Good morning! We're headed into the weekend and Sunday's matchup against the Jets. Today's Kansas City Chiefs news has some great insight and previews. Keep reading and enjoy.
Not for the first time this season, Chiefs fullback Le'Ron McClain has made a bold prediction on Twitter. His first one - that his team, which had started 0-3, would win five games in a row - looked to be coming true before a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Still, four weeks after McClain's prediction, the Chiefs had a winning record.
Then last week, as the Chiefs were again mired in a losing streak, McClain made another prediction.
"Headed to the Chi," McClain tweeted Dec. 3, referring to his team's next game, in Chicago. "... 1 of 5 in a row."
Le'Ron McClain, NFL's Nostradamus? from KC Star
Coming out of college, Palko posted a better speed and agility numbers than Cassel across the board. He also finished his collegiate career with 12 rushing touchdowns.
"It's definitely a weapon that has been underutilized because he is fast and he is quick and he's fast with the shoulder pads on," Haley said...
...As Palko continues to gain more experience and confidence, his rushing numbers should definitely increase. He has all the physical tools to keep drives alive with his feet.
Arrowhead Report: Getting Palko Up And Running from The Mothership
KC Star Photo Gallery: New KU Coach Charlie Weis Through The Years
NFL.com Video: Week 14: Chiefs vs. Jets Preview
Not even a year since his move away from the Chiefs, Weis is again moving on - and moving up. The Chiefs, meanwhile, took a step back after Weis left, and they have not recovered. Before suffering a season-ending hand injury, Cassel was back to his 2009 form, throwing 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. The rushing attack, held back by a season-ending knee injury to Charles, is averaging nearly 64 yards fewer than it did a season earlier.
Now, regardless of the reasons why Weis left, the Chiefs will have a reminder less than an hour away that he did.
Chiefs' Offense Hasn't Been Same Since Weis Left from KC Star
Palko has found a way to persevere, and the Jets are preparing for him to do more than hand off the ball and throw short passes Sunday.
"We've got to be on high alert every snap," the Jets' defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine, said Thursday.
Ryan said: "Quite honestly, we don't care if Len Dawson's back there this week. You can have Otis Taylor and Buck Buchanan and everyone else. We know this is the Kansas City Chiefs, and we know we have to win, and if he's throwing left-handed or right-handed, it doesn't make a difference to us."
Jets' Ryan Offers Chiefs A Left-Handed Compliment from The New York Times
Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko was a collegiate teammate of Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis for two seasons at Pittsburgh. Revis is generally considered to be the best cornerback in the NFL, something Palko didn't need to be told.
"He doesn't really have any weaknesses, to tell you the truth," Palko said.
Thomas Jones Still Loved In New York from KC Star
It took a desperation heave on the final play of the first half for the Kansas City Chiefs to finally score a touchdown on offense last week.
A weight off their shoulders? Sure. The momentum-shifting play that ultimately led to a much-needed victory? Absolutely. A sign that things have finally turned around? Hardly.
After Finally Scoring TD On Desperation Heave, Chiefs Hope For More Conventional Approach from The Associated Press (via The Washington Post)
The acquisition of another tight end with pass-catching ability should be an offseason priority for the Kansas City Chiefs...
...Even if Moeaki returns and is healthy for the start of the season, the Chiefs must make the move as insurance. Moeaki has a history of injuries going back to college at Iowa.
Kansas City Chiefs Team Report: Adding A Tight End Should Be Offseason Priority from SportingNews
The second reason Moore's absence yesterday was alarming has to do with the Chiefs' pass rush. Kansas City (5-7) may be challenged offensively, but its defense produced seven sacks in the Chiefs' 10-3 win over the Bears last Sunday. It's the most sacks the Chiefs have recorded in a game since they got 10 against the Raiders 13 years ago.
Sure the sacks came against a helpless Bears' offense that has lost its starting quarterback. Still, the Chiefs have a formidable defense that could keep the score closer than the Jets might like. "They're obviously doing something right," Mangold said. "It's going to take a great effort by us to combat that."
Jets Line Merrier With Moore from The New York Post
The Chiefs' offensive numbers in recent weeks have resembled the sun: Stare directly at them at your own risk...
...Despite the ghastly figures, Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine cautioned that Kansas City's offense isn't a schematic mess. He praised wide receivers Dwayne Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston, refusing to take a seemingly inferior offense too lightly.
"If you take that mentality," Pettine said Thursday, "you're going to get beat."
Despite Kansas City's Chief Concerns On Offense, Rex Ryan's NY Jets Can't Slip And Fall Short On Sunday from The New York Daily News
The revolving door at outside linebacker continues for the Jets.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said Jamaal Westerman has supplanted Garrett McIntyre as the starting outside linebacker in the base defense. McIntyre had started the last three games. Westerman started against the Dolphins in October. The Jets have been searching for an answer at the position since Bryan Thomas was lost for the season in Week 4 with a torn Achilles.
Westerman Moves Into Starting Role from The New York Post
"The thing about Jimmy is how consistent he is," Ryan said. "I think Kerley's going to be one of those guys, I really do. But right now, with the way the winds are, the weather changes and all that kind of stuff, I just have a lot of faith in Jim Leonhard. I know he can get it done."
The Jets know that about any responsibility they give to Leonhard, one of their most dependable and consistent players. The seventh-year safety is the only Jets returner this season who has not lost the football.
Jets' Jim Leonhard Back To Returning Punts, Even Though That Wasn't The Plan from The Star-Ledger
Lew Bush, the former San Diego linebacker who played for the Chargers for seven seasons and was part of their lone Super Bowl team in 1994, died Thursday. He was 42.
Bush, who also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, died of an apparent heart attack, the Chargers said in a statement.
Former Chargers, Chiefs Linebacker Lew Bush Dead At 42 Of Apparent Heart Attack from The Washington Post
Wives and significant others of Kansas City Chiefs players teamed up with the Salvation Army and Sam's Club to help buy Christmas presents for needy children.
The women used gift cards donated by Sam's Club to purchase the list of gifts and food sought by the needy individuals. The Salvation Army provided the wish lists.
Chiefs Wives, Salvation Army Team Up To Help Needy from KCTV5
The Jets are no doubt counting on beating the visiting Chiefs (5-7) on Sunday, because Kansas City has quarterback troubles. But that's probably what Chicago was thinking last week, too, and we know how that turned out. New York is just 1-2 against the AFC West this season, and needed a pretty good comeback at home against the Chargers just to get the one win.
With Four Weeks Left, Expect What We Know Of Playoff Race To Change from Sports Illustrated
Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets vs. Chiefs. Kansas City's secondary has collected the second-most interceptions in the NFL, which makes this a bad matchup for the error-prone Sanchez. Look for another sub-200-yard, one-touchdown outing, as the Jets' rushers take this game over.
Carson Palmer Likely To Rack Up Passing Stats from The San Francisco Chronicle