Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/17

Chiefs Defeat Seahawks 24-20 from The Associated Press via The Mothership

It made sense the two playoff contenders would wage an old-school, back-and-forth affair. Both are built in the same mold, featuring stout defenses and strong running games.

Kansas City struck first with a grinding, meandering 15-play drive that took up more than 9 minutes of the first half and ended with Charles' 1-yard touchdown run. Seattle answered with its own 16-play drive, chewing up exactly 9 minutes and ending with Wilson's TD pass to Baldwin.

Nothing really changed the rest of the half as the teams kept grinding away.

Chiefs vs. Seahawks: 10 Observations from The Mothership

2. Defensive line sees extra bodies

The Seahawks brought out an extra offensive lineman for a number of plays on Sunday. The Chiefs countered with an extra defensive lineman.

Along with starters Allen Bailey, Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard, both Kevin Vickerson andVance Walker saw the most extensive action of their season on Sunday.

The Seahawks were still able to run the football throughout the game, but when it mattered the most, the Chiefs defense, led by their front seven, kept the Seahawks from converting key short-yardage situations.

The Chiefs have still not allowed a rushing touchdown all season.

Postgame Facts and Stats from The Mothership

REID IN HIS FIRST TWO YEARS LEADING THE CHIEFS: In his first two seasons as head coach of the Chiefs, Andy Reid has coached his team to an 18-8 record in the first 26 games. His 69.2 winning percentage is the top mark in franchise history for any coach in their first two seasons leading the club. Marty Schottenheimer is second on that list, leading his Chiefs teams to a 19-12-1 (60.9%) record in his first two seasons.

Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Game Takeaways from The Mothership

Last week against the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs offense was tasked with matching the physicality of a defensive front that was among the best in the NFL.

On Sunday, the Chiefs defense needed to stop the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack in the Seattle Seahawks, as well as running the football against a defensive front that had only allowed an average of 79 yards rushing per game so far this season.

"I was proud of the big guys and the way they played," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game. "That was this type of game. So we were going to count on the bigs on both sides of the ball and the offensive and defensive lines stepped up and did a nice job."

Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Arrowhead Recap from The Mothership

To begin the pregame festivities and to kickoff the Salute to Service game, there was a mass enlistment on the field; 90 service members from Wentworth Military Academy and KC MEPS were enlisted.

Later, the national anthem was performed by the United States Air Force Singing Sergeants and as the crowd chimed in, singing, "...home of the Chiefs," two A-10 Warthogs flew over the stadium. The 442nd Fighter Wing performed the fly over, after just returning from a seventh month tour in Afghanistan.

KCChiefs.com Podcast: Chiefs Download 11/17

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs Seahawks Tailgating

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Alex Smith Postgame Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Andy Reid Postgame Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Game Highlights

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Postgame Player Reactions

KMBC Video: Hardy Chiefs fans brave cold for game day rituals

Chiefs make a statement in 24-20 win over Seahawks from Chiefs Digest

Last week's gritty 17-13 win may prove to be the signature win of the season in a game where the Chiefs scored 14 unanswered points in a comeback road win.

But Sunday's physical win, which included a goal-line stand, against a league power offers a potential statement win that demands attention of the rest of the NFL.

"I definitely would agree," cornerback Sean Smith said. "One thing about these wins, they get more and more important."

Chiefs make loud statement with win over Seahawks from ESPN

The official line from the Kansas City Chiefs was they were just trying to win another game, but they weren't fooling anyone. Measuring sticks come in different sizes, and they don't come much bigger than the challenge offered Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions.

"It was a little bit of a see-where-you're-at," Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said. "We as a group, collectively, kind of answered that a little bit."

The answer the Chiefs provided should resonate around the AFC West and perhaps the league as a whole. They have to be taken seriously now after defeating the Seahawks 24-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Misfits no more: Chiefs have ridden a no-name defense into first place from FS Kansas City

If Seattle has the Legion of Boom, Kansas City's defense is the Island of Misfit Toys. The overlooked, the under-scouted, spare parts with enough chips on their collective shoulders to fill a plastic bowl.

