Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/15

Chiefs Unplugged: "The Black Hole" from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders are hours away from their 110th-career matchup against one another. When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and his team takes the field at O.Co Coliseum, they'll be "welcomed" by the Silver and Black, most notably those who are seated in the "Black Hole".

I caught up with Chiefs coaches and players this week, some who have played or coached against the Raiders in Oakland and some who have not; each shared what comes to mind, when hearing the words "Black Hole", beginning with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Twitter Q&A:Chiefs S Quintin Demps from The Mothership

In this week's Twitter Q & A, which gives fans the opportunity to ask their favorite Chiefs players questions, Chiefs S Quintin Demps took time to answer the questions below, revealing thoughts from his 95-yard kick return TD in Week 14 and more.

KCChiefs.com Video: HyVee Chiefs Insider - Week 15

KCChiefs.com Video: Week 15 Travel To Oakland

KCChiefs.com Video: Coach's Corner: Matt Nagy

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Kingdom: Wolf Hamlin

Game Day Forecast from The National Weather Service

Today - Sunny, with a high near 66. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Raiders Search For Signature Win vs. Kansas City Chiefs from The San Jose Mercury News

"It'd be good to get a victory, period," cornerback Tracy Porter said. "We have to get back on track in some way, shape or form, and the Chiefs just happen to be next on our list."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen has been pushing the progress theme despite a 4-9 record, and a triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) Sunday at O.co Coliseum would provide something that has been missing from the regime directed by general manager Reggie McKenzie:

A signature win.

Chiefs WR McCluster Ruled Out For Oakland Game from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Chiefs were wary that McCluster may have developed MRSA, but trainer Rick Burkholder said tests came back negative for the serious strain of staph infection. McCluster has been receiving antibiotics to treat the infection.

Week 15 Preview: Chiefs @ Raiders from Chiefs Spin

"I think guys really have been happy today," Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito said with a grin during Friday's locker room media session.

It was just earlier in the week the media chatter around the team's training facility surrounded potentially resting players, especially when considering the Chiefs have a virtual lock on the No. 5 playoff seed as a wildcard team.

But with three games remaining, the Chiefs (10-3) have plenty to play for outside of a wildcard berth.

Raiders Game Plan vs. Kansas City from The Sacramento Bee

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin vs. Chiefs safety Eric Berry

When McGloin drops back to pass, he'll not only look for his receivers, he'll keep an eye out for No. 29 wearing the Kansas City jersey. Berry has been a quarterback-seeking missile this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he leads all safeties with 60 or more blitz attempts- 12 more than the safety with the second-most attempts. Berry leads all safeties with 31/2 sacks and 10 hurries. McGloin has been sacked five times in four starts.

Bank On Chiefs' Road Prowess from The Las Vegas Review-Journal

"When the Chiefs started 9-0, there were several skeptics out there saying their success was a product of luck and an easy schedule, all of which was kind of true," said Micah Roberts, an analyst for "The Linemakers" on SportingNews.com and a former sports book director.

"At that juncture, there were 12 teams in the league that would have been favored over the Chiefs on a neutral field, showing that their statistical performance in each game on both sides of the ball wasn't overly impressive. So, when they lost three straight, there were a lot of ‘I told you so's' from the peanut gallery.

"However, losing twice to the Broncos and at home to the Chargers was nothing alarming. Those are very good teams, and no harm was done."

Former Rutgers CB Marcus Cooper Explains What It's Like To Get Picked On By Peyton Manning from NJ.com

Despite starting five games and ranking second on the Chiefs with three interceptions, Cooper understands he has a long way to go to establish himself in the NFL. So it came as no surprise when he was targeted repeatedly by Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in a 35-28 loss on Dec. 1.

Cooper was covering Eric Decker for much of the game, and the Denver wide receiver hauled in eight passes for 174 yards and four touchdowns.

"It's something I expect," Cooper told NJ.com in a phone interview this week. "I'm still a rookie in the game. If it was the opposite way, and that was a rookie quarterback, we'd be coming at him and trying to do different things. That's just the game that's being played. It's nothing that I didn't expect."

49ers' Past, Present QBs Not So Different After All from The San Francisco Chronicle

Opposite directions: That was the way many predicted the onetime mentor and protege were heading on their career paths. Jim Harbaugh made the quarterback switch last November based on the belief that Kaepernick had nothing but upside and Smith couldn't direct a dynamic and explosive offense.

But with Smith returning to the area that he called home for eight years - and where he still maintains a home - it's worth revisiting that concept.

Smith is unlikely to be welcomed warmly - not on that side of the bay, where his only significant connection is that his wife, Elizabeth, was a one-time Raiderette, and not by a Raiders crowd bitter and exasperated by yet another losing season. But there is certainly a large segment of the Bay Area population that appreciates Smith for the perseverance and grace he showed through eight tumultuous years with the 49ers.

NFL Week 15 Rundown from FOX Sports

The Raiders have lost five of their past six, with the lone triumph coming against the Texans. Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin have been equally inept at quarterback. Darren McFadden - hope you're sitting down - has been hurt most of the season. The defense was torched last week by GENO SMITH. The Black Hole, indeed.

On the other side of the spectrum sits the Chiefs, righting the ship last week following three straight defeats. Although Denver owns the tiebreaker, Kansas City is back in the mix for the division title, and could even find its way into a first-round bye. The final three-week itinerary is favorable, taking on the Raiders, the struggling Colts and a .500 Chargers team. If the Chiefs take care of business, the AFC road could go through Kansas City. Playoff football in Arrowhead? That has the makings of an instantNFL Films classic.

Injuries Highlight Some Rare Seahawks Personnel Missteps from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Two players: Allen Bradford and Sean McGrath had strong training camps. Only one made the week one roster before being waived, but there is reason to believe both should still be here. In fact, the decision to leave one of them off the week one roster almost certainly cost the other his job in Seattle.

McGrath was a solid, if not spectacular, tight end that was undrafted last season and was promoted from the practice squad late in the year. He battled with rookie Luke Willson for time as the second tight end during camp, but they had different strengths. Willson was the more gifted receiver and McGrath was a more gifted blocker. Seattle quietly had a strong trio of well-rounded tight ends that could be mixed and matched based on match-up and situation.

Who Is The Other Guy In Anchorman 2? from TG Daily

Everyone knows Will Ferrel, and Steve Carrel has built himself some serious star power. Paul Rudd is a romantic lead now. But, who is that other guy?

His name is David Koechner. He plays Champ Kind, the cowboy sports announcer and you probably didn't know his name. You've seen him in all kinds of movies. Everything from the US version of The Office to Piranha 3DD. He was on Saturday Night Live for a brief period, but I am going to take a wild guess and say, few people will remember him...

...a humble guy from Tipton, Missouri. A die hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. A family guy with 5 kids.

Body Of Kansas City Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher Exhumed For Brain Exam After He Killed His Girlfriend And Himselffrom NY Daily News

An examination of Belcher's brain could determine whether he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy last December when he killed his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, with whom he had an infant daughter, in their home. Belcher then drove to the Chiefs' practice facility and shot himself in the head in the parking lot.

Bennet Omalu, an expert on the destructive brain condition, said that he "would bet one month's salary that (Belcher) had CTE" and that the local medical examiner should have performed a test for it.