Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/21

Game Preview: Colts Vs Chiefs from The Mothership

We're now approaching the Week 16 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, who, like the Chiefs, also have a ticket punched to the postseason. Earlier in the week, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid alluded to some of the reasons why the Colts are headed for the playoffs.

"They're explosive," coach Reid said. "They've got a good offensive line; (Colts center) Mike McGlynn was one of my guys; he's tougher than shoe leather. You have those kind of guys up-front there that are just tough guys. Then, you've got a quarterback that's in that same mode. They've got good receivers. All of their positions are, you can just see what (Colts GM) Ryan (Grigson) has put together. You look at the defense: tough guys. You look at the offense: tough guys. Special teams: tough guys. That's how they play. You better strap it on and get ready to play a good football team, when you play against them."

Game Day Activities: Chiefs vs Colts from The Mothership

As part of the fan appreciation game, the Chiefs and The University of Kansas Hospital are giving one lucky fan a free ticket to the Chiefs Fantasy Camp this spring. Over two thousand individuals signed up through Chiefs social media this week in hope of getting a chance to huddle up with former Chiefs greats, including former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, in the inaugural Chiefs Fantasy Camp. The winner will be announced during the 2nd quarter.

Plus, stay in your seats at halftime because Midwest Ford Dealers will be giving away a Red Ford Fusion to a member of the Chiefs Kingdom.

Andy Reid: Our Guys Will Be Ready To Go from The Mothership

Q: How important is it to have a guy like Mike DeVito on the team?

REID: "You know, Mike (DeVito) played for Coach (Bob) Sutton at the Jets, so he's the most familiar with the defense of probably anybody just from experience alone. He's a smart kid on top of that. He takes a lot of pride in his job. He's got a great relationship with the rest of the room and they respect him for not only being a tough guy in how he plays, but also for what he knows."

Chiefs Practice Week Includes Game-Like Intensity from The Mothership

Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe offered a similar evaluation of the practice week and added a message to Chiefs Kingdom.

"Practice was great," Bowe said. "All three phases were getting after it this week, again. We're going to do our best to make sure all of the work this week goes to good use on Sunday. There's going to be a lot of fans out there, a lot of screaming. It's going to be like a playoff environment. I just want to tell the fans, 'Merry Christmas and thanks for your support.'"

KCChiefs.com Video: Andy Reid Ready For Home Finale

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Locker Room: Week 16

NFL.com Video: 'Playbook': Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Flanny's Five: Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs Lucky His Infection Wasn't Worse from FS Kansas City

The Chiefs grade their special-teams players on a points system and so far, coach Dave Toub reports, a different player has topped the grading chart every week.

"That makes me very proud," Toub said. "We talked about this early on, that the star of our unit is the unit. That's kind of our mantra. It's really helped the team this year. Every week there is a different guy.

"Last week it was (Husain) Abdullah. The week before, we got 21 (production) points in one game. Every week if there is a different guy that is that guy (to lead the team), just think, if everybody played a great, great game, how good we could be. I think that's an indicator of how hard the guys are working and what we have in the room right now."

Week 16 Preview: Colts @ Chiefs from Chiefs Spin

Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles comes off a record-setting five-touchdown performance and has been on a tear in the past four games with 10 total touchdowns.

So how do you stop him?

"If you have any ideas for us we'll certainly take all of the help we can get," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said during Wednesday's media conference call. "The guy is and has been a game wrecker for a long time and is having an unbelievable season of course. The numbers speak for themselves."

LeBron James Wears Chiefs Jersey, May Be Huge Ryan Succop Fan from Larry Brown Sports

Has LeBron James traded in his beloved Dallas Cowboys for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Following the Miami Heat's 122-103 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, James was seen wearing a Chiefs jersey under his blazer.

More Than Numbers Make Chiefs DE DeVito A Quiet Star from Chiefs Spin

From sacks to turnovers, the overall production from the Chiefs defense reflects eye-popping statistics.

And among some of the unit's Pro Bowlers and big-name standouts, one player inconspicuously goes about his business out of the spotlight.

