Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/9

Brandon Flowers' Versatility Paid Off For Chiefs Against The Titans from KC Star

Chiefs coach Andy Reid called it a scheme-based decision by defensive coordinator Bob Sutton that was apparently fueled by Flowers' versatility and the emergence of cornerback Marcus Cooper, a 6-foot-2 rookie who gives them another tall, physical cornerback to pair outside with 6-foot-3, 218-pound Sean Smith in their press-man scheme.

"Coop(er)'s been playing well, too, so you get confidence to be able to do that," Reid said. "Brandon's flexibility is the key there. He can do so many things for you, and he's so willing. Very seldom do you see guys of his stature that are that tough and are willing to get inside there with some of those big bodies, but he can play in there."

Subplots From The Chiefs Week 5 Win from The Mothership

It's only fitting that what has been a special beginning to the Chiefs voyage, under head coach Andy Reid, his staff and general manager John Dorsey, continued with another special teams score on Sunday, via a recovered fumble in the end zone by Chiefs CB Marcus Cooper, who was one of seven players that Dorsey claimed off waivers on Sept. 1.

It was the Chiefs second special teams TD of the season, under the direction of special teams coordinator Dave Toub and assistant Kevin O'Dea.

Cooper described the first score of the game, also the first of his career.

Chiefs Tight End Anthony Fasano Tweet His Frustration Over Injuries from KC Star

Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano is not used to being a spectator on Sundays. Over the first seven years of his career, Fasano, 29, proved to be a very tough, durable starter, playing 108 of a possible 112 games.

So it's easy to understand why Fasano, who sat out for the third straight week Sunday because of knee and ankle injuries, felt the need to vent a bit after the Chiefs' 26-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, as he tweeted: "So happy, yet so frustrated. #5-0"

Chiefs 65TPT Honored from The Mothership

This weekend the Chiefs in-house production company, 65 Toss Power Trap Productions (65TPT), won three Regional Emmy Awards from the NATAS Mid-America Chapter at the Emmy Gala held at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

65TPT and the Chiefs have now been awarded 21 Emmy awards in the last three years. This year's acknowledgments were for Arts/Entertainment Special (Chiefs Kingdom: Chris Sembower), Promotional Campaign (Chiefs Kingdom), and Editor - Short Form (Jodain Massad).

Time To Bring Back Tony G from KC Star

Now, as a lifelong Chiefs fan, I have never uttered the words "Super Bowl contenders" about my own team. We've been taught humility and superstition by years of bad luck. But this team, led by Reid, Alex Smith and the most incredible defense we've ever had, could go the distance.

What are we missing? Action on offense. The solution? Tony G.

Tony Gonzalez gets things done; he gets open. No more Smith needing to dive for 5 yards because everyone is covered. Tony G will either get open or pull double-coverage to open up Dwayne Bowe (who has yet to do anything this season, presumably because he's getting the most attention from opposing defenses) or another receiver. Even if Gonzalez is covered, he can make the catch.

Twitter Tuesday: Talking Chiefs, Pinkel, Yost, Weis, Self And Snyder from KC Star

If just making the playoffs is your line for success, then, yeah, the Chiefs need to find five more wins among the Texans, Browns, Bills, Washington, Colts, and the six division games.

The easiest part of the Chiefs schedule is certainly over, and in reverse order of difficulty, maybe you're looking at: Raiders at home, at Washington, Browns at home, Chargers at home, at Bills, at Raiders, Texans at home, at Chargers, Colts at home, Broncos at home, at Broncos.

The Chiefs really might have the best defense in the AFC, and that should be good enough for at least five more wins - hard part of the schedule or not.

Chiefs History: Budde Ball from The Mothership

Offensive linemen are notoriously anonymous, particularly guards. While left tackles represent whatever glamour the offensive line can gather, the guys up-front are more often recognized as a unit.

But, Ed Budde, Kansas City guard, Chiefs Hall of Fame player, and a member of the AFL's All-Time Team, had one day that all offensive linemen would envy.

In a 24-10 Kansas City upset of the Oakland Raiders on October 20, 1968, Budde's play at left guard took center stage, to the point that anyone who was looking, couldn't miss it

KCChiefs.com Video: Cheer Chatter: Jenna

KCChiefs.com Video: 1-On-1: Mitch Holthus With Marcus Cooper

NFL.com Video: 'NFL Fantasy Live': Inside The Fantasy Graveyard

Gonzalez's Return Just Wishful Thinking from ESPN

So what really matters is this: How much better would their passing game look with Gonzalez attracting plenty of defensive attention in the middle of the field?

