Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 12/31

Coach Reid: 'It's The Start Of A New Season' from The Mothership

Q: Do you look back much at the last Indy game and take what worked well and use it?

REID: "Yeah, you definitely learn from that. We will do the same thing, but you can use that. You kind of use the whole, but that is part of it."

Q: What do you have to do better or different this round?

REID: "The turnovers, I guess, would be the primary thing that you have to eliminate."

Knile Davis Embraced Sunday's Workload from The Mothership

Following the two-TD performance, Davis now has four rushing touchdowns for the season and five total touchdowns. He also added two receptions for five yards and one kickoff return for 25 yards in Sunday's game.

Davis offered a personal evaluation of his Week 17 performance.

"I think I did pretty good," Davis said. "I had an okay game last week, so I wanted to redeem myself and I think I did alright. I treat it just like any other game. All it comes down to is going out there, executing and doing our job. That was our mindset."

Chiefs vs Chargers Was Filled With Emotion from The Mothership

On the defensive side of the ball, Chiefs CB Ron Parker intercepted Chargers QB Philip Rivers and returned it 14 yards in the contest. It was Parker's second-career interception, the first one coming this season at Oakland (12/15/13). He added six solo tackles and two passes defensed in the game.

Parker's performance, as well as those by his teammates were celebrated by the Chiefs typical first-team starters, which coach Reid acknowledged on Monday.

Tony Gonzalez Retires After 17-Remarkable Years from The Mothership

All good things must come to an end, including the remarkable career of former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, who announced his retirement from the NFL.

The ‘good things' of Gonzalez's 17-year career include his countless pancake blocks, acrobatic catches and unforgettable slam-dunk TD celebrations over goalposts, just to name a few.

While the career of Tony Gonzalez will eventually be recognized and immortalized in Canton, Ohio, during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony (he's eligible in five years), it began in a far different setting. As noted by Grantland.com's Robert Mays, The now-37-year-old Gonzalez was raised by a single mother, Judy, who worked tirelessly to support her family, likely motivating her son to work as hard as he did to succeed in life, both on and off the field and court.

KCChiefs.com Video: Congratulations Tony On An Incredible Career

Rested Chiefs Turn Attention To Playoffs from The Associated Press via The Miami Herald

The Chiefs didn't take any chances in a regular-season finale that had no bearing on their playoff situation, resting virtually all of their starters in an overtime loss to San Diego.

Now, it appears the Chiefs will be near full strength for the first time in weeks when they visit the Indianapolis Colts for an AFC wild-card playoff game on Saturday.

Playing Same Team Again In Playoffs Is Familiar Territory For Reid from FS Kansas City

The Chiefs jumped to an early lead against the Colts in their first meeting at Arrowhead. But leading 7-3 in the second quarter, Knile Davis coughed up a fumble in Chiefs territory. The Colts scored a touchdown two plays later and dominated the rest of the game.

That domination didn'€™t sit well with many of the Chiefs, including linebacker Derrick Johnson, who already was thinking about a rematch in the locker room after their first meeting.

"We'll see them again," Johnson said. "They've got the upper hand on us right now because in their minds they think they can beat us. If we go down there (to Indianapolis), it will be a different story."

Preparations For Playoffs Begin from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs special teams established an NFL single-season record for highest kickoff return average with 29.9 yards this season (1,316 yards on 44 returns), breaking the previous mark of 29.4 yards by the Chicago Bears in 1972.

Reid typically shies from statistics, but was compelled to acknowledge what the unit under special teams coordinator Dave Toub and assistant special teams coach Kevin O'Dea accomplished.

"I'm not really into the year stats and that, but when you're breaking an NFL record like we did on special teams with our kickoff return average, I think that is worthy of a note there," Reid said. "I think Dave has done a tremendous job there, both he and Kevin O'Dea, in preparing our guys and then the players obviously have done a nice job with it."

Chiefs Praise Former TE Gonzalez's Retirement from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Even though Tony Gonzalez is retiring as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the Kansas City Chiefs still view the 13-time Pro Bowl tight end as one of their own.

One day after Gonzalez reaffirmed that he'll never play another NFL game, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement that he'll "always be considered a part of the Chiefs family."

Curran Misses Mark On Pioli from Chiefs Spin

Curran has been around the New England Patriots since 1997, according to his Comcast SportsNet bio. And his current employer in 2011 merged with NBC, which currently employs Pioli.

Still, journalists are supposed to be impartial and "Pioli's imprint all over the Pro Bowl" is anything but.

It smacks of PR puffery given the ties between sports writer, sports team, employers and Pioli.

Ultimately, the 2012 season played a role in Pioli's dismissal in Kansas City.

But so did the Chiefs going 23-41 with two head coaches in four regular seasons, including 12-20 at Arrowhead Stadium, during Pioli's tenure.

NFL: Refs Missed Call On Chargers from ESPN

But based on a new rule this season, the Chargers should have been flagged for illegal formation prior to Succop's missed field goal, a 5-yard penalty that would have given Kansas City a 36-yard game-winning attempt.

"On the play, San Diego lined up with seven men on one side of the snapper," the league said in a statement released Monday morning. "This should have been penalized as an illegal formation by the defense."

Mike Tomlin: NFL Must Assess Refs from ESPN

"Obviously, there's a lot of work [to do] from an officiating standpoint," Tomlin said Monday during his season-ending news conference. "I think it's been well-documented in the last several weeks, not only in stadiums we've played in, but others [too].

"I always want to be someone that's part of the solution as opposed to someone that's complaining and moaning about the problem. I intend to roll my sleeves up and offer any insight I can in making [the league] the very best it can be moving forward."

