Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/3

WR Hemingway Making The Most Of His Minutes from The Mothership

Despite Sunday's outcome, one of many noteworthy performances for the Chiefs came via the pass-catching and tackling abilities of Hemingway. The 6'1, 225-pound WR caught his second-career TD on Sunday and led the team with four special teams tackles. The signal-caller responsible for throwing both touchdown passes to Hemingway, Chiefs QB Alex Smith, spoke to #88's reliability.

"I think every time he gets an opportunity, every time his number gets called, he steps up and makes a play," Smith said. "Every time I turn (and look at) special teams, he's out there making a play. He's just a good, good football player and obviously a talented receiver, no question. Like I said, every time he seems to get an opportunity, he makes a play."

Andy Reid: "I Don't See Any Flinch In These Guys" from The Mothership

Q: When you start a rookie cornerback, do you assume teams are going to pick on him? What separates the guys that persevere from that?

REID: "Well, that's the one thing you love about (Marcus) Coop(er); Coop is going to keep battling you. They've got some good players, so at times you're going to try to double guys and you're going to be in a man situation and at times you're going to have help on your side; that's the name of the game. That's the way it is, when you play in the secondary. It doesn't matter the team or whatever, so you have to have a short memory. You have to learn from whatever mistake was made and then you get right back on the horse and you challenge them again. He did that and he'll continue to do that."

Chiefs Embrace Lessons Learned In Week 13 from The Mothership

"I think we learned from all of this," Chiefs OL Donald Stephenson said. "A year ago at this time, we didn't have that many wins; so, what we have to do is keep learning from our mistakes. Stay close in the game; those games that we did lose, we were right in them every time. Even when we were 9-0, we were being doubted. It's just something; we're just looking for our next win. It's not about streaks for us. We're all about the next week, coming up; so, right now, that game is behind us. We learned from it. There were a lot of positives in it too, but now, we're just thinking about the Redskins."

Chiefs Try To Regroup After Three Straight Losses from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Everything has changed in the last three weeks.

After a pair of losses to the Broncos sandwiched around a heartbreaking defeat to the Chargers, the Chiefs not only have watched the AFC West lead slip away, they've also become the first team in NFL history to win its first nine games and then lose three in a row.

It's safe to say it is gut-check time for the suddenly stumbling Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs' Offense Offers Silver Lining Amid Losing Streak from NFL.com

But even as the gloom settled over Kansas City on Sunday night, after the Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos for the second time in three weeks to likely cede the AFC West, there were glimmers of hope amid the wreckage.

With Sunday's 35-28 setback, the Chiefs have lost three games in a row after a 9-0 start. But in the last two losses in particular, the Chiefs' offense stayed with two of the most potent offenses in the game. Smith threw downfield, and the points rolled up -- 38 against the Chargers, 28 against the Broncos. It was a bit of a revelation for a team that, in its most recent victory one month ago, needed two defensive touchdowns and a series of field goals to topple the Buffalo Bills and a backup quarterback.

LT Albert Has Hyperextended Knee from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs appear to have dodged a bullet with starting left tackle Branden Albert.

The injury suffered by Albert doesn't seem to be as series as it initially looked when he was carted off the field during Sunday's 35-28 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Chiefs Unlikely To Have Houston Back For Redskins from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Houston dislocated his right elbow two weeks ago against San Diego and missed Sunday's 35-28 loss to Denver, a game in which the Chiefs failed to sack quarterback Peyton Manning.

"We'll just see how he does," Reid said Monday. "I don't know if (playing Sunday) is real or not, but that's his mindset. We'll have to see how he does. He's in a day-to-day situation. He's made some strides, but I think that'd be quite a feat if he were able to make it."

'Nothin I Can't Fix' from MMQB

How quickly it all fell apart, the notion that Marcus Cooper is the Chiefs' immediate answer at cornerback. In three games against Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, the former Rutgers standout and seventh-round pick went from being a Rookie of the Year candidate to Goat of the Month.

Near the end of the Chiefs' third straight loss on Sunday, Cooper took a seat on the sideline after giving up a second touchdown to Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker in seven minutes. Manning had exploited Cooper's zone coverage for a 15-yard strike to Decker with 6:48 to go in the third; on the next drive, he threw Cooper's way for a pass interference first down, and six plays later he lofted the ball over Cooper's head for a one-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a 14-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

It's Time For Chiefs To Bench Cooper from ESPN

Rookie Marcus Cooper may still go on to become a fine NFL cornerback. He played well enough over a long stretch in the season's first nine games that the Kansas City Chiefs shouldn't give up on him for the long term.

But for now the poor kid looks shell-shocked, and for his benefit as well as that of the Chiefs', it's time for the team to sit him down.

Reid's Faith In Smith Paying Off As Chiefs' Offense Becomes Potent from FS Kansas City

"I don't think so," Reid said. "We're just running the (same) offense and trying to stay aggressive. Am I more aggressive? I don't think that's necessarily the case."