A lot. So from that angle, the return of Gonzalez would make a lot of sense.

Don't let anyone tell you it wouldn't work financially, either.

NFL's Best Pass-Coverage Teams from ESPN (Insider)

1. Kansas City Chiefs: +27.9
Does this surprise anyone? By generating early leads, the Chiefs have been forced into a heavy dose of their dime defense (42.9 percent, with the league average at 4.9 percent), and they've showed impressive strength in terms of DB depth. The only downside has been the play of Dunta Robinson (a -5.9 grade), but the emergence of rookie Marcus Cooper (+3.4) has been the kind of pleasant surprise that helps mitigate the play of the veteran.

New-Look Kansas City from Business World Online

Kansas City has climbed to the top behind an energetic defense that has allowed the fewest points per game (11.6) and an offense led by the steady but unspectacular play of Smith.

The Chiefs have also benefited from a soft early schedule that has included meetings against the winless Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants.

But they have also beaten some good teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee...

Power Rankings: No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

Do they belong higher? Not higher than the No. 1 Denver Broncos, who have outscored their opponents by 91 points in five games.

But higher than the No. 2 New Orleans Saints? Maybe.

Ex-Bears QB Blanchard To Work Out For Chiefs from The Chicago Tribune

The Chiefs have some people in the building already familiar with Blanchard. Their director of player personnel Chris Ballard came from the Bears. Chiefs special teams coaches Dave Toub and Kevin O'Dea also could provide head coach Andy Reid with a scouting report.

Raiders vs Chiefs Rivalry Week Is Here! from Silver And Black Pride

CHIEFS WEEK IS HERE! This is my top rivalry for the Raiders and it always means just a little more than against any other team. For me this rivalry all stems back to my childhood. I was named after Marcus Allen and I was raised to love the Raiders and hate the Chiefs.

Not many things were more upsetting to me as a young'n as my namesake leaving the Silver and Black to don that red jersey and for him to call Arrowhead home. It was only years later that I got a small amount of solace for Marcus Allen leaving for KC, and that was when the Raiders got Rich Gannon from KC and he turned out to be an MVP quarterback. Both instances simply reinforced this rivalry for all of us fanatics that are indisputably emotionally involved.

Tony Gonzalez Has No Interest In Trade From Falcons from NFL.com

Now that Julio Jones' foot injury has the Atlanta Falcons' 2013 season on life support social media is atwitter with speculation that likely Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez will hit the trade block.

Not so fast, says Gonzalez. The tight end told Jay Glazer of FOX Sports Tuesday that he absolutely does not want to be traded.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a high-rankingFalcons source, that Atlanta has no interest in trading Gonzalez despite the Jones injury.

Consistency Ratings: Week 6 from ESPN

It's advice we dish out annually during draft season: Don't spend an early pick on a defense -- certainly not one as early as either the No. 63 ADP of the Seattle Seahawks or No. 67 of the San Francisco 49ers -- and embrace the idea of streaming defenses, provided you have the patience to do so.

That said, what the Chiefs have done this season has generated fantasy headlines.

Cowboys Doing Little To Help Jason Garrett, But Maybe NFC East Will from The Dallas Morning News

Question: What do the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and NFC East have in common?

Answer: Five wins apiece.

Miami Heat's Rashard Lewis Focused On Filling Key Role from The Miami Herald

This is Lewis' final year of a two-year contract, and his goal right now is simply to put himself in position to contribute. James joked with Lewis recently that his dunks this preseason are like the Kansas City Chiefs, which only won two games last season but are now 5-0.

"He's got more wins than he had all of last year," James said. "But he looks healthy, he's running and it has shown in his ability to shoot the ball and around the rim."

Raiola Not Only One With Attitude from The Port Huron Times Herald

At nearly every high school, college and professional game you can hear jeers, and wasn't it just a year ago that Kansas City Chiefs fans cheered when then starting quarterback Matt Cassell appeared to suffer a serious injury? They literally booed him off the field, even as teammates and trainers attended to him.

But that's the mindset you will find in sports today.

Leading Off: Which NFL Team Can Win All 16 games? from The Sacramento Bee

We're looking forward to the Broncos' two games against the Chiefs on Nov. 17 at home and Dec. 1 in Kansas City. If they win both, they can run the table.

Speaking of the Chiefs, why aren't more people? They're the NFL's biggest surprise so far. They've allowed just 58 points, running back Jamaal Charles appears in top form, and quarterback Alex Smith has played as advertised - solid, not spectacular, but a winner. The toughest games left on their schedule are those two AFC West showdowns with Denver.

