Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/13

Good morning! I'm back after a couple of days and I have been out of the Chiefs' loop, so I apologize if I post something that's already been covered. Here's your Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

Chiefs' Daboll Looks At Effects Of Conservative Play-Calling from KC Star

The Chiefs at any of several junctures could have had that field goal, or more. The most obvious missed opportunity was quarterback Matt Cassel's fumble on a first-down play from the Baltimore 1.

But conservative play-calling was also a factor, something offensive coordinator Brian Daboll acknowledged on Friday. The Chiefs ran 51 times while trying just 17 passes, a mix that helped keep them close to one of the league's best teams but didn't provide them with enough points.

Chiefs Safety Kendrick Lewis Set To Make First Start from KC Star

Romeo Crennel hasn't yet made the declaration, but free safety Kendrick Lewis said he would start Sunday for the first time this season in the Chiefs' game against the Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla.

"I'm back this weekend," Lewis said. "I'm saying that. Coach hasn't put his stamp on there but I'm feeling good and I'm feeling confident to go out there and help my team and I'm ready if he allows me to."

How Much More Can KC Sports Fans Take? from KC Star

This was the year the Royals were finally supposed to contend, but the boys in blue finished below .500 as they have for 17 of the last 18 seasons.

The Chiefs were supposed to have promise, also, but instead 2012 has been a train wreck, with the team starting 1-4 - and heading into Sunday's game against 1-3 Tampa Bay as the underdog.

Tamp Bay's Freeman Unfazed By Change In His NFL Fortune from KC Star

Plans were under way to chisel Freeman's bust for Canton, but the NFL can be fickle. Twenty-two interceptions last year - one fewer than Ryan Fitzpatrick's league-worst 23 - combined with a 10-game skid that capped a disappointing 4-12 season put those plans on hold.

But don't weep for Freeman, who leads Tampa against the Chiefs at noon Sunday. He blames the spike in interceptions on trying too hard to make plays and forcing too many passes, but he also threw for more yards last year and bumped up his completion rate 1.4 percent.

Chiefs Have Plenty Of Adversity, Need Wins from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

There were blowout losses to start the season, injuries to key players and now the fan base has been cast into the mud by comments made by offensive tackle Eric Winston, alleging a small percentage of them cheered when quarterback Matt Cassel was hurt last week.

Sounds like a good time to hit the road.

The Chiefs visit Tampa Bay on Sunday in search of their second win of the season. They get a bye week after that before hosting Oakland, and then have two more games on the road.

Booing Cassel Is A Chiefs' Fan's Right, But This Was Wrong from the San Diego Union-Tribune

Kansas City has great fans. Arrowhead is my favorite NFL venue. Good people. Midwest folk, in general, are the nicest in America. They eat well. They tailgate. Barbecue's great. They enjoy their libations. They have a good time.

But I sensed a change a few weeks back when the Chargers went back there and beat up on their beloved Chiefs. There was unrest. Cassel was being treated as though he were a mass murderer. The fans wanted him gone.

Chiefs Game Preview vs. Buccaneers: Analysis, Prediction, TV Info from CBS Sports

Key matchups: Tampa Bay WR Vincent Jackson vs. Kansas City CB Brandon Flowers. Jackson is averaging 19 yards a reception and gives Tampa Bay a deep threat. The Bucs run so much that their play-action is effective. Flowers has an interception in two straight games and has been playing well. Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe vs. Tampa Bay CB Aqib Talib. When the Chiefs do throw, Bowe is usually the target. He is tied for second in the NFL with 57 targets. The receiver who has the better game -- Jackson or Bowe -- could be one of the deciding factors.

