Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/29

Chiefs vs Chargers: Who To Watch For from NBC 7 San Diego

So, for perhaps (but hopefully not) the final time this season, here are three players to watch for on Sunday.

Keenan Allen, WR:

He should have the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award wrapped up, but one more good week would eliminate any doubt percolating in the minds of voters on the East coast who forget San Diego has a professional football team.

NFL Week 17 Rundown from FOX Sports

I like Andy Reid. Seems like a decent guy, has spurred a historic turnaround to a franchise stricken with tragedy, his players respond to him and his, um, "unique" look has spawned some fantastic doppelgangers.

Alas, can't get behind his candidacy for Coach of the Year. The Chiefs fell short in every big-game opportunity in the second half, and there's a chance they'll enter the postseason with a lone win over a fellow playoff team (winner of the NFC East). Even then, a victory over Philadelphia came with Michael Vick at the Eagles' helm. Give Reid credit for putting Kansas City in this position, but don't honor him for beating up on the NFL's basement, either.

KCChiefs.com Video: HyVee Chiefs Insider - Week 17

KCChiefs.com Video: Week 17 Travel To San Diego

KCChiefs.com Video: Coach's Corner With John Dorsey

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Kingdom: Nancy Stevens

Chargers-Chiefs, Positional Breakdown from The San Diego Union-Tribune

QUARTERBACKS

Chargers: Philip Rivers sets one statistical goal for each season: throw fewer than 10 interceptions. No. 10 came last Sunday, but the Chargers' No. 17 is still Pro Bowl-worthy.

Chiefs: The Chiefs signed Chase Daniel for $10 million to be their backup QB. That's an eye-popping sum for one who'd never started an NFL game. Is this his Super Bowl?

Advantage, Chargers: If Chiefs starter Alex Smith plays, for how long?

Left For Dead, Chargers Didn't Lie Down from The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Chargers badly want the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins to lose, so that they take the field Sunday afternoon knowing they can finally finish a game that matters.

And, sure, should the Chargers be eliminated from playoff contention before their 1:25 p.m. kickoff with the Kansas City Chiefs, there will be disappointment. But not despair. They'll simply officially be where they figured they were four weeks ago. And it won't affect how they play.

Year In Review: Reid Leads Chiefs Turnaround from The Topeka Capital-Journal

Just how bad were the Chiefs in 2012? Well, for starters, they were "AFC-worst minus-24 turnover differential"-bad. They were "Our quarterbacks threw eight touchdowns ... combined"-bad.

The team was so dreadful that after one of many indistinguishable late-season losses, then-coach Romeo Crenell actually said, in a moment of splendid candidness, "I don't understand what happened with the team."

The franchise-worst 2-14 season included nine defeats by two touchdowns or more. By the time the year ended, one could argue the Chiefs might have drawn a larger crowd at Arrowhead by removing the football game completely and just encouraging folks to come stand out in the cold for no particular reason.

Kiszla: Peyton Manning Aside, Broncos Punked By Pro Bowl Picks from The Denver Post

Kansas City got swept by Denver in the AFC West season series. But the Chiefs are sending eight players to the Pro Bowl, a crew that salutes K.C.'s offense (Jamaal Charles), defense (Justin Houston) and special teams (Dexter McCluster).

Sounds unfair, doesn't it?

Or could it be the all-star selections were a fair and sobering assessment of the roster that surrounds Manning.

Trout Grew Up On Sidelines Of Pro Football from The Mason City Globe Gazette

The ball is autographed by members of the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs football team that went on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the 1970 Super Bowl.

Each name seems to have a special significance. Len Dawson, the quarterback. Jan Stenerud, the place kicker. A rookie from Iowa by the name of Ed Podolak.

A name that isn't on the ball but is more special to Trout than any of the players is that of his father, Allen Trout, who for many years was the field activity coordinator for the Chiefs.

Peyton Manning Should Win NFL's Most Valuable Player Award from The Seattle Times

But as I wrote a few weeks ago, Andy Reid of Kansas City fits the easy profile of a winner, having led the Chiefs to one of the bigger one-season turnarounds in NFL history, from 2-14 last season to 11-4 entering the final week. You can argue they were lucky with the schedule they've played (especially some of the quarterbacks they were fortunate to face). But the record is what it is.