Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/19

Good morning! Not a lot of stories out there this morning, but here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news.

In Denver, the 8-7 Broncos are similarly trying to downplay the Orton vs. Tebow angle. The Broncos would win the AFC West championship and make the playoffs for the first time since the 2005 season if they can beat the Chiefs."I think that it's a little bit more for you than for us," Tebow said when asked about playing against Orton.

"I think it's the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. That's a great rivalry, and it'll be a great game. Excited we get to play at home in front of our fans. I think that as a player, as a quarterback, as someone who has dreamed of that his whole life, it'll be exciting to have one game, one last game, one last opportunity to make the playoffs."

Orton Has Chance To Prove Broncos Wrong from KC Star

Johnson set a career-high with 147 tackles last season after tallying just 33 stops the year before. This year, he's shattered the Chiefs single-season tackle record with 172 tackles through 15 games.

He's has also become the unquestioned leader of the Chiefs defense, orchestrating the huddle as Kansas City's on-field play-caller. A mark of consistency on and off the field, Johnson was honored with his first Pro Bowl invitation this week.

His situation with the Chiefs has come a long way over the last two years.

Consistency Has Taken Derrick Johnson To New Heights from The Mothership

"Sometimes the dynamic play gets the attention," Crennel said. "Tamba getting sacks is important.

"Derrick, just making tackles, sometimes that gets overlooked. Because of his production and the number of tackles he's made ... people recognized his ability and the way he's played during the course of the year."

Chiefs Buzz: Crennel Praises Pro Bowlers Hali, Johnson from KC Star

Tebow replaced current Chiefs starting quarterback Kyle Orton as the Broncos starter midway through an October 9^th loss to San Diego, coming off the bench to throw for one touchdown and rush for another. The Chargers faced Tebow again on November 27th, but Tebow was operating out of a much different offensive package than San Diego saw in its first meeting with Denver.

Kansas City defenders are hoping that a second look at Tebow provides an advantage in preparing for Denver's unorthodox play-calls. Tebow accounted for both of Denver's touchdowns as the Broncos posted 244 rushing yards against Kansas City in a 17-13 victory last month.

Arrowhead Report: Tebow x2 from The Mothership

There is little rhyme or reason to the Chiefs' ability to move the ball downfield, then have everything come undone when they're on the doorstep of scoring touchdowns. But their inability to come away with seven points instead of just three might be the biggest reason they're playing for pride, rather than the AFC West title, when they visit Denver on Sunday.

"It's never one guy in this business. It's always part of a team effort," Crennel said. "We've been able to get down to the red zone, we just haven't been able to produce."

Inexplicably Bad Inside 20, Chiefs Can Point To Red-Zone Woes For Missing Out On Playoffs from The Associated Press via The Washington Post

Q: What tangible things are you looking for in the last game?

CRENNEL: "I'm looking for great effort, I'm looking for smart players, I'm looking for physical play, I'm looking for guys who want to win. Because that's why we play the game and so, I think our guys are prideful guys, they've played hard all year and we just have to play better. I talked to them about getting better this week and not saying that this is the last game of the year and that it doesn't matter because it does matter and if we get better and we play to our capabilities we can win the game."

Q&A With Romeo Crennel 12/28 from The Mothership

Q: Congratulations, how did you find out about the Pro Bowl?

JOHNSON: "Scott Pioli gave me a call about a hour before and told me congratulations. I started grinning from ear to ear, it was definitely a proud moment, definitely hard work pays off. I just couldn't be more proud of mostly my defensive linemen for the job they do in front of me because so many times they take up blockers and they allow me to freelance at time and use my athleticism. It definitely was a team award, anytime you get an individual award, especially in football it's all about the team really."

Q&A With Derrick Johnson 12/28 from The Mothership

Meanwhile, Brian Waters has made the Chiefs looked bad. Waters was cut this summer because the Chiefs thought he was over the hill.

After being a late addition to New England, Water has played brilliantly and he earned his spot as a Pro Bowl starter at the age of 34. Waters is a class act and he is a leader. He was a locker-room favorite in Kansas City and he is a favorite in New England as well.

Final Pro Bowl Thoughts from ESPN

Tight ends and running backs could be prominent in the Chiefs' passing attack this week given that linebackers Joe Mays and Von Miller aren't great in coverage out of base defense. The Broncos will spend more time in base defense than they have in recent weeks, as the Crennel-led Chiefs predominantly utilize run-first personnel.

The run formations will keep Miller at strongside linebacker, nullifying his punishing first-step off the edge.

Film Room: Broncos vs. Chiefs Preview from CBS Sports

Former St. Louis Cardinals outfield Jim Edmonds highlights this year's inductees into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

A total of 15 individuals, including a former basketball standout born in Plato, one high school program and one university program will be inducted during ceremonies Sunday, Jan. 12, at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield.

This year's inductees are:

Emmitt Thomas, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs: Thomas returned to his football roots in Kansas City in 2010, joining the Chiefs as the defensive backs coach. Thomas played cornerback for 13 seasons with Kansas City ('66-78) and finished his career with a franchise-record 58 interceptions. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in '86, Thomas was also enshrined into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Edmonds Highlights Inductees Into State's Sports Hall Of Fame from The Houston Herald