Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/18

Texans To Start Untested Keenum Against Chiefs from KC Star

Kubiak had said Wednesday he planned to wait until the end of the week to make his decision but decided it would be in the team's best interest to reveal his decision on Thursday.

"I'm worried about my team and doing what's best for us," Kubiak told reporters. "We have to run our offense. I want everybody moving forward and understanding where we're going. I have confidence in Case. Matt and T.J. will help him. We're not sending him out there alone, and he's done well since camp. He's excited.

Three-Phase Thursday With Chiefs Coordinators from The Mothership

Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton spoke Thursday about playing against the Texans zone-blocking running game.

"Well one, the zone schemes that the Texans, Washington and Denver (run) are probably the best examples of that going," coach Sutton said. "They're all out of the same tree. They put so much pressure on you, because these plays, everybody has to play every play, because they find the crack or hole in the defense as it goes, so every play you are required as a defensive player, to be in the right position, to stay on your feet, to be able to squeeze the play off and go. To us, the best way is you have to protect the blocker, which isn't anything really new or new in approach, but that's kind of our basic approach. You have to attack it; you have to attack it, stay on your feet and then your linebackers and your second-level defensive backs have to do a great job of capping off these runs, when they turn up on you."

Chiefs Expect Charles' Workload To Increase Even More from KC Star

Charles, the AFC's leader in yards from scrimmage with 775 yards, (475 rushing, 300 receiving), was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday for the first time in three weeks.

Charles said the blisters on his feet are healing, and he's ready to take on an even bigger role in the offense.

"This is probably the best I've felt since week one," said Charles. "I hope I can continue to feel like that. I'm not worrying about how many times I touch the ball. I've been doing this for years, and it doesn't matter to me. As long as the ball is in my hand, I'm up for whatever."

Fiercely Fighting Breast Cancer from The Mothership

Stephanie Reynolds was recently diagnosed with breast cancer in June of this year. She is a Chiefs superfan and was not letting the cancer keep her from cheering on her Chiefs at Arrowhead...

...During the game, Stephanie proudly held up a poster that read, "Breast cancer took my hair and chest but NOT my seat at Arrowhead." The photo of Stephanie at Arrowhead, dressed in pink, with a recently shaved head and her poster held high, went viral on social media.

Snap Count Observations: Cooper Sees Less Time On Special Teams from KC Star

Just last week, special teams coach Dave Toub said he was doing all he could to keep Cooper on special teams.

I'm trying to steal reps when I can," Toub said. "He's very talented. Defense is slowly taking him away and that's the way it is. Good players end up moving up, and that's life in our world.

"I will try to keep using him on punt returns and in the return game where he's coming off the field (when he doesn't) necessarily have to go back out to play defense on the coverage units. That's the plan with him."

Branden Albert Willing To Play Hurt For Chiefs from KC Star

"I'm the oldest man on the offensive line - not old - but I am the oldest," said Albert, 28. "I've got to show these guys that when you're going through things and things aren't perfect, you've got to keep fighting."

Albert has done just that. Despite his litany of injuries, his pass-blocking grade of plus-6.7 (according to Pro Football Focus) is easily the highest of any Chiefs starter, with center Rodney Hudson (plus-2.8), right guard Jon Asamoah (plus-2.6), left guard Jeff Allen (plus-0.6) and right tackle Eric Fisher (negative-5.4) behind him.

"It means a lot, man - he has a lot of grit," Allen said. "For him to sacrifice his body and go out there and continue to play while he's hurt, that meant a lot to us and got us going. We saw him battling. He's out there busting his tail and we needed to do the same."

Rookie Safety Sanders Commings Eager To Hit Field For Chiefs from KC Star

For rookie safety Sanders Commings, a rookie fifth-round pick who has been on the Chiefs' short-term injured reserve list because of a broken collarbone, a return to game action can't come soon enough.

"I am ready to get that first pop," said Commings, who returned to practice Wednesday. "I haven't hit anybody since my last game at Georgia, so I'm definitely ready to hit somebody.

Chiefs Expect To See Texans' J.J. Watt At Full Power from KC Star

Pederson also said that with the speed the Texans feature in their front seven - including middle linebacker Brian Cushing - it's hard to run around them, so sometimes the best thing to do is attack them downhill.

"You see teams going at him, you see teams going around the edge on him," Pederson said. "Whatever your gameplan is, again, you just have to understand where he's at and make sure you've got the right fit, hands, eyes, everything on him."

Even though the Rams clearly did something right against Watt, he was still disruptive enough Sunday that Chiefs guard Jeff Allen - who said he watched the film of that game - was shocked to hear Watt didn't record a tackle.

KCChiefs.com Video: Under The Helmet: Kendrick Lewis

NFL.com Video: Can The Kansas City Chiefs Win The AFC?

NFL.com Video: Weather Update: Texans @ Chiefs

NFL.com Video: Are The Kansas City Chiefs For Real?

NFL.com Video: Preview: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Preview: 6-0 Chiefs Welcome Reeling Texans To Noisy Arrowhead from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The most opportunistic defense in the NFL and strong special teams have allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to overcome a mediocre offense for the second-best start in team history.

The Houston Texans haven't been quite as fortunate, with a glaring turnover problem weighing down its league-best defense and otherwise quality offense.

Diving Into Chiefs Offensive Woes from Chiefs Spin

Play calling, quarterback play, the wide receiving corps, injuries at tight end and a young offensive line have all received varying degrees of blame from fans and even at times the Chiefs themselves.

Who is to blame for the offensive woes?

Meet Akeem Jordan, The Unsung Member Of The Chiefs' Fab Four LB Corps from FS Kansas City

In some ways, Akeem Jordan is the Ringo Starr of the Chiefs' linebacking group.