Free-Agent finds for Week 6 from ESPN

As of this writing, we don't know whether McFadden or Jennings will be able to play Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but my guess is that neither will. That puts Reece in line for the start, and that's intriguing, especially in a PPR league.

AFC West Rundown: Week 5 from DenverBroncos.com

-The NFL's top scoring defense again carried its weight, as the Chiefs limited the Titans to 17 points and 339 total yards. Kansas City forced three Tennessee turnovers and sacked Fitzpatrick three times - one from linebacker Justin Houston, whose 8.5 sacks are second-best in the NFL.

-Charles has been a multidimensional threat for the Chiefs all season. In addition to his 397 rushing yards and three touchdowns, he's totaled 250 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Can Offensive Explosion Be Slowed? from ESPN

Leading 10-0 at Tennessee, the Chiefs had their backs to the wall as the Titans reached first-and-goal on the 1. Kansas City staged a classic goal-line stand: run no gain, pass no gain, run no gain, run no gain. The Chiefs' offense took the ball 94 yards the other way for a field goal and a 13-0 margin; the visitors went on to victory. Sweet. For Tennessee, the fourth-and-goal was sour -- just a power set and straight-ahead rush. TMQ's Law of Short Yardage holds: Do a little dance if you want to gain that yard. But Tennessee offered no misdirection.

In Kansas City, A Push For Fan Amenities from The Bellingham Herald

Arrowhead Stadium has been jumping this season, with an electric atmosphere that has rivaled the best of times.

But even in the charged environment, the 5-0 Chiefs and the NFL are taking nothing for granted. The trends throughout major spectator sports have been working against them.

In some places, fans aren't going to games like they used to.

Power Rankings: No. 24 Oakland Raiders from ESPN

Still, injuries are beginning to creep up on the Raiders as they prepare to take on the No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders have won six straight at Arrowhead Stadium and imagine the bump Oakland would get, not only in our rankings, but in locker room morale heading into its bye week, if the Raiders were able to make it seven in a row in Kansas City.

Week 6 NFL Picks: Bears Will Return To Winning Ways from The Rock River Times

Sunday's (Oct. 13) games include some good competitive matchups, and then some real clunkers. The two most noticeable lopsided matchups are the Oakland Raiders at the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and the winless Jacksonville Jaguars trying to upset the red-hot Peyton Manning and his 5-0 Broncos. Something pretty drastic would have to happen for the Raiders or the Jaguars to win. Look for K.C. and Denver to stay perfect.

Other Teams Want Seattle Cuts from ESPN

When wide receiver Stephen Williams was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, it was the 13^th player this season that the Seattle Seahawks released who now is on the 53-man roster of another team.

The Jaguars have five of those players, with Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley, the former Seattle defensive coordinator, taking advantage by nabbing a few players he knows about from his days with the Seahawks.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who are 5-0, have four players Seattle let go.

Julio Jones Goes Down, The Falcons Are Out from Grantland

Several contenders could use a tight end who can catch the ball, but none more than the team Gonzalez left in search of a Super Bowl in 2009: Kansas City, which has been stuck using third-string journeyman Sean McGrath as a starter due to injuries. It would have been impossible to imagine six weeks ago that Gonzalez would seriously consider leaving the 13-3 Falcons in search of a winner on the 2-14 Chiefs, but situations change quicker in the NFL than they do in any other league. Atlanta seemed like a lock to compete for its perennial playoff berth in the NFC in 2013, but five weeks in, its season is likely over.

Falcons Have Spiraled To NFL's Bottom Five from The Chattanooga Times Free Press

This team has the feel of a 12-win bunch that, because it is in the same division as the Denver Mannings, will be relegated to a road playoff game. Still, the Chiefs do a slew of things well, even if they do very few things exceptionally well. That said, if you are an SEC football fan, this is the team for you, considering they have several familiar SEC names, highlighted by emerging stars such as safety Eric Berry (Tennessee) and receiver Dewayne Bowe (LSU).

Beauty In Sport: Celebrating Black Jockeys In Hartford And Beyond Opens At HCC from The Baltimore Sun

A major component of the overall exhibition is the traveling exhibit curated by Pellom McDaniels, entitled "The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy." McDaniels is releasing a book of the same name and will be on the HCC campus on Oct. 24 for a curator's walk of his exhibit and reception and also for a book signing/luncheon on Oct. 25.

A former player for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons, Dr. McDaniels is faculty curator of African American Collections and an assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies at Emory University, where he specializes in sports history and black masculinity.