed Tom Brady, the New England Patriots' golden boy, you win the prize.

And yet to hear a certain segment of the fan base - the talk-show loonies and the message board haters, mostly - Flacco's a bum who shouldn't even be calling signals for Perry Hall High School.

It's astounding that Flacco doesn't pass muster with fans from The Baltimore Sun

Between 2002 and 2009, 30 teams experienced increases of at least five wins from one season to the next.

Unfortunately, for the most part, these teams were unable to carry their success into the next season. On average, those 30 teams lost three more games in the year after the improvement than they did in the year of the improvement.

Regression Is Probable for Chiefs, Bucs and Rams from The New York Times

Some employees at the Missouri Department of Transportation and Clarkson Construction Co. will consider watching the National Football League playoffs as a business responsibility.

The result of playoff games for both the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets will decide the kickoff date for demolition of the Blue Ridge Cutoff bridge over Interstate 70.

Kansas City Chiefs’ play dictates bridge demolition kickoff from Kansas City Business Journal

What will you remember most from the 2010 season?

"Well, there were a lot of good memories this year so far, and hopefully a lot more to come. Beating San Diego on Monday night, that really set the tone. That was a huge win for our team. That was awesome to be a part of."

Chiefs Q&A | Ryan Succop from KC Star

It would just be weird if the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, but hey, it's better than a lot of other options.

A Super Bowl would bring Kansas City some sort of happiness since their baseball team hasn't for a while and likely won't for a while. It would be a nice story if Matt Cassel wins and will likely cause crazed sports radio callers in Boston to argue that the Patriots should have never gotten rid of Matt Cassel, no matter how insane that sounds. And if you think I'm kidding, you have never lived in Boston. Go Chiefs!

Keefe To The City: My Super Bowl Dilemma from CBS New York

In many ways, the Ravens and Chiefs are similar in structure. Both have solid 3-4 defensive packages and a desire to run the ball offensively.

Each team will start out trying to impose its run game on the other. Even against the Chiefs' top-ranked ground attack, the Ravens are capable of slowing them down with Ray Lewis leading the fifth-ranked rushing defense. Kansas City is respectable against the run, but there's a chance Ray Rice could crack the 100-yard mark.

Both teams have enough tools to win, and this should be a low-scoring game with a test of wills going down to the end.

Here are four pressing questions heading into the matchup.

Young quarterbacks could determine Ravens-Chiefs matchup from NFL.com

Aside from New Orleans, which wild-card team has the best chance to win this weekend and why?

PRISCO: I'll go with Baltimore. I just think they have too much playoff experience for the Chiefs. They know what it takes. But more than that, I think they have a favorable matchup with Kansas City...

JUDGE: Baltimore because the Ravens have been here before and excelled. In fact, under John Harbaugh they haven't played a playoff game anywhere but the road, and they're 3-2 there. Granted, the Chiefs were 7-1 at home, and Arrowhead Stadium is one of the league's grandest stages. But Baltimore won't be flummoxed...

Faceoff: Who's breaking out in this year's playoffs? from CBS Sports

Review editor David Sweet will sign copies of his book "Lamar Hunt: The Gentle Giant Who Revolutionized Professional Sports" on Thursday, Jan. 27 beginning at 6 p.m. at Cafe Pyrenees, 1762 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville. Hunt, the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs, also launched the American Football League, helped start Major League Soccer, ran a pro tennis circuit featuring Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe among others, and was one of the original investors in the Chicago Bulls. There will also be a wine tasting that evening at the restaurant. Please call (847) 362-2233 for more information.

Community Calendar from Mundelein Review