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Good morning! Just a couple of days away from what should be a great MNF experience for those of you lucky enough to be there. Keep reading to get caught up on all of the latest injury reports and the rest of your Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!
Chiefs opponents aren't just being held out of the end zone. They're rarely even approaching it.
In 17 offensive possessions over the last six quarters of play, Chiefs opponents have reached the Red Zone only twice. On those two drives, Kansas City took away the football each time.
Chiefs Bring Newfound Defensive Swagger Into Primetime Matchup from The Mothership
For years, Colquitt has been overlooked for the Pro Bowl. Often, he's passed over for Lechler and San Diego's Mike Scifres, whose gross punting average often dwarfs Colquitt's.
But dig a little deeper and a strong case can be made that Colquitt is the best of the bunch. He kicks fewer touchbacks and pins opponents inside the 20 at a comparable rate.
Plus, since net punting average became an official stat in 1976, only one punter in NFL history, Donnie Jones of the St. Louis Rams, has been better, according to NFL.com.
Chiefs Punter Colquitt Having Another Great Season from KC Star
KC Star Photo Gallery: The Chiefs and Monday Night Football
KC Star Video: Wallace Gilberry Addresses Chargers Quarterback
I'd argue that the Chiefs have already revealed their fortitude and resilience, regardless of how the rest of the season plays out. Sure, it could all still unravel, and it's possible Haley won't survive to coach a fourth season - a potential casualty of a strained relationship with Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.
Right now, however, Kansas City is on the verge of becoming the first team in NFL history to win four consecutive games after a 0-3 start - and Haley is a role model for every coach in every sport whose team begins its journey by stepping in a large pit of quicksand mixed with fertilizer.
Chiefs Return From Abyss To Make Noise from Yahoo! Sports
The Chiefs are committed to spending $123 million in cash on player salaries and bonuses this year, according to a league source.
That number will grow if the Chiefs sign one or both of their big looming free agents, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and cornerback Brandon Carr, before the end of the season.
Chiefs' Expenditures On Player Salaries And Bonuses Up $10 Million From Last Season from KC Star
Starting slow, but finishing strong has been the Chargers' M.O. for quite some time.
For that reason, QB Philip Rivers always thought it was possible for the Chiefs to climb back into the division race after a winless September.
"We knew early on in the division when the Chiefs were struggling and the Broncos were struggling, and everyone was saying, ‘all you have to worry about is Oakland,' we knew that wasn't the case," Rivers said.
"We've been that 1-3 Chiefs team and we've been in those situations around here, so we knew there was a lot of football left and we know that this is a 16-game deal."
Arrowhead Report: The Road Back from The Mothership
Though Goodell picks the participants in the international games, Hunt as chairman of the committee has some influence. He said there may be a time when the Chiefs volunteer to give up a game at Arrowhead Stadium so they can play one in a foreign land.
The London Chiefs? from The Red Zone
The NFLPA declined comment until it receives more information. There's an inquiry into Dielman's concussion because of some unusual circumstances surrounding the injury.
He was concussed with approximately 12 minutes remaining in the Oct. 23 game against the New York Jets, after which he struggled to maintain balance. He finished the game despite the head injury and was not assessed until after the loss to New York. The Chargers announced the injury shortly before the team boarded a plane for San Diego.
NFL Looking Into Kris Dielman's Injury from ESPN
McClain seemed almost embarrassed that he got credit for the TD.
"It should be Jon's," he said. "Jon made a great play. I thought it came out before (McClain reached the end zone). Shout out to Jon. They practice that and practice that every day, and it paid off.
"I've got to take him out to eat or buy him something, anything just to make up for that."
Chiefs Buzz: It's Still McClain's TD from KC Star
Marcus Gilchrist is the Chargers' starting right cornerback. The Chargers haven't announced it, but a source said the rookie from Clemson will replace the beleaguered Antoine Cason on Monday night at Kansas City.
Chargers Notes: Rookie Gilchrist To Replace Cason At CB from The North County Times
The Chiefs are a better team now than the one that took on the Chargers five weeks ago, and that one played the Bolts awfully tough on the road. San Diego also hasn't handled adversity all that well during the Turner era, and there will be some to deal with from an Arrowhead crowd that should be at its most raucous under the Monday night stage. If Rivers can get over his recent hiccups and the defense can play stout over an entire game, the Chargers should be able be come away with an important victory that would go a long way of solidifying their postseason hopes. An improved and inspired Kansas City team will be trying its best to make sure that doesn't happen.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Chiefs 24, Chargers 20
NFL Preview: San Diego (4-2) at Kansas City (3-3) from KC Star
Malcom Floyd ran a drag route, caught a pass, swung his body to the left and sprinted upfield at the start of Friday afternoon's Chargers practice.
It was an encouraging sight for the wide receiver, who suffered a hip injury Sunday against the New York Jets.
Less than encouraging: his missing teammates.
Chargers Likely Without Phillips, Tolbert from NBC San Diego
The Missouri Department of Transportation is warning motorists planning to attend the Kansas City Chiefs' coming Monday Night Football game that there will be a few changes to the exit ramps near Arrowhead Stadium.
Road Changes Will Affect Monday Night Football Traffic from Kansas City Business Journal
We were sold on the Chargers new defensive coordinator as an attack-minded general. Man, when the Chargers were up, he was going to put his foot on the opponents' throat. When they were behind, he wouldn't back down.
Miami, Kansas City and Denver might have left the field in defeat. But neither did any of those teams depart with cleat marks on their esophagus. And New York's Mark Sanchez had his best game of the season in leading the Jets from 11 points back in the second half.
The Chargers, quite simply, are not scary.
Where's The Chargers Defense We Were Promised? from The San Diego Union-Tribune
Earlier in the season, we grilled Haley as to why he wasn't calling the plays. Now he insists, for superstition, that I ask the question every week. And he won't shave. But there has to be more to the Chiefs winning ways.
Haley told us, "We are getting better in doing less of the things that cause you to get beat."
It's simple, but it's accurate. It's also a credit to Haley and his staff and the mentally tough players Scott Pioli picked.
Surprise, Chiefs Suddenly Winning Again from FOX Sports
There might be some bad blood to go with the eggnog. There were several pushing and shoving matches in the Chiefs' 28-0 win at Oakland last week and Oakland coach Hue Jackson had some choice words for Kansas City coach Todd Haley after the Chiefs were throwing the ball late in the blowout.
Now comes the news that there was more than $40,000 in fines doled out by the league for actions in the game.Heavy Fines After Chiefs-Raiders Game from ESPN
My gut still doesn't feel right about this road test in Kansas City, but we'll give Rivers a starting nod this week. Notice that he's finally been pulled from the "Exclusion" list and will need to work his way to that level. The Chiefs shut out the Raiders in Week 7 and padded the defensive stats with six interceptions. Even with that monster effort, the Chiefs still rank in the middle of the pack at 235.8 yards and two touchdowns allowed per game.
Beck, Smith Sneaky Starts In Week 8 from FOX Sports
The Chargers will be without their only consistently effective pass rusher on Monday.
Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips has yet to practice and he is expected to miss the game at Kansas City due to a foot injury.
Phillips' Absence Leaves Bolts Thin At OLB from The San Diego Union-Tribune