Arrowheadlines:: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/12

Chiefs Return To Work, Tamba Hali Awarded from The Mothership

Chiefs S Eric Berry described what makes Hali so dominant.

"We see how he works every week," Berry said of Hali. "He's always putting in extra film work, extra drills and in the weight room, he doesn't slack off. Ever since I came here, he's one of the guys I've looked up to on the team, so just to see him and all his hard work paying off, I think it's really special."

Andy Reid's Wednesday Press Conference from The Mothership

Q: Was there a time, earlier this year that you felt that the team wasn't able to win in all three phases or that you weren't playing complete enough? And, how do you feel right now, knowing that you have the potential to win in any of the three phases?

REID: "I'm not sure I felt that way, for the first part of that, that any of the three phases wouldn't work. Do we have room (to improve)? We still have room to improve, a tremendous amount of room to improve. I've seen improvement over the weeks that we've been together. I've seen some young guys step up and that's probably where the biggest question kind of comes in like, how are they going to fit in there? Or the move, where (John) Dorsey brought in the guys, before the season. How are they going to fit in? How fast are they going to learn? Everybody has handled that well and they have continued to improve and get better, so I haven't felt an emptiness in any of those phases or a lack of hope or that. I never felt that. It was just a matter of new guys or young guys just trying to catch up quick."

Alex Smith: "The Focus Is Oakland" from The Mothership

Q: It's your first trip back to the Bay area, what goes through your mind with that?

SMITH: "Yeah, I mean it's a different part of the Bay. But yeah, it's a team that we played every preseason and few times during the regular season there and obviously, they're a division opponent now; it's a division game and that kind of outplays all of the stuff and with a chance to clinch."

The Unseen Factor In The Chiefs Week 14 Win from The Mothership

"We always go out and take a look at it, especially, if you're on the road," Wright said of his routine. "Most of the places, I know fairly well; we go to Oakland every year and so, you have an idea of what to expect. You always need to go out and take a look at it. I talk to the visiting team's equipment manager to see if they've re-sodded, see what the conditions they've had are. Even this week, before we went, I called the equipment managers of the last two opponents that had been there, found out what they had done, and also, you never quit educating yourself. I actually called the equipment manager at Iowa State this past week, as well as KU; they were in some conditions up there for the Iowa State game two weeks ago that was the coldest game in history that they had ever had. I was kind of curious to find out what they had done for footing and what worked for them. I think it's important for us to always find out what other people are doing to educate ourselves to help us prepare ourselves for our games."

Chiefs Cheerleader Summer Selected For 2014 Pro Bowl from The Mothership

Chiefs Cheerleader, Summer will experience an opportunity of a lifetime, representing the Chiefs in Hawaii during the 2014 Pro Bowl.

Summer is a first grade teacher from Springfield, Missouri and is in her fifth year as a Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader. To learn more about Summer check out her biography here.

Throwback Thursday: Matching His Brilliance from The Mothership

Make no mistake: Manning was a special player that day as he was most days, but so was Trent Green, particularly this day, as he finished with 389 passing yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 143.8, besting Manning's 122.5. But even with everything working for Green and his offense, it would take a Greg Wesley interception in the end zone to foil an Indy comeback. The Colts, despite a Chiefs offense that would generate more than 500 yards, were never out of it, even after falling behind 31-14 at the half and even with Kansas City holding onto the ball for more than 12 minutes in the third quarter. The Kansas City Star reported "the Chiefs needed almost every yard and point to hold off the Colts."

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Brief: Week 15

KCChiefs.com Video: Andy Reid Wednesday Press Conference

Chiefs Relying On Cast Of Misfits During Dream Run from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Take safety Quintin Demps, who three years ago was playing in the UFL. Not only does he have four interceptions, he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown last Sunday against Washington.

Or try Sean McGrath, who was plucked off waivers before the season. The former Henderson State -- yes, that's Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark., -- standout has been the team's most reliable tight end.

Big names? Surely not. But they've been the unsung heroes leading a dramatic turnaround.

Road Has Been Hospitable To The Chiefs from ESPN

There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest Kansas City is better when it plays on the road than at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs' record is better on the road (5-1) than at home (5-2). The combined record of their opponents is better on the road (35-43, .449) than at home (39-52, .429). They have a greater points differential on the road (average score of a game: 27.5-14.2) than at home (25.4-19.9). They've forced 12 turnovers at home and 16 on the road (in one fewer game).

Not that the Chiefs wouldn't want to play in the postseason at Arrowhead. But perhaps they're built to play well on the road.

There Seems To Be No Stopping The Chiefs' Return Game from FS Kansas City

There aren't many teams in the NFL that can punish opponents with their return game the way the Chiefs can.

Well, actually, there aren't any at all, not after the Chiefs returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns Sunday.

The Chiefs now have four special teams returns for touchdowns -- best in the NFL.

Perhaps even more remarkable, the Chiefs have three different return men who have scored -- Dexter McCluster, Quintin Demps and Knile Davis.

Kansas City At Oakland from CBS Sports

A victory or tie at Oakland (4-9) would secure a playoff berth. The Chiefs could also punch their ticket if Miami suffers a loss or ties against New England on Sunday or Baltimore falls or ties at Detroit on Monday night.

"It's a big deal," said receiver Dexter McCluster, who returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown against the Redskins. "Having a chance to play in the postseason, you know, that's what we play for. Let the chips fall where they may right now."

What Kansas City hopes to do is build on a solid all-around performance.

Hali's Award Is Welcome News For Chiefs from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefshave already had their share of weekly award winners this season, and Hali won this same prize after getting 3.5 sacks in an October game against the Oakland Raiders.