Chiefs Selling T-Shirts To Thank Fans And Benefit Charities from FOX4KC

The shirts will sell for $10 and the money raised will go to the Make a Wish Foundation, The Children's Place and the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired. If you'd like to buy one of the shirts, click on this link.

Week 16 Preview: Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs from Colts.com

"If we take care of business, we don't have to stay at number four. I guess there's a scenario where you could get even higher than that," Pagano said earlier this week.

"But again, our total focus, our guys know it, they understand it, but our total focus is on just preparing this week and try to play the best we can and go win this football game."

Sunday's task is one of the stiffest the Colts will see in 2013.

Interception Returns Usually More Than Luck from ESPN

The Chiefs are returning one in every four of their interceptions for a touchdown and it's getting to the point where they're upset when one of their interceptions doesn't go back the other way for a score. This week, defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and at least a couple of players bemoaned the fact that Berry's second interception against the Raiders should have gone for six points, but didn't.

Colts At Kansas City: 5 Keys To Knocking Off The Chiefs from The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel

We're not asking the Colts to stop Charles, the Chiefs' primary running and receiving threat. We're not asking them to limit him to a certain number of yards on the ground or in the air. The key is for the Colts to never let him loose for the big, momentum-changing plays. He'll get some yards. He'll make a little noise. But if they can keep him from long, gashing runs - whether from a handoff or through a short pass reception -the Colts have a chance to dampen the Kansas City offense.

Chiefs' Turnaround Has Many Parallels To 2012 Colts from The Indianapolis Star

If Kansas City closes the season 13-3, it sets an NFL record, posting a one-season bump of 11 wins. The Chiefs also are on the verge of becoming the first team in league history to win at least 12 games after winning two or fewer the previous season.

Clearly, the Colt and Chiefs are Exhibits A and B that all things are possible in the NFL. They're quick-change artists. Doormats one season, playoff participants the next.

The parallels are many, and not surprising.

Colts Chiefs Preview: Scoreboard Watching? from Warpaint Illustrated

On Sunday afternoon in the cold frigid temperatures of December, the Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to be a rude host to the Indianapolis Colts. The goal this weekend is to pummel the very team that quite likely the Chiefs will face in round one of the playoffs.

For the majority of Chiefs fans in attendance, as the game unfolds in front of them, many will be glued to the scoreboard, their cell phones and the plethora of Television sets positioned within every nook and cranny inside Arrowhead Stadium to get constant updates on the Denver Broncos road contest against the Houston Texans.

Colts Could Be Thin At Spots Against Chiefs from ESPN

Defensive tackle, Ricky Jean Francois (foot), offensive line Jeff Linkenbach (quad), safetySergio Brown (groin), offensive lineman Joe Reitz (concussion) and defensive tackle Montori Hughes (knee) are all doubtful.

Linebacker Daniel Adongo (hamstring), guard Hugh Thornton (neck) and cornerback Greg Toler (groin) are questionable. Toler practiced Wednesday but was held out of practice Thursday as a precaution.

Colts Victory Keys At Kansas City from Colts.com

The Colts and Chiefs both have an NFL-low 14 turnovers.  Both teams have bounced back from being 2012 bottom-feeders in turnovers (Colts, minus-12, 26th in NFL; Chiefs, minus-24, tied for 31st) to rank first and second in AFC ratio (Chiefs, plus-21; Colts, plus-seven).  Kansas City's 35 takeaways top the league and only twice has its defense failed to produce one in a game.  Indianapolis has five turnover-free games this year, tying the second-highest seasonal total in 16 years.

Colts Line, WR T.Y. Hilton Hurting Heading Into Sunday from The Indianapolis Star

The Colts are still trying to determine what their starting offensive line will be on Sunday, and the answer very much depends on the health of certain players. The Colts were without starting left guard Hugh Thornton (neck) and guards Joe Reitz (concussion) and Jeff Linkenbach (quad) during Friday's practice. Thornton is listed as questionable for Sunday while Reitz and Linkenbach are considered doubtful.

The Race For Second from National Football Post

It's a foregone conclusion that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for 2013. The future Hall of Famer is set to put the finishing touches on one of the best quarterback seasons in NFL history while positioning the Denver Broncos for home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Manning is on pace to break the single season yardage record Saints signal-caller Drew Brees set in 2011 (5,476 passing yards) as well as Tom Brady's mark of 50 touchdown passes.

