Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/31

Good morning! The final score stunk, but the first team looked good. There might be injuries, but I'm holding out hope. Here is your Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

The Chiefs finished their preseason 1-3. They open the regular season on Sept. 9 against Atlanta at Arrowhead Stadium.

If the first quarter of Thursday night's game is a gauge, the Chiefs have reason to feel good about their chances against the Falcons. They are built around their running game and their defense, and both were strong against the Packers.

Chiefs' Backups Struggle In 24-3 Loss To Packers from KC Star

All of the appropriate disclaimers about preseason football apply here - Nate Eachus got carries on the first and last drives, and the Packers' play calling was noticeably straightforward in a game where the main objective should've been to not get hurt - but the Chiefs at least looked like a functioning defense for the first time in nearly a month.

After being shredded by a meh Rams offense and a 5-foot-11 rookie quarterback for the Seahawks, the Chiefs finally made stops against Aaron Rodgers and one of the league's Super Bowl favorites.

Firmly In The Grip Of Unease from KC Star

KC Star Photo Gallery: Packers 24, Chiefs 3

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 8-30-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Locker Room: Postgame From GB

KCChiefs.com Video: Postgame Report With Mitch And Josh

NFL.com Video: Chiefs vs. Packers Highlights

NFL.com Video: 'NFL Fantasy Live': Goal Line Vultures

With cut downs to the 53-man roster looming, some of the Kansas City Chiefs players were looking to lock down a spot for the season. Despite their best efforts, the Chiefs fell to Green Bay 24-3 at Lambeau Field.

The fist team saw limited work Thursday night as QB Matt Cassel completed his only pass of the night for nine yards and exited the game with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter. QB Brady Quinn took over for Cassel in the first quarter. Quinn rushed for 29 yards on two carries after taking over.

Chiefs Fall To Packers 24-3 from The Mothership

The University of Kansas Training Complex felt a lot like training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. earlier this week. Practices featured unscripted plays, competitive 11-on-11 periods, a spirited head football coach and a run-heavy offensive approach.

It was a calculated plan by Crennel to reset his team's mindset before Atlanta visits Arrowhead Stadium to kickoff the regular season on September 9^th.

"We're a team that wants to come out and run the football," Hillis said. "I think we did that for the most part tonight."

Chiefs Emphasize Run Game Mentality In Preseason Finale from The Mothership

Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe was a little too eager in his first start as a professional.

On the third play of Thursday night's 24-3 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers, Poe jumped offside. The blown assignment cost the Chiefs more than 5 yards; it also nullified Stanford Routt's interception of an Aaron Rodgers pass.

"It was a bad play by me," said Poe, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick. "I've got to keep my focus and watch the ball. A mental mistake."

Poe Gets Plenty Of Playing Time In First Start from KC Star

The Chiefs played Thursday night's final preseason game without starting defensive tackle Anthony Toribio (ankle), cornerback Brandon Flowers (heel) and free safety Kendrick Lewis (shoulder).

Flowers' primary backup, Jalil Brown, also didn't play due to a groin injury.

Further compounding potential concerns, the Chiefs will start the regular season without Pro Bowl defensive end Tamba Hali, who is suspended for the first game of the year for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Chiefs Limp Into Regular Season from The Top Spin

The game, which the Chiefs wound up losing 24-3 to the Packers, turned into an eventful one for Quinn. After he made some big third-down plays but also cost the Chiefs some points but throwing an end-zone interception, Quinn left the game because of what the Chiefs called a neck injury.

Coach Romeo Crennel said he didn't think Quinn's injury was "major" but Quinn was unavailable to answer questions after the game because he was undergoing medical evaluation.

Quinn Makes some Big Plays, But Also Throws Interception And Is Hurt from KC Star

The running game was powerful. Jamaal Charles showed his speed getting to the corner, and Peyton Hillis was overpowering in shredding the defenders. They didn't do it alone. The starting offensive line and fullback Patrick DiMarco pushed the Packers around and created the holes, though it didn't hurt that Packers Pro Bowl nose tackle B.J. Raji left the game after suffering an ankle injury on the first play of the game.

Chiefs Blitz: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly From Thursday Night from KC Star

In their final tuneup for the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs showed they could stop Aaron Rodgers.

They just couldn't duplicate the feat against Green Bay Packers backup Graham Harrell.

The Chiefs kept Rodgers and the Packers out of the end zone in the first quarter, then gave up three straight scoring drives after Harrell took over and the Packers won 24-3 Thursday night.