Jordan, an inside linebacker, goes unnoticed for the most part, simply keeping the beat as the rest of the band -- Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali -- rack up sacks and bask in the media spotlight.

It's an unsung role Jordan doesn't mind.

Kansas City Chiefs Are 6-0, But their Luck Is About To Run Out from The Guardian

Led by new head coach Andy Reid, the Arrowhead natives are 6-0 and have only won one game by less than two scores. They are almost certainly heading towards the playoffs on the strength of their defense. Yet, the Chiefs may end up packing their bags earlier than you might think.

Why?

Chiefs' Smith Eschews Gaudy Stats For Simple Wins from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Every time Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is flushed from the pocket, it seems that one of two things happens: He uses his fleet feet to scramble for yards, or he throws the ball away.

Neither of which is a bad thing.

The Chiefs have never had a quarterback who can make things happen on the ground with the same nimbleness as Smith, nor have they had one in recent years who is smart enough to throw the ball into the third row of seats rather than take a sack or force a pass into coverage.

Chiefs Need More From Others, Not Charles from ESPN

The 6-0 Chiefs, tied for first place in the AFC West with the Denver Broncos, shouldn't lessen their demands on Charles. He's their most reliable offensive threat and if the Chiefs are to eventually make what they'd like to of this season, Charles has to be a huge part.

For him to be that, the Chiefs need to keep him healthy. This will be his first full week of practice in some time, though that's not necessarily the best indication of his physical condition.

"Practice really doesn't matter,'' he said. "You've got to suit up on Sunday.''

Facts And Figures On Texans-Chiefs Matchup from FS Kansas City

Charles has accounted for 39.6 percent of the Chiefs' scrimmage yards in 2013, the highest such percentage in the league. Charles has already matched his 2012 total with five rushing touchdowns, and his 300 receiving yards have topped his total of a season ago.

NFL Preview - Houston (204) At Kansas City (6-0) from The Hilton Head Island Package

The backup quarterback is the most popular guy in any city when the starter is struggling but you have to remember they are usually in that position for a good reason and Yates showed that against the Rams.

Throwing Keenum to the wolves against this Chiefs defense is also unlikely to jump start things for Kubiak, who has piloted the Texans to a 4-8 mark since their 11-1 start to the 2012 season and now seems to be grasping at straws.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Chiefs 23, Texans 14

Double Coverage: Houston Texans At Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

What do you think have been the most important factors in the Chiefs' fast start this season?

Teicher: If their success can be boiled down to one factor, it's field position. The Chiefs have started 17 possessions on their opponent's end of the field while the opponents have started three possessions on Kansas City's side of the field. The best starting field position for the opponent this season has been the Chiefs' 42. So the Chiefs aren't just consistently winning the turnover battle -- at plus-12, they're best in the league -- they're using it to their benefit.

Jamaal Charles Prefers Carrying The Load For Chiefs from USA Today

"I'm not worried," Charles told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "Sometimes, I don't even really get hit. Sometimes, I try to hit them before they hit me.

"It doesn't matter about how many touches I've gotten. I'm not even worrying about that. It's not even in my mind. I'm just worrying about how to stay successful."

No Blitz Needed To Create Pass Rush from ESPN

We suspected the Chiefs were getting a lot of their best pass-rush work done when sending four or fewer players after the quarterback, and the numbers confirm those suspicions. The Chiefs have 21 of their 31 sacks when they're not blitzing, and they are sacking the quarterback on 11 percent of those plays. Both are league bests.

Not Easy To Explain Hali's Success from ESPN

"I'm not the athlete everybody wants me to be, but with my hard work I kind of make up for it,'' Hali said. "I'm not like a freak of nature like guys like [Julius] Peppers, 6-7 and can run. I'm not that. I'm what I am. I take what I have and I just utilize it and I'm OK with that.''

Hali is as relentless a pass-rusher as there is. He gets some of his sacks from sheer effort and a refusal to give up on a play.

"Whether it's practice or games, you're going to get one speed and that's full speed,'' coach Andy Reid said. "Every snap; you know what you're going to get every day whether he's sick or whether he's healthy. He's going to bring it and work his profession to the best of his ability.''

NFL Honors Watch: Peyton Manning, J.J. Watt Lead from NFL.com

How do you determine "value" when determining the MVP?

One option: Imagine what a team would look like without it's best player. The Kansas City Chiefswould have one of the NFL's worst offenses without Charles.

Just three running backs in NFL history have started a season with 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in each of the first six games of the season: O.J. Simpson in 1975 and Jim Brown in 1958. This is the type of company Charles is keeping.

Texans Starting Keenum Vs. Chiefs from The Associated Press via FOX Sports

Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defense of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world.

So be it: Keenum will start for Matt Schaub, who is out dealing with injuries to his right ankle and foot, and will try to help the Houston Texans snap a four-game losing streak.

Commentary: It's Time For 'Home Of The Brave' To Return At Arrowhead Stadium from The Kansas City Kansan

Arrowhead Stadium is truly one of the few professional sports stadiums that have a college atmosphere. Tailgating begins hours before the game kicks off. Tailgating continues for a few hours afterwards.

Calling Arrowhead Stadium the best NFL game-day environment is a well-deserved and well-earned compliment.

Well, except for one thing --- Chiefs fans using the wrong word to conclude the National Anthem.

A Compromise To Rename All NFL Teams from The Chicago Tribune

The Kansas City Chiefs would become the Kansas City Too Sweet Ketchup-Based Sauce. Or, better yet, the Kansas City Borings or the KC Who Really Wants to Live There?