From July 2011 through December 2012, defensive back Ron Parker was cut by three different teams -- including the Seahawks -- at least six different times. Defensive end Kevin Vickerson has been whacked by three different teams -- there's the Seahawks again -- and traded away by another. Fellow lineman Jaye Howard was cut by Seattle 15 months ago, about the same time Cleveland lopped linebacker James-Michael Johnson. Safety Husain Abdullah spent a year away from the NFL to make a pilgramage to Mecca. Cornerback Phillip Gaines played college ball at Rice.

Stir them all together with the unholy Diamond of Doom -- outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali on the flanks, nose tackle Dontari Poe up front and safety Eric Berry at the back -- and it's some kind of voodoo magic: Through 11 weeks and 10 games, the 7-3 Chiefs still haven't allowed an opposing quarterback to reach 300 yards passing, which is remarkable, and still haven't surrendered a rushing touchdown, which is downright astounding.

9 big moments from the Seahawks' 24-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs from The Seattle Times

Arrowhead Stadium may have been freezing (10 degrees if you count wind chill!), but Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was red hot. Without defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, the Seahawks had a hard time stopping Charles.

But that wasn't the only struggle of the day. Read on for the nine biggest moments from the Seahawks' 24-20 loss in Kansas City.

Overall team effort highlighted in Week 11 highs from Chiefs Digest

Punter Dustin Colquitt, wide receiver Junior Hemingway and wide receiver Albert Wilson teamed up on special teams to pin Seattle deep in their own territory.

Colquitt punted for 51 yards, where it nearly crossed the goal line. Hemingway caught up with the ball and batted into the field where Wilson downed the ball inside the five-yard line.

The Seahawks managed to charge down the field, but couldn't convert on 4th and goal at the Kansas City two-yard line.

Rapid Reaction: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

The Chiefs not only remain the only NFL team without a touchdown catch from a wide receiver -- they also got catches from only one wideout Sunday. Dwayne Bowe had two catches for 18 yards, but otherwise, their wide receivers were shut out. The Chiefs were 3-for-4 scoring touchdowns in the red zone (three rushing TDs). The Chiefs' ability to run the ball in the red zone mutes the fact that their wide receivers don't have a touchdown catch.

Chiefs use rushing attack to grind out 24-20 win over Seahawks from Chiefs Digest

Running back Jamaal Charles ran for a game-high 159 yards and scored on two separate occasions. Seattle, which entered Week 11 ranked fourth in rushing defense, allowed only 79 yards on the ground per game.

"I think the thing that is so undervalued about (Charles) is the guy can run so tough," Smith said. "He's so hard to hit and he never seems to take a big shot."

Jamaal Charles (159 yards, 2 TDs), Chiefs hold off Seahawks from The Associated Press via ESPN

The old offensive line coach in Andy Reid could appreciate the way the Kansas City Chiefs pried open holes for Jamaal Charles to run free against Seattle on Sunday.

He could appreciate the way their defensive front stepped up, too.

Given a lead thanks largely to the legs of their dazzling running back, the Chiefs held the Seahawks on fourth down three times in the final quarter. The result was a tense 24-20 victory that pushed Kansas City into a first-place tie with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

Chiefs impressed with Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, but endure in stopping him from Chiefs Digest

The 5-11, 215-pound Lynch bruised his way to 124 yards rushing on 24 yards, anchoring a Seattle ground game that recorded 204 yards against the Chiefs.

His physical style of running, which earned him the "Beast Mode" moniker, left a lasting impression on the Chiefs defense.

"Oh man," Smith said after the game. "My neck hurts right now, still. And I helped on tackles. I can imagine what those guys felt like up front who have to really wrap him up. That guy is so powerful. It was crazy how we stopped him on fourth-and-1 because he was getting those yards the entire game."

Chiefs improve to 7-3 by knocking off Seahawks from ProFootballTalk

The Chiefs Defense came into Sunday's game with the Seahawks without a rushing touchdown allowed during the 2014 season.

They're leaving the game the same way and it's a big reason why they were 24-20 winners at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The Chiefs stoned Marshawn Lynch on the goal-line in the fourth quarter to keep their lead intact and then came up with another fourth-down stop a bit later in the quarter and a Dontari Poe sack in the final seconds to put the final touches on their seventh victory of the season.