Quinn Takes Over Chiefs In Tampa from The Chicago Tribune

Though they've won just two of nine games combined, the teams have been maddeningly close to adding at least a few more to that total. And both have the weapons on offense - the Chiefs with Charles running, the Bucs with Jackson receiving - to pose a legitimate threat here. In the end, expect the absence of Cassel to allow Tampa Bay to limit Kansas City's runners enough to make a difference. Tie goes to the home team.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Buccaneers 20, Chiefs 19

Chiefs' Controversy Overshadows Positives from The Examiner

"I think we're coming together we're a young defense it's kind of like last year," Derrick Johnson said. "We have two games where you're saying, ‘Man, what's going on with the defense?' But we're a tough-minded group , so we know what we did wrong and Coach Crennel is a heck of a coach, so it's one of those things where he's going get it right. It all comes with stopping the run early in the game and tight coverage with our corners and trying to put them on an island, but we're doing well."

Swept under the rug this week is how Kansas City's defense has crept its way into the NFL's top 10. Top 10 in their last three games, at home and on the road.

Cassel, Dorsey, Hillis And Wylie Officially Out Of Sunday's Chiefs Game from Examiner.com

Dorsey has also been missing since the Saints game, but the positive side to that is that his injury gave back-up lineman, Ropati Pitoitua, a chance to start and he played an outstanding game against the San Diego Chargers (6 solo tackles, 2 quarterback sacks). By contrast, Dorsey has reached 6 tackles just 11 times in 65 career games in KC. Potential "All-Time Worst KC Draft Choice Bust" candidate, Tyson Jackson has gotten 6 tackles five times in 49 career games, so in the words of Bill Murray in "Caddyshack" ... at least he's got that going for him ... which is nice.

Chiefs' Bowe A Top Target No Matter Who's At QB from USA Today

Bowe is tied for the second-most targets at 57 and has had relatively consistent fantasy production. Due to Matt Cassel's concussion, Bowe is a topic of concern in Week 6 leaving many owners wondering if they should start or sit him. Regardless who starts at QB, Bowe has a juicy matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs allow the third most fantasy points to Wide Receivers and Tampa's loss of DE Adrian Clayborn will severely impact Tampa's pass rush. This week Bowe is a high end WR2 and Cassel should be back after their Week 7 Bye.

Why The Cowboys Might Not Need To Worry About Ravens' Ray Lewis from The Dallas Morning News

A helmet to the chest from Kansas City Chiefs center Ryan Lilja rudely greeted Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis, a punishing blow reinforced by Lilja shoving the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year to the ground.

Lewis suffered similar rough treatment from Chiefs guards Jeff Allen and Jon Asamoah, each seemingly showing glee at crashing into the 13-time Pro Bowl selection.

Unable to shed blocks or consistently chase down backs in the open field, Lewis was repeatedly left grasping at air as running back Jamaal Charles sprinted around him to gain 140 yards during the Ravens' 9-6 victory Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Richmond's Hometown Hero from The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, an eight-time All-AFL/AFC selection during an 11-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, was honored Tuesday as a Hometown Hall of Famer^TM by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company. The special plaque ceremony at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond, Va. took place in front of an audience that included more than 500 students, family and friends, as well as local community members with about 40 Maggie L. Walker alumni in attendance as Lanier was presented with the historic hometown plaque.

Do Rowdy Fans Need A Timeout? from The New York Times

I think the best solution to the problem is a simple one: choose three of the most aggressive fans at each game and pull them down onto the field. Give them shoulder pads and a helmet and let them cover a kick-off. One healthy hit will shut them up.

Packers, Broncos Among NFL's Most Desperate Teams from NFL.com

Kansas City Chiefs: Teams with 1-5 records simply don't make the playoffs. Not a single one has pulled it off since the playoff field expanded in 1990. The Chiefs need to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday to keep their slim postseason hopes alive.

Fan Revolts Out Of Control, One Wanted To Fight UGA Player from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lost perspective has reached moronic proportions. Kansas City Chiefs fans cheered last week when Matt Cassel was concussed because their team stinks, and they wanted Brady Quinn in the game. Chiefs linemen Eric Winston responded appropriately, saying, "We are not gladiators" and called it "sickening. It's 100 percent sickening. I've never been so embarrassed in my life to play football."