Instead, Reid points to the continued improvement of quarterback Alex Smith, who has thrown for 294 and 293 yards in back-to-back weeks. Those are his two highest passing yardage totals of the season.

"He's gotten more familiar with his receivers, through practice, and knowing where they're going to be," Reid said. "He's been able then to throw it in tighter spots. I just think he handles all the situations very well."

Three [Painful] Monday Questions For The Chiefs After Three [Painful] Losses In A Row from FS Kansas City

Let's see: After three straight losses, should I run for the ledge, or just flat-out sprint?

Hey, now! Perspective, Sarge. If we'd have told you in May that the Chiefs would be 9-3 after Week 13, admit it -- you'd have taken that in a heartbeat. But then 9-0 happened, and we all got stars in our eyes, media included.

Chiefs ID 30-Year-Old Man Killed In Arrowhead Lot from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Kansas City police have identified the man who died in Arrowhead Stadium's parking lot on Sunday as 30-year-old Kyle A. Vanwinkle of Smithville.

'My Son Is Not A Thief': Victim Who Died In Fight At Kansas City Chiefs Stadium After He Was Found In Truck Is Son Of Police Sergeant from The Daily Mail

An unidentified suspect and three good samaritans got into a fight with Mr Van Horn after he was found going through a man's things inside his vehicle in the stadium's parking lot.

He was soon found by emergency personnel lying unconscious on the pavement. Paramedics began administering first aid before he was transported to a hospital, where he died.

Chiefs (Again) Can Clinch Playoff Spot from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs keep losing, three in a row now, but many of the teams pursuing them for an AFC wild-card berth keep losing as well. So the formula for the 9-3 Chiefs to clinch a spot in the postseason this week is simple.

They're in if they beat the Redskins in Washington on Sunday and either the 6-6 Miami Dolphins or the 6-6 Baltimore Ravens lose their respective games.

Seattle's 12th Man Reclaims Guinness Crowd Noise Record from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The 12th Man edged Kansas City's previous record of 137.5 decibels, notching a 137.6 reading. The Seahawks previously set the record for crowd noise during primetime thrashing of the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 15, when fans set their original record of 136.6 decibels.

Chiefs Fantasy Camp To Benefit Concussion Outreach from KSHB

The camp will allow players to experience what it's like to be part of the Chiefs.  They will study film and talk strategy. They even get to suit up in the locker room and wear a jersey with their name on it, run the tunnel and take the field and also get to do drills and play on the field.

Broncos Owe The Chiefs, Ravens Thanks from The Colorado Springs Gazette

Thank the Ravens for delivering a painful reminder of how rare these opportunities can be. Thank the Chiefs for being just good enough - but not too good - to prevent the Broncos from kicking back and simply coasting to the finish.

Because this all goes back to last season, doesn't it?

Cooper's Lackluster Play Draws Scrutiny from The Kansas City Star via The Wichita Eagle

According to Pro Football Focus, Cooper has been targeted 41 times in the last four games, 10 more than Brandon Flowers, the next closest Chiefs defensive back. During that stretch, quarterbacks have completed roughly 56 percent of the passes thrown at Cooper, which is about average among cornerbacks.

But Cooper also has allowed 23.9 yards per catch in that span, a stark contrast to his first five games, in which he emerged as a darkhorse defensive rookie of the year candidate.

Mike Shanahan Says He Won't Start Playing Younger Redskins Just To Evaluate Them from The Washington Post

First-year wide receivers Nick Williams, Lance Lewis and Josh Bellamy and defensive backs Jose Gumbs and Trenton Robinson also rank among the group of young players eager for the chance to prove themselves if given the chance.

But Shanahan said last week before his team's elimination that he wouldn't go young just to begin evaluating for the future. And six days later, with the season essentially over, Shanahan said his mind-set hasn't changed.

Severity Of London Fletcher's Ankle Sprain Not Yet Clear from The Washington Post

Coach Mike Shanahan provided no details Monday about the severity of Fletcher's injury. It is not clear whether the injury will jeopardize Fletcher's playing status for this weekend's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chanute Navy Man Gets Call From The Secretary Of Defense On Thanksgiving from The Chanute Tribune

Mefford was one of four deployed service members receiving a call from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Hagel, a former infantryman who served in Vietnam, called troops representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and thank them for their service to the nation...

"...We talked about 15 minutes and ranged from my involvement in Operation Damayan ‘Philippine Relief' to our common interest in the Kansas City Chiefs," Mefford said.

Billick's Review: Who Says NCAA Has Market Cornered On Thrillers? from FOX Sports

Alex Smith played his best game for Kansas City, fighting through embarrassing drops to keep the Chiefs in the game and proved that he can orchestrate a potent offense that can keep up in the postseason, but his throw on fourth down left a lot to be desired.  The safety didn't bite on his pump fake at all and was sitting directly in the throwing lane.