But this one means something for the Chiefs on a couple of levels. First, last Sunday's game against the Redskins marks what the Chiefs hope is a reawakening of their slumbering pass rush.

Houston's Return Will Be Event To Celebrate from ESPN

His elbow remained in a brace and he participated only in individual drills in practice on Wednesday.

But Houston didn't appear to be babying the injured elbow. He pushed off on Hali during an individual drill and took a solid hit from Dezman Moses without flinching.

Ben Tate Is Pushing The Needle from MMQB

It's 4 p.m. on a Tuesday in early December, and a young Vietnamese man known to his clients as Dr. Ho presses his fingers against the muscled back of Ben Tate. The 220-pound 25-year-old bites into a white towel to muffle his screams as Dr. Ho, with a slight smirk on his face, methodically and rapidly twists one of the inch-and-a-half long acupuncture needles digging into Tate's skin in a rectangular pattern just under his left shoulder blade. The spot is not far from where Dontari Poe, the Chiefs' 346-pound defensive tackle, landed with the crown of his helmet on Oct. 20, breaking four of Tate's ribs.

Lowell Cohen: 49ers Must Coach Kaepernick To Smith's Level from The Santa Rosa Press Democrat

He was the first guy taken in the 2005 draft and, although he wasn't a bust - nothing like that - he never lived up to first-overall-pick promise. He read all about it and heard all about it and, still, he remained a gentleman.

And although he is not a great quarterback, he is a very good quarterback. He's doing just fine in Kansas City, has connected with Chiefs coach Andy Reid in ways he never connected with Jim Harbaugh. He even has a deep passing game, something he rarely showed in San Francisco - or was not allowed to show.

So, I ask a purely hypothetical question for the heck of it: Are the 49ers appreciably better at quarterback with Colin Kaepernick instead of Smith?

Raiders' Marcel Reece Not Looking For Leading Role from The San Jose Mercury News

Having played in less than half of the Raiders' offensive snaps this season, Reece by necessity was on the field for all but two snaps in a 37-27 loss to the New York Jets.

The result was 19 carries, a career high 123 yards rushing, acknowledgment of a job well done and likely an immediate future of being shuttled on and off the field depending on the down, distance and play call when the Raiders play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at O.co Coliseum.

Yet Reece has no illusions of morphing from versatile fullback to lead tailback.

Already Looking To 2014, Raiders Need To Find Their Quarterback from CBS Sacramento

Most NFL teams would envy a club that has two young quarterbacks under the age of 25 on its roster with so much potential, but for the Oakland Raiders, that exact situation is quite the quandary heading into the end of the disappointing 2013 season - and looking forward to the 2014 season.

And the question of which QB might be the best going forward has to be on the mind of the team as it faces its final three opponents of this season: the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos. Wins won't matter as much as how each player performs in auditioning for 2014.

Line Spurred Offensive Growth from ESPN

Sacks of quarterback Alex Smith are down. Yards per carry from Charles are up, and so are points from Kansas City's offense.

Fisher is beginning to play like the first pick in the draft, as he was this year. Schwartz has played well since taking over as the starting right guard. Hudson is having a nice season and, as a whole, the line has started to become as productive as the Chiefs imagined it might when the season started.

Oakland Raiders Finally Getting Healthy from The Contra Costa Times

The Raiders are beginning to heal up with three games to play.

Wide receiver Denarius Moore, right guard Mike Brisiel and running back Rashad Jennings were back on the practice field Wednesday as the Raiders began preparations to host the Kansas City Chiefs.

Silverman: Weaknesses Abound As NFL Stretch Run Beckons from CBS Chicago

The Chiefs will be a tough out, but they are not going to be able to trade points with teams like the Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. Alex Smith is a solid quarterback who lacks star quality, while top wideout Dwayne Bowe will not pay the price when the game is on the line.

Bowe shies away from big hits, and that's going to prove fatal to Andy Reid's Chiefs.

Cover-Two: Buy Or Sell Patriots, Panthers, Other Second-Tier Super Bowl Contenders from Sports Illustrated

Despite their torrid 9-0 start, I view the Chiefs in much the same way that I do the Bengals. This team could get hot in the postseason, if its defense shows up and Alex Smith plays well. It also could bow out rather meekly in Round 1 and no one would bat an eye.

The Chiefs' chances will come down to which of their 2013 defenses is the real thing - the one that held its first nine opponents to 17 points or fewer; or the one that Denver lit up twice and San Diego hung 41 against.

December Momentum Just Isn't Everything It's Cracked Up To Be from NFL.com

At 10-3, Kansas City might find itself in the most interesting predicament. Regardless of whether they win or lose their last three games, the Chiefs will likely wind up with the AFC's No. 5 seed. If this were a veteran team making its sixth playoff appearance in as many years, Andy Reid might rest a few guys for the final push. But the Chiefs are still learning how to win, and that's a good habit to get into. Expect to see the starters in there at least until Week 17, when Reid might give a banged-up player like Jamaal Charles an additional bye week if the Chiefs already have been eliminated from the AFC West race.

Hardcover, Or not: Best Books Of 2013 from The Sheridan Press

If you like professional football, and you don't have to be a Cowboys fan to enjoy. Try on Joe Nick Patosk's "The Dallas Cowboys: The Outrageous History of the Biggest, Loudest, Most Hated, Best Loved Football Team in America." Patoski profiles the NFL politics involved for two super-rich oilmen, Lamar Hunt and Clint Murchison, in getting Dallas a franchise. (Hunt moved to Kansas City and renamed the Texans the Chiefs.) The well-written narrative includes all the warts, the triumphs and how the team often reflected the dynamics of the city. Lots of laugh-out loud humor, too, particularly from "Dandy Don" Meredith.