Jets Hot Topic: Should The Jets Use More Tim Tebow In The Red Zone? from NJ.com

After finishing the 2012 season second in the NFL in red zone efficiency, the Jets are currently ranked 28th in the league, with a 35.71% red zone scoring percentage, per teamrankings.com. In the last three games, that number drops to 14.29% -- only the Kansas City Chiefs have a worse efficiency rating in that three game span.

Running To Daylight Still Important In NFL from The Associated Press via KC Star

Vince Lombardi, not to mention Woody Hayes, would love what the 49ers, Patriots, Texans, Chiefs and Giants have been doing recently. It might be longer than three yards and a cloud of dust, but those teams have run to daylight enough to make the ground game viable in the NFL again.

Only Kansas City has been losing among those five teams showing a strong commitment to the run.

Final Word: AFC West from ESPN

Chiefs can't hold onto the ball: Kansas City enters its game at Tampa Bay with an NFL-leading 19 turnovers in five games. The Chiefs are 1-4 for a lot of reasons, but averaging nearly four turnovers game is a crisis. It is the most turnovers through five games since the 1997 New Orleans Saints, who had 21 turnovers, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Ryan Proves He Knows How To Win from ESPN

Kansas City fans weren't cheering Matt Cassel's injury on Sunday. They were cheering the fact that the Baltimore Ravens did what Romeo Crennel -- or was it Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli? -- would not do: bench a quarterback who has been awful this season.

Better To Be Anywhere But Buffalo from ESPN

3. Kansas City

The Royals just wrapped up their ninth consecutive losing season and fourth in a row with 90 losses or more. What else? Oh, right! The Chiefs. They're so bad that fans are cheering their quarterback's injury or expressing their frustration at the team's woeful management by cheering their quarterback's injury or just yelling in pain. Whatever. Let's just say it's bad, and no amount of delicious barbecue sauce can make the crap sandwich that is Kansas City sports taste better.

Game Plan from Sports Illustrated

Kansas City quarterback Brady Quinn (No. 9): Quinn, with Matt Cassel (concussion, fractured feelings) sidelined, starts his first game in 34 months Sunday at Tampa Bay. And if he plays well, coach Romeo Crennel may have no choice than to prep Quinn for the Chiefs' division last-straw series (Oakland in Week 8, at San Diego Week 9) after their Week 7 bye. This is not just a replacement game for Quinn. It's an audition -- for now, and for the future, either in Kansas City or somewhere else. He'll have to be more accurate than he was as a Brown to keep this job or he'll have to vie for one in another city in 2013.

Rumblings Xtra: Items That Didn't Make The Print Edition from The Columbus Dispatch

While prospects for the Chiefs aren't good, the former Notre Dame star looks to have a fairer chance there than he did in Cleveland. Kansas City not only has a better supporting cast than Quinn had with the Browns - even with injuries to the offensive line, the Chiefs showed they could run the football against a stout Ravens defense -- and KC's remaining opponents have a combined record of 13-25.

Something To Believe In from Grantland

Q: Is Kansas City the new Philadelphia? Their fans booed Robby Cano mercilessly during the home run contest. Enough to totally get in his dome and hit exactly 0 home runs. (And I loved every second of it) Then they cheer when Cassell gets hurt? That's pretty low.
-CP, Des Moines

SG: Come on, do you really think we'd ever have a show called It's Always Sunny in Kansas City? I think Kansas City is more like the kid who was bullied for a few years before finally snapping, not much different from Warriors fans snapping during Joe Lacob's speech on Chris Mullin night. They were so frustrated by the Scott Pioli era and the last few years in general that a few of them handled it wrong. (Jason Whitlock's take nailed it.) Besides, there can never be a "new" Philly - what would we do with the old one?

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Foto Friday

KCChief.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 10/12/12

NFL.com Video: Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers