Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 10/7

Good morning! Lots of good Kansas City Chiefs news for you today. Get to reading. Seriously. Then fill out this survey if you haven't already. Enjoy!

So, as important as that first victory is to a team’s confidence, it usually doesn’t spell the end of its troubles. The problems that caused a losing streak are still there when the streak ends. In the Chiefs’ case, injuries to starters, an unproven run defense and spotty pass protection — to say nothing of Cassel’s variable play — are still concerns, now that the celebration of Sunday’s victory has subsided.

Still, players hope there’s a carryover from Sunday’s victory.

Now That Chiefs Have A Win, They're Looking For More from KC Star

Branden Albert wanted to shoulder the load of Kansas City's run game last Sunday against Minnesota. All week he lobbied the coaching staff to run off his back hip. Following Sunday's victory, Albert was as fired up as any player inside the Chiefs locker room.

Half a week later, Albert admits there was something personal about last week's game. But he says his motivation had nothing to do with squaring off against Jared Allen for the first time.

Arrowhead Report: Nothing Personal For Albert from The Mothership

KC Star Video: Brandon Carr Talks About Colts

NFL.com Video: Week 5: Chiefs vs. Colts Preview

Wide receiver Jon Baldwin (thumb) was again a full participant in practice. Haley wouldn’t say whether Baldwin, the No. 1 draft pick, would play Sunday against the Colts in Indianapolis.

"I’ve been impressed with what he’s done here early on being out as long as he was," Haley said. "He’s had two real good days, so that’s been really, really encouraging to everybody."

Chiefs Buzz: Albert Displays Leadership from KC Star

Q: Most of the guys in there know the story of Matt Cassel, that just because you lose a prominent players doesn't mean the season is dead. Do you tell guys stories like that to make them know there's a chance?

HALEY: "I've never had the feeling from our guys that they felt like there wasn't a chance. That's one of the things that I've been so encouraged and feel good about, and despite some rough play early on, I've felt that I believe in our guys and I think they believe in themselves and they believe in this team.

Q&A with Todd Haley 10/6 from The Mothership

So things won't necessarily be easy for the Chiefs, even against an upcoming schedule that includes the Colts, Dolphins and Broncos in their next five games. But if they can play as they did against the Vikings, the Chiefs have a chance to be hanging around the AFC West race by the time their schedule stiffens around Thanksgiving.

"That's kind of how I think our games will go," Haley said. "We need to keep getting better and clean up a bunch of little things that could make a difference."

Chiefs Limit Mistakes That Led To Early Defeats from The Indianapolis Star

Here's what most Chiefs fans know of Jon Baldwin: He's a highly touted wide receiver whose checkered history in college caused his draft stock to fall and his fight with a teammate in training camp resulted in an injury that's kept him out all season.

Here's what Baldwin wants fans to know: He is willing to do whatever it takes to help Kansas City win on the field and is eager to restore his tarnished reputation.

Chiefs WR Baldwin Finally Getting Back Onto Field from FOX Sports

KEYS TO THE GAME

Quarterback play. Neither of these teams possess much of a running game to speak of, therefore whomever wins the head-to-head battle between Cassel and Painter will most likely be celebrating a victory with his teammates on Sunday. Though Painter was an improvement over the slumping Collins in his starting debut, he'll need to complete more than 43 percent of his passes to give the Colts their best shot, while Cassel needs to follow up last week's strong showing with another for the Chiefs to make it back-to-back wins.

NFL Preview - Kansas City (1-3) at Indianapolis (0-4) from KC Star

It's appearing more likely that Painter will get his first start at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend. Collins didn't practice at all early in the week as he continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms suffered against Pittsburgh two weeks ago.

That's when Painter got his initial opportunity with the first team, leading one touchdown drive but suffering a sack-fumble that resulted in a score for the Steelers and missing a receiver for what could have been a long TD pass.