Kansas City At Green Bay from CBS Sports

Thursday night, the Kansas City Star reported star linebacker Derrick Johnson may have suffered a significant ankle injury. Wow. Even if it is a minor ankle injury, Johnson may not be ready for Week 1 against Atlanta.

What a waste. Johnson didn't need to play in this game.

Now, there is a chance the Chiefs could be without Johnson, cornerback Brandon Flowersand Kendrick Lewis (they are both injured) and linebacker Tamba Hali serving a one-game NFL suspension) in that game. Good luck, Chiefs.

Observation Deck: Chiefs-Packers from ESPN

The Chiefs finished the game with 14 penalties for 126 yards that inevitably killed their own scoring chances or extended Packers' drives. And, when they weren't getting stupid penalties, the defense gave up too many big plays to the Packers second-string offense.

Chiefs Drop Third Preseason Game To Green Bay, 24-3 from Examiner.com

Then the Chiefs learned that Hali will miss the season opener Sept. 9 against Atlanta after violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Defensive backs Brandon Flowers, Kendrick Lewis and Jalil Brown went down with injuries. And the Chiefs played a couple of preseason duds against St. Louis and Seattle, the latter a 44-14 loss at home.

Now, all that eagerness about the regular season has turned into anxiety, and affable coach Romeo Crennel has turned a bit perturbed by the way things are headed.

NFL 2012: Sketchy Preseason Has Chiefs Wondering If Abundance Of Talent Is Enough To Win from The Associated Press via The Washington Post

We're pretty sure the Chiefs have the recipe for beating the Packers. After handing the Packers their only regular-season loss in 2011, the Chiefs came out in this game and pounded the Packers, running on nine straight plays at one point. For the most part, the Packers didn't do anything to deter them. The Chiefs two top-of-the-line backs Jamaal Charles (3 carries, 12 yards) and Peyton Hillis (6 carries, 46 yards) did pretty much whatever they wanted. Why? For the most part, guys either couldn't get off blocks or (surprise!) didn't wrap up when they were trying to tackle.

Packers vs. Chiefs: What We Learned from Total Packers

So many of you have told me I have the best job in the world. Admittedly, sometimes I've had to pinch myself. But it's more than traveling to different NFL stadiums, working for my hometown team or being paid to cover the sport I love.

My time with the Chiefs has meant so much more to me.

I've been blessed during my career to meet not only some of the best people in sports, but some of the best people in life. Within six months of graduating college I was fortunate enough to work for both Orlando Magic Sr. Vice President Pat Williams (he drafted both Shaq and Charles Barkley) and sports pioneer Lamar Hunt.

Josh Looney: A Fond Farewell And Thank You To Chiefs Fans from The Mothership

Perhaps no team is better set up to climb to the top of their division or at least make a strong run at the wild card than the Chiefs. Start off with the fact that they play in a division that is not overpowering. That gives Romeo Crennel a legitimate chance to infuse his team with confidence. The Chiefs have balance on offense as long as Matt Cassel and Jamaal Charles can stay healthy. Dwayne Bowe can go downfield and make big catches. The defense has legitimate Pro Bowl candidates in linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson. The Chiefs are not dominant in any one area, but they don't have any major weaknesses.

Chiefs, Seahawks, Panthers Have Chance To Shock This Year from CBS Chicago

This might be the toughest division to call. Partly because nobody really knows what to expect out of Peyton Manning after his lost final season in Indianapolis - or even if his body can still hold up to a full season - and partly because last year three of the four teams finished with 8-8 records while the other, Kansas City, was a game behind on 7-9.

Each team has its strengths but also its weaknesses. Kansas City's already brilliant running game has added Peyton Hillis, but can Matt Cassel produce consistently at quarterback? San Diego's Philip Rivers is one of the best in the business, despite a down year, yet his offensive line is flimsy. Denver boast two of the best edge pass rushers in the league, but can't always stop the run. Oakland can be explosive on offence, yet too often implode on defence.

NFL 2012 Season Preview from The Guardian

Bring on Atlanta - With the season opener just a week away against the Atlanta Falcons, the Chiefs do have a few glaring items that are of concern.

At the moment, the Chiefs secondary scares me. Look at the first five games of the regular season - Atlanta, Buffalo, New Orleans, San Diego and then Baltimore. What do they all have in common? All have dynamic passing games with matchup problems for the Chiefs at the wide receiver position.

Five Things: Chiefs vs. Packers from Warpaint Illustrated