Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 9/8

Good morning. Must be getting close to real football, because there's a ton of Kansas City Chiefs news waiting for us today. Don't forget to set your fanasy lineups for players that play tonight. Let's get this season started. Go Chiefs!

Muir, 68, has been a coach since 1965; he began working in the NFL in 1978. In those 33 years, Muir has been a coordinator — he was Jon Gruden’s point man on offense in Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers won three division titles and the 2003 Super Bowl — but has never called plays, at least on offense. He did make defensive calls for a time while he was the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator from 1989-90.

Offensive Coordinator Bill Muir to Call Plays for Chiefs from KC Star

But it wasn’t the touchdown catch Bowe wanted to expand upon following the game. Instead, it was a missed opportunity on the game’s first play where Matt Cassel overthrew a deep post intended for Bowe off a play-fake.

"I knew he could throw it that far," Bowe said of Cassel’s deep attempt. "I didn’t turn my head back to look in time and when I did the safety was covering Matt up so I couldn’t see him. I think it was thrown to where I could get it if I would have seen it. We’ll keep working on those things in practice leading up to this Bills game."

Bowe Feeling Good As Regular Season Approaches from The Mothership

If it were simply a case of four meaningless games, it would be one thing. But, so much of the weakness in the preseason is directly contrary to what the Chiefs did well last year and I’ve already gone on record as saying they can’t duplicate what they did. Unfortunately, this is just confirming it.

Perhaps it will be a totally different team when they kick off the first game. If so, then 8-8 is a reasonable goal. If not, watch out.

Chiefs: Making Sense of the Preseason from Upon Further Review

The Chiefs returned to practice after a day off and Cassel was a full participant.

"No doubt in my mind," Cassel said when asked if he would play. "I feel good. I feel like I’m ready to go.

"Come you-know-what or high water, I’m going to be out there."

Matt Cassel is Adamant He Will Play Sunday For Chiefs from KC Star

Haley is following a similar path to the one he took last season when Charlie Weis was hired as offensive coordinator. Developing each week’s offensive game plan was a staff effort with weekly scripting and play-calling duties handled by Weis.

Muir will be in the booth on Sunday with Haley and Zorn at field level.

Arrowhead Report: Muir to Call Plays from The Mothership

"First week of the regular season. I know the players are really excited. There is a high energy in the building. I saw a bunch of them yesterday even though it was their day off, you could just feel a bunch of them around watching tape and getting ready to go for Buffalo."

Q&A with Todd Haley 9/7 from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs were the AFC's most improved team last season, and don't expect to be taking a step back anytime soon.

For the Buffalo Bills, there's hope, but likely another year of rebuilding.

The Chiefs look to get off to a strong start Sunday when they host the Bills, who believe they have turned the corner after three straight last-place finishes...

..."This will be a great opener for us," coach Todd Haley said. "I'm excited to be at Arrowhead in front of our fans and ... I know the players are really excited."

Bills-Chiefs Preview from Fox Sports

So this is no juggernaut the Bills are playing Sunday. It'll be interesting to see what happens if the Chiefs struggle on the ground. Tight end Tony Moeaki, who was second on the team with 47 catches last season, is out for the season. K.C. is overly reliant on Dwayne Bowe, who had 72 catches and 15 TDs a year ago. No other wideout caught more than 22 passes.

Will Chiefs Regress? from Buffalo News

"I feel good," Merriman said in the Bills' locker room. "Just during camp and getting better and getting adjusted to things, one of the biggest things was getting back to playing football again and feeling comfortable."

Merriman said he's more interested in making statements on the field than off the field about his recovery from a long-term Achilles tendon problem.

Merriman is Ready for Action from Buffalo News

So rather than humiliating ourselves by trying to predict the season's outcome, we decided to focus on another sort of ranking. Since the NFL's opening game between Green Bay and New Orleans on Thursday coincides perfectly with the start of Fashion Week here in New York, we decided to explore the following question: Which NFL team is the handsomest?...

...The most attractive sample of players, with an average facial symmetry rating of 99.47, was one of the worst teams in the league: the Buffalo Bills. Their record last season was a woeful 4-12. The least attractive team was the Kansas City Chiefs, a group that won its division last season and made it to the playoffs.

The NFL's Best-Looking Team from The Wall Street Journal

The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs schedule is filled with top tier NFL teams. This juggernaut of a schedule is leading many to wonder if the Chiefs will be able to defend their AFC West title of a year ago.

Let's take the approach of head coach Todd Haley, breaking this season down in quarters, and highlighting the toughest game or games in each.

Chiefs Facing A Juggernaut in 2011-12 from The University Daily Kansan

8. Kansas City Chiefs. Rarely has a defending division champion been shown such little respect. The Chiefs can run the ball, and Matt Cassel threw 27 TD passes and just seven interceptions last season. But there seem to be doubts whether Kansas City can do it again.

A Look at the AFC from The Philadelphia Inquirer

For Bauer, Sept. 11, 2001 wasn’t about losing his father, but it was about beginning a memory that grows a little larger every day. During the interview, he fought tears back by clearing his throat and excusing himself, but never once wavered in what he wanted to say. He wanted the world to know about his father, a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald who had played football at Villanova University and spent a few years as a professional football player playing for both the Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Father Lost In World Trade Center May Not Be A Hero, But He Will Every Be Defined By Honor from Asbury Park Press

Free agent to make the biggest impact with new team?

Kansas City wide receiver Steve Breaston could make a huge impact now that he’s no longer playing second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona.  Taking pressure off some other talented receivers the Chiefs have could make as much difference as his reception numbers.

NFL Point/Counterpoint - 2011 Predictions from The Shelby Star

Brandon Carr (notes) , CB, Kansas City Chiefs

When discussing the Chiefs' secondary, most of the attention goes to safety Eric Berry (notes) and cornerback Brandon Flowers (notes) , which is understandable — both are standout players. But it's unwise to sleep on Carr, who ranked third-best among qualifying cornerbacks in our recent "Burn Rate" series , and who finished higher than Flowers in Football Outsiders' Success Rate totals last season. He's a quick defender who complements the efforts of Flowers, Berry, and the up-and-coming safety Kendrick Lewis (notes) . At this rate, the Chiefs could have the best pass defense in the NFL sooner than later — and Carr's a huge part of that.

The NFL's Soon-To-Be Stars - The Defense from Yahoo! Sports

They get the AFC East and NFC North in town this year, and then face fellow division champions in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis to finish off their out-of-division slate. With the only true weak sister among those 10 opponents — the Bills — set to visit a Cassel-less team in Week 1, how many of those games can you really expect the Chiefs to win? Could they go 0-10 in those games? The huge home-field advantage afforded them by Arrowhead Stadium will help, and they're a young team that should be getting better every season, but the Chiefs aren't going to be competitive in 2011.

Grantland's Megs NFL Preview Part II from Grantland