Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/22

Good morning! Today's Kansas City Chiefs news talks about injuries, a roster move and has multiple previews of tomorrow's game against the New Orleans Saints. Enjoy.

In their perfect world, the Chiefs might like to give rookie offensive lineman Jeff Allen his first NFL start somewhere other than in the din of the Superdome in New Orleans.

But at 0-2, the Chiefs' world is far from perfect. Allen, a second-round draft pick from Illinois, may be in the starting lineup Sunday against the Saints at left guard in place of the injured Ryan Lilja.

"Against this particular team it's probably not the best because of the varying pressures that they bring," said coach Romeo Crennel, never a fan of throwing young players into the lineup.

Chiefs May Start Rookie Jeff Allen On Offensive Line from KC Star

They have been to the playoffs once in the previous three seasons, and a big reason for the disappointment is because Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli's security blanket is leaning on all the lessons he learned from Belichick. Every time things go sideways with the Chiefs, Pioli pulls it closer, inhaling its comfort and feeling its familiarity.

It's past time for Pioli to grow out of it, but the more time passes, it's clear that team chairman Clark Hunt will have to forcibly wean his GM off this comfortable, but ineffective, habit. If the losses keep mounting, Hunt has all the proof he needs - an assistant GM, two offensive coordinators, a defensive coordinator, a starting quarterback, a head coach, too many former Patriots players to list, and losses in nearly 60 percent of the Chiefs' games since 2009 - to insist that it's time for his GM to finally pack away his blanket for good.

Time For The Chiefs To Show The Patriot Way The Way Out from KC Star

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel

NFL.com Video: Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs vs. New Orleans Saints

S Eric Berry was asked if he felt pressured or a sense of urgency for the upcoming game:

"It's never any pressure because once you start getting pressure you start to panic. So right now we're just focusing on getting better as a unit. It is a sense of urgency but we don't like using the term pressure because when people start talking about pressure, that's when people start pressing and start doing things out of character. We're trying to make sure we stick with the plan, but just try to focus a little more and just do little extra things before and after practice to make sure we're coming together as a unit and get some wins."

Overheard: Week Three Wrap-Up from The Mothership

So what's the secret to defending Brees?

"Pass rush ... show different looks and be aggressive on the receiver and try to throw the timing off on the receiver," Thomas said. "Brees has a great group of receivers, they've been together now for four or five years, so they've been doing a lot of things. Hopefully we get a good pass rush, and the corners and safeties play aggressive.

"In watching the tape, I know they've lost two, but that offense is not struggling."

Chiefs Notebook: Emmitt Thomas Familiar With Saints Offense from KC Star

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that the club has moved offensive lineman Lucas Patterson to the practice squad injured list. The team has signed wide receiver Junior Hemingway to the practice squad.

Chiefs Announce Practice Squad Moves from The Mothership

Both teams have surrendered an NFL-high 75 points in the last two games. So this has all the makings of becoming a shootout between Brees and the Chiefs' Matt Cassel. So the Saints can't settle for field goals early like they did in Carolina. Expect another up-tempo style of offense from the Saints to keep Kansas City on its heels. Also expect Brees to take his chances against a secondary that lost cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency and a Kansas City team that has only one sack and no created turnovers on the season.

Inside The New Orleans Saints-Kansas City Chiefs Game from NOLA.com

The gameplan for Cassel and the Chiefs could be heavy on running plays. Kansas City is averaging 151.0 yards on the ground, fifth in the league, and seems likely to try to take advantage of New Orleans' problems with stopping the run.

The Chiefs averaged 6.3 yards per carry in Week 2 - tops in the league - in last Sunday's 35-17 defeat to Buffalo. Jamaal Charles dinged up his reconstructed left knee and had only six carries for three yards, but he's expected to play Sunday.

Chiefs-Saints Preview from Yahoo! Sports

Who matters: Cassel and Jamaal Charles. Alcohol will be consumed on Bourbon Street, at least one fan will shout "Who dat" and Drew Brees will put up points against Kansas City's defense. Those three are givens on Sunday in New Orleans. That means the Chiefs need to find a way to keep up. Charles was a nonfactor against Buffalo, ending his day short because of a knee bruise after three carries for 6 yards. Here are Carolina's rushing totals in three games: 10, 219 and 60. The 219 yards came against the Saints, who have the worst run D in the league. Charles has to take advantage. As for Cassel, he needs to take care of the ball -- the Chiefs are an NFL-worst minus-6 in giveaway/takeaway ratio.

Chiefs Game Preview: Week 3 vs. Saints from CBS Sports

The league office advised PFT earlier today that Searcy was fined for applying an illegal hit to Chiefs tight end Kevin Boss.

Da'Norris Searcy Fined $21,000 For Hit On Kevin Boss from ProFootballTalk

What will give in the Big Easy? Both the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints go into Sunday's game in New Orleans a disappointing 0-2. A big reason why is that their defenses have betrayed them. The teams are tied for last in the NFL in scoring defense, both allowing 75 points through two games.

Final Word: AFC West from ESPN

In recent years, there's been a lot of talk about how unpredictable the New Orleans offense was. That might have changed this year and defenses might have an idea what's coming, just by looking at who's in the backfield. According to ESPN Stats & Information, running back Darren Sproles doesn't have a rushing attempt this season. The Saints have passed on 74 of the 77 plays Sproles has been on the field. On the flip side, the Saints have passed on only six of the 29 plays Mark Ingram has been on the field.

Final Word: NFC South from ESPN

In his first pro game, Lanier dove to make a tackle - "which you should never do," he said - and took a knee to the head. He was woozy. The field was wavy.

"I knew I had a concussion," Lanier said. "But players didn't say anything if they didn't pass out. I monitored myself on the flight home and was in practice the next week.

In the first quarter of his next game, "I was getting ready to call the defense, and I just collapsed. One minute I'm playing, the next moment I'm in a hospital with the trainer and physician standing next to me. I knew whatever it was, it was bad to pass out without getting hit."

Players Robinson, Lanier Say Training For Football Safety Must Start Early from The Richmond Times-Dispatch

The inside linebacker has been the linchpin of the Kansas City defense since the Chiefs drafted him out of Texas with the 15th overall pick in 2005. He was named first-team All-Pro and selected to his first Pro Bowl last season, when he made 131 tackles.

What's the mindset of the team heading into Sunday's game?

Trying to get this snowball going in the other direction. The last two weeks have not been good for us. We've played some pretty good teams, but we haven't played good ourselves. We have to, I don't want to say do something different, but we have to play a lot better. And we can. We have confidence in ourselves, speaking defensively, and we just have to make it happen.

Week 3 Spotlight: Chiefs-Saints from Sports Illustrated

The estrangement between Marcus Allen and the Raiders is ending.

Allen, 52, will light the ceremonial flame that honors Al Davis, the late team owner, before the Raiders host the Pittsburgh Steelers at O.co Coliseum, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reported Friday.

Marcus Allen To Honor Al Davis from The Contra Costa Times via KC Star