Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs news 10/31

Thad Lewis expected to start for Bills | Buffalo Rumblings
After the crazy news on Wednesday that the Buffalo Bills might have to start either Jeff Tuel or Matt Flynn at quarterback in Week 9, a ray of hope surfaced last night in the form of a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. A league source tells Rapoport that Thaddeus Lewis, termed "50-50" to play due to a rib injury by head coach Doug Marrone, is indeed expected to play Sunday against theKansas City Chiefs.

Chiefs not out to win, not win beauty pageants | SI.com
''We're not trying to be beauty queens. A win is a win,'' Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster said. ''We know we're going to have to fight. This is the NFL. Teams are going to be good, going to play well. All we worry about is that we win.''

Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs must avoid perils of perfection | NFL.com
Of course, within all organizations, any type of playoff talk in Week 9 should be seen as premature. When I was coaching the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, I instituted a rule forbidding anyone on the team from even mentioning "the P-word" until we had actually qualified for the postseason (we went on to win the Super Bowl). Yet, the 8-0 Chiefs and the rest of the contenders surely face a constant tugging. Kansas City's players know that each of the 20 other teams to start 8-0 in the Super Bowl era have all gone to the playoffs. The savvy veterans will understand the enormous difference between finishing first in the tough AFC West (a 13-3 record might be good for a No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason) and second (an otherwise-superb 12-4 mark could yield a No. 5 seed).

Running an essential part of Alex Smith's game | ESPN
But Smith is running more than ever with the Chiefs and it’s been a crucial part of his game. He extended many drives with not only his scrambles, but his keepers on the option and even the occasionally called running play. It’s an essential part of the Chiefs’ offense. Their only consistent threats they’ve had this season are the running and receiving of Jamaal Charles and Smith’s rushing. "If they’re going to give you that, (I’ll) take it,’’ he said.

Another practice for Kansas City Chiefs without Jamaal Charles | ESPN
It’s the third injury of the season for Charles, who earlier had a sore quadriceps muscle and extensive blisters on his feet. Charles also strained his foot during the preseason, causing him to miss some practice time then. Charles has always been able to answer the bell on game day but may not always be so fortunate. The Chiefs have done little in the way of preparing for that contingency, which is shocking given their reliance on Charles.

Chiefs Defense Expects Good Things | KCChiefs.com
"You’re talking about one of the primary leaders on that defensive unit," coach Reid said of Berry. "He made sure everybody was involved and everything was going to be okay as long as we keep fighting. Everything’s okay, let’s just keep fighting. He was able to kind of rally that up and guys made plays in different areas. Whether it was a deflected ball or whether it was a big tackle, whatever it might be, tightening up the coverage a little bit, allowing pressure on the quarterback, even though we didn’t get sacks, maybe Browns QB Jason Campbell was throwing off his back foot at times; he’s a good quarterback, too. He’s a veteran quarterback. But, just making him throw from different levels, those are the little things that might get overlooked."

The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL's only undefeated team, but are they for real? | ESPN
For one more week, the schedule is kind to Kansas City. The Chiefs meet lower-echelon Buffalo, led by a practice-squad guy at quarterback. After that it's four of the final seven on the road with five total games versus Denver, San Diego and Indianapolis, current combined record 16-6. The Chiefs go home-and-home versus the Broncos twice in three weeks. After then, we will know whether Kansas City is for real -- or is the Baylor of the NFL.

Chiefs prepare for another team with quarterback issues | KC Star
For the fourth time in five weeks, the Chiefs will face a team starting a different quarterback than the one who opened the season. This time it’s Buffalo, whose coach, Doug Marrone, confirmed Wednesday that E.J. Manuel will miss his fourth straight game Sunday because of a sprained LCL in his right knee. Marrone said backup Thad Lewis, who completed 22 of 39 passes for 234 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a loss to New Orleans last Sunday, has a "50-50" chance of playing Sunday because of sore ribs.

In the end, Jackson, DeVito do the dirty work for Chiefs’ defense | KC Star
"If you had me miked up during the game," Johnson said, "I’m talking to DeVito, (nose tackle) Dontari Poe and Jackson …" said Johnson, the Chiefs’ leading tackler. "I’m gassing up all the time, ‘Hey, good job, good job,’ because of what they do. "They are pushing linemen back, linemen are double teaming ’em, and the outside guys and myself have an opportunity to make plays. I love ’em." The performances by DeVito, who was signed as an under-the-radar free agent during the offseason, and Jackson, who had to agree to a $10 million pay cut to stay with the Chiefs, have not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.

Hall of Fame to honor Bobby Bell | KC Star
Former Chiefs linebacker Bobby Bell will be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance in Shelby, N.C., on Friday as part of "Hometown Hall of Famers," a national program honoring Hall of Famers with ceremonies in their hometowns. Bell will be presented with his plaque at Shelby High, where it will be permanently displayed.