Painter Wants Second Shot At The Helm For Colts from The Evansville Courier & Press

I think the Offensive Line injuries, especially to Castonzo, really hurt the Colts chances, especially if they can't run the football, which they couldn't do after Castonzo left the game Monday night. I think the Colts will look to hit a big play or two on a Chiefs blitz (because they'll be doing it a lot), and it will be enough for the Colts defense to hang on at the end. If the Colts can't win this one, I'm not sure I'll be able to find another win on the schedule. The Colts should be the better team on the field Sunday, but they have to prove it on the scoreboard.

Colts 24, Chiefs 20

2011 NFL Week Five Preview: Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs from Stampede Blue

•Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Bowe is shooting for his third 100-yard receiving game and third consecutive outing with a score. The Indianapolis Colts' 20th-ranked pass defense has allowed the opponent's top receiver to average 103 yards and one touchdown in three of the last four games.

Studs and Duds: Colts Won't Be Able To Stop Dwayne Bowe from USA Today

Curtis McClinton is one of the most decorated athletes to have played at KU. A star fullback from Wichita, Kan., McClinton rushed for 1,337 yards during his three year career with the Jayhawks before being drafted by the AFL's Dallas Texans, who eventually became the Kansas City Chiefs. Football was not the only reason McClinton was well known inside Memorial Stadium as he competed in Track and Field during his time in Lawrence. #32 went on to have a successful professional career on the gridiron, playing in two Super Bowls with Kansas City.

Throwback Video Thursday: Curtis McClinton from KUAthletics.com

What's that, you say? You're not excited about the Sporting News' ranking of Kansas City as the 42nd-best sports town in the country?

Nah, we're not all that jazzed about it, either. Not when U.S. Census Bureau figures have us as the nation's the 29th most-populated metropolitan area...

...We know we're a little light on major pro sports teams, and that the teams we do have didn't exactly light ‘em up over the past year, but 42nd?

Really?

Sporting News Ranks Kansas City 42nd-Best Sports Town In US from KC Star

Monday nights have been hurt by ho-hum matchups, a pattern that promises to continue. This season on Monday night appears headed down the path marked mediocre, not the one marked memorable.

Games in coming weeks feature teams like the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs (twice).

Obviously, bad luck is part of the problem on Mondays, which are held hostage by a schedule determined before the season, with no chance to flex out, an option NBC enjoys on Sunday nights starting in Week 11.

'Monday Night Football' Continues Downward Spiral from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

Chiefs coach Todd Haley will be among those featured when NFL Network premieres "Kurt Warner: A Football Life," a special dedicated to the career of the former Rams, Giants and Cardinals quarterback.

Haley Will Be Part Of Kurt Warner Documentary from The Red Zone

Kansas City: Dwayne Bowe, receiver: Bowe isn't yet having the big year he enjoyed in 2010, but who on the Chiefs is having a 2010-like season, yet Bowe has been making an impact and he is showing how dangerous he can be. He scored the game-winning touchdown on a 52-yard pass play in the fourth quarter against Minnesota on Sunday.

One Player To Watch from ESPN

It's easy to wonder if poorly performing teams are tanking for the No. 1 pick in the draft. It's far more comforting to think your favorite team is deliberately crappy. But with Kansas City and St. Louis, maybe your favorite team just stinks. The Rams are No. 32 against the run this season, and their offense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in rushing and passing. The Chiefs can't stop the run or pass the ball. Sorry, Kansas City and St. Louis fans. I feel like I just told a 5-year-old that Santa Claus isn't real.

Who Are The Super Bowl XLVI   Favorites? from ESPN

In 2010, the two safeties taken in the first round (Kansas City's Eric Berry and Seattle'sEarl Thomas), and both had exceptional coverage skills that made them so attractive. One who went in the second round after being projected as a first-round pick, San Francisco's Taylor Mays, was traded to Cincinnati after one season. As one AFC executive said, "You want to know the reason a specimen like that [Mays is 6-3, 230 pounds and has 4.3-speed] can't get on the field? He can't move."

At Safety, Teams Think Outside The Box from ESPN