With Manning as a virtual lock to win the award, here are five players who also deserve consideration.

Andrew Luck Is A Dangerous Runner, Too from The Indianapolis Star

Luck has rushed 55 times for 365 yards this season. That's a plump 6.6-yard average that ranks second to Oakland's Terrelle Pryor (7.1) among NFL quarterbacks with a minimum of a dozen attempts. Drop Luck's dozen kneel-downs at the end of halves and games and two no-gains and 10 minus-1s. The average fattens to 8.7 yards an attempt.

Now you're inside the numbers, inside Andrew Luck, getting a grasp of a somewhat overlooked aspect of his full value. Luck is one of the NFL's top running quarterbacks. He sheds pass rushers, outruns linebackers and jukes defensive backs. He runs for first downs and touchdowns. He darts from the pocket at the most critical times.

KC Rapper Gains Notoriety For Chiefs-Related Lyrics from FOX4KC

As the Chiefs prepare for the playoffs, there's an artist whose success has been closely tied to the team. A locally produced rap song about the Chiefs is becoming more popular as the team continues winning.

In Kansas City, Kan., he grew up as Mitchell Irving, selling CDs of his music on the street corners. Now living in Los Angeles, he's called Irv da Phenom. And this is his second song about the Chiefs on You Tube and iTunes.

Ten Things That Intrigue Me From NFL Week 16 from CBS Sports

Colts QB Andrew Luck vs. Chiefs pass rushers: The Colts have struggled to protect Luck this season and now he has to go to Kansas City to face a Chiefs team that can get after the quarterback. How does Luck handle it? Can the Indianapolis line play better?

Snow, Rain Expected For Many Key Week 16 Games from NFL.com

Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs: A winter storm warning has been issued in Kansas City for Saturday night into Sunday morning. It will involve rain, sleet and snow. There is a chance of snow and precipitation throughout Sunday, according to Weather Underground. Defenses haven't been able to stop Alex Smith and the Chiefs' offense yet. Maybe the weather can.

Swing Game: Short Passes & Speedy Players Are Changing The NFLfrom SB Nation

With more and more space players like Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, and Golden Tate in the NFL, the swing pass and screen game is becoming a critical ingredient to offensive success. Danny Kelly takes us to the film room to break it down.

Cheat Sheet: Who Is The Best Coach In The NFL? None OF These Guys from FOX Sports

Indianapolis at Kansas City: No one's talking about the Chiefs, but since losing three in a row, they've lit up both the Redskins and the Raiders in spectacular fashion. The defense needs to get better, though, if Kansas City is going to do anything in the playoffs. They'll handle the Colts in what might end up being a wildcard preview.

The Pick: Chiefs 27, Colts 21

The HOF Catches New Mementos From Gonzalez from The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Gonzalez is well represented in the Hall of Fame's collection. Artifacts permanently preserved in Canton include: The draft card used by the Kansas City Chiefs to select Gonzalez with the 13th overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft. The jersey, gloves and shoes worn by Gonzalez when he caught two touchdown passes for the Kanas City Chiefs on Oct. 14, 2007 in a 27-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The first TD set a new mark for touchdowns by a tight end. The football caught by Gonzalez on Oct. 5, 2008 against the Carolina Panthers to set a new record for receiving yards by a tight end.

Super Bowl IV: Len Dawson Gets Revenge Leading Kansas City Chiefs To 23-7 Victory Over Minnesota Vikingsfrom NY Daily News

The Chiefs, who had knocked out the defending champion Jets at Shea in the divisional round then beat the Raiders for the final AFL title, came in as a 12-point underdog despite the AFL's stunning victory by the Jets the year before. It was fitting that Chiefs owner and AFL founder Lamar Hunt, also an NFL reject who was denied a franchise, won the last AFL game.

The Chiefs had taken a beating in the first Super Bowl. But Hank Stram was ready this time in the first of 10 Super Bowls to be played in New Orleans. The innovative coach designed a short passing game that Dawson used to pick apart the Purple People Eaters en route to 16-0 halftime lead.