Bad call? Kansas City Join The Club from NBC 7 San Diego

The Chiefs (and by extension the Steelers, who were kept out of the playoffs when the Chargers won) are hardly the only ones to end up on the short of the stick when it comes to officiating mistakes this season. In fact, I seem to recall one that cost the Chargers themselves a game...

...The call cost the Chargers four points, and they lost by three points. Had they won that game, they would have had the playoff spot that Pittsburgh fans are so upset about missing out on locked up before kickoff. In the NFL, where every game has an impact on the season, a blown call in Week 17 is no more important than a blown call in Week 1.

Are Kicking Woes Rising For Chiefs Again? from ESPN

But as Succop would tell you, he should have made the 41-yard kick to begin with. San Diego's penalty had no bearing on his ability to put the ball through the uprights.

Succop is a tough-minded guy, perhaps as much or more so than any other kicker. He's made plenty of clutch kicks before and this failure shouldn't drag him down.

But given Kansas City's playoff field goal history, it's fair to wonder.

A Quick Look: Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts from Colts.com

On Saturday though, the Chiefs will bring one of the healthiest teams in the NFL to Lucas Oil Stadium that is expected to get two Pro Bowlers back in the lineup.

Leading sacker Justin Houston did not play in the team's first meeting and now he will be paired opposite Tamba Hali (also has 11.0 sacks) to come off the edge.

Left tackle Brandon Albert sat out the Week 16 matchup and the Colts took advantage of his absence with a season-high five sacks.

For the Colts, priority No. 1 will be trying to contain the do-it-all running back in Charles, who leads the Chiefs in rushing and receiving.

Colts Notes: CB Vontae Davis' Status Unclear For Kansas City from The Indianapolis Star

The list of ailing Colts is rather long, but the overall prognosis relatively optimistic.

The primary concern is a groin injury cornerback Vontae Davis sustained in the first quarter of Sunday's win over Jacksonville. A magnetic resonance imaging test taken Monday morning was negative, and coach Chuck Pagano categorized the starting cornerback day-to-day.

It Won't Be Easy This Time Against Chiefs from ESPN

"You're a fool to think that the game turns out the same way because it turned out and it was just two weeks ago," Colts veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri said. "I know that our team is going to prepare and get ready to play and usually the games are different. Hopefully the outcome is the same, but they're never the same as the game progresses along. You have to be prepared and ready to go. It'll be different guys making different plays and different set of circumstances for the outcome of the game."

Colts Playoff Tickets Go On Sale from FOX 59 News

Colts Vice President of Ticket Operations Larry Hall said he wasn't sure yet if the game would sell out, but the organization is happy with how sales are going so far. It's running a playoff campaign all week to get the word out...

...He added that fans wishing to go, but  not wanting to shell out a lot of cash have options. There are still several tickets available for about $60. Fans can purchase tickets here.

Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad AFC? from CSN Baltimore

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs are one of the league's great turnaround stories under coach Andy Reid. They went undefeated through the first nine games, but after their bye week went 2-5. They rank 14th - third-worst - in the AFC in total defense. The Chiefs give up the big play. Kansas City allowed 63 passing plays of 20-plus yards and 16 of 40-plus yards, which ranked next to most in the conference in both categories.

NFL Audit: Colts Improving At The Right Time from SportingNews

The Chiefs are a tough call. Kansas City lost five of its final seven games of the regular season, including a 20-7 setback vs. Indianapolis, its wild-card round foe Saturday. However, the Chiefs scored 25 offensive touchdowns in those seven games. Isn’t their offensive punch supposed to be their biggest concern? Some handicappers will look at the Chiefs’ losses to Denver (twice), San Diego (twice) and Indianapolis and wonder if Kansas City is a prime one-and-done postseason candidate. However, other handicappers might look at the Chiefs’ recent offensive surge and wonder if Kansas City is a postseason sleeper. There are cases to be made on both sides.

It's All About Expectations from National Football Post

Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: Took a 2-14 dumpster fire of a franchise that ranked 25th in the league in scoring defense (26.6 pts/gm) and turned it into an 11-5 playoff-bound squad that ranked fifth in scoring defense (19.1 pts/gm). Hell, had it not been for a blown call, Reid's B squad would have beaten the highly-motivated Chargers in San Diego on Sunday for the team's 12th victory.

Thought The First 17 Weeks Were Wild? Then Strap In And Hang On from FOX Sports

Both teams sport defenses that get after the QB (both had more than 40 sacks), are in the top 10 in scoring defense but struggle to stop the run. Basically, we have a matchup of solid, aggressive defenses against QBs who rarely make mistakes and exploit their opponents with their running game and their defenses more than the long ball. The Chiefs sport an MVP candidate in Jamaal Charles (1,287 rushing yards, 5.0 YPC, 70 catches, 693 receiving yards, 19 total TDs). The Colts sport a pair of first-round picks in the backfield who thus far would have to be considered busts (Donald Brown, first-round pick in 2009; Trent Richardson, first-round pick by Cleveland in 2012 acquired via trade this season). In five seasons, Brown has as many TDs as Charles had this season. Richardson averaged less than 3 yards a carry in Indy and has scored two TDs since September.

But two weeks ago, the Colts hammered the Chiefs 23-7 - in KC. Vegas views the teams as even, they are listed at equal 30-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. If the wild-card round plays out according to seed, the winner of this game will play the Broncos in the divisional round. The Chiefs lost twice to the Broncos; the Colts beat Denver this season. At least we know who Peyton Manning is probably cheering for.