What we learned: Seahawks run over on road in Kansas City from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Seattle Seahawks were roadkill at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Facing frigid conditions at one of the toughest - and loudest - away venues in the NFL, the Seahawks allowed Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles to gash them for 159 yards and two scores against what had been a top-five Seattle run defense. That was enough for Kansas City to overcome multiple mistakes and post a 24-20 win over the Hawks, dropping the defending Super Bowl champs to 6-4 on the season.

The Seahawks allowed more than twice as many rushing yards as they'd averaged during the season's first nine games, and were unable to take advantage of two Chiefs turnovers, seemingly feeling the absences of key players in the middle of both their offensive and defensive lines in crunch time.

NFL morning after: In the NFL, no one knows anything from ProFootballTalk

It can be the most maddening thing about the NFL, but I also think it's the best thing about the NFL: The sheer unpredictability of it all makes it impossible to say with any degree of certainty what's going to happen on any given Sunday, and that keeps us tuning in every Sunday. On this particular Sunday, the Seahawks lost to the Chiefs and the Broncos lost to the Rams. If I'd told you that would happen after Week One, you'd have said I was crazy.

Jamaal Charles gets best of RB duel with Marshawn Lynch from ESPN

Trying to keep up with Lynch, whose violent running style earned him the appropriate nickname of Beast Mode, Charles fumbled fighting for extra yards late in the third quarter of what would become a 24-20 Kansas City Chiefs victory. 

"I have to learn how to go down," said Charles, who has conquered a fumbling habit from early in his career. "I think I was doing too much. I was trying to be like Marshawn and hold on to that ball and keep going. 

"I'm a better running back than that and I should have just gone down in that situation."

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs beat Seattle Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium from Sky Sports

A bare-knuckle running battle was expected between two of the best rushing teams in the NFL, both with barely any aerial attack, and that's exactly what it proved to be as the duo combined for 394 rushing yards against just 276 yards passing.

Jamaal Charles starred for the Chiefs with 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Marshawn Lynch ran for 124 yards for Seattle but was kept out of the end zone by a Chiefs defence yet to concede a rushing scored this season.

Marshawn Lynch stayed on field at halftime from ProFootballTalk

Via Mike Silver of NFL Media, Lynch remained on the field throughout intermission of the game.

While Lynch told former teammate and NFL Media analyst Michael Robinson that Lynch didn't go to the locker room because he "couldn't walk," Silver wonders aloud (or at least in print) whether Lynch hoped to indicate displeasure with reports that he's on the outs in Seattle.  After the game, Lynch spoke by phone with Silver - after successfully ducking the reporters assembled in Kansas City for the game.

How the Seahawks failed on 4th down - 3 times from The News Tribune

"We had plenty of chances in this game," coach Pete Carroll said - make that, bemoaned - following his Seahawks' 24-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Plenty of chances."

Yet when it mattered most the league's 31st-ranked passing game failed to gain two yards.

"We need to do better, you know. We had plenty of chances today to make plays," Carroll said of the passing offense. "We protected well enough to give us opportunities.

"We're still working on it."

Fourth downs bring Seahawks down from Seahawks.com

The Seahawks rushed for 204 yards, including 124 by Marshawn Lynch.

They also got two forced fumbles by Earl Thomas that setup 10 points, as part of an 11-tackle performance by their All-Pro free safety.

Russell Wilson passed for two touchdowns and ran for 71 yards.

But it wasn't enough - not on this cold day, against this hot team. Because in the end, the Seahawks turned the ball over on downs on their final three possessions in the fourth quarter as the Kansas City Chiefs grabbed a 24-20 victory in a mid-November matchup at Arrowhead Stadium that had the intensity and feel of a postseason game.

Doug Baldwin wanted pass interference on key 4th down (Video) from Larry Brown Sports

Doug Baldwin and Paul Richardson ran a crossing route, leading the Chiefs defensive backs to switch and stay in their zones. As the receivers did their cross, Sean Smith put his forearm in Baldwin's back and gave him a push.

It wasn't a terribly blatant push, but it was enough to somewhat re-route Baldwin seemingly beyond the five yard mark where contact is allowed. Being re-directed made it pretty impossible for Baldwin to come close to making the catch.

Though that play was key and not getting a penalty call for pass interference was huge, the Seahawks had more chances.

Seahawks' failures on fourth down magnify differences between this year and last year from The Seattle Times

"I knew they were going to give him the ball," said Kansas City defensive tackle Jaye Howard, who was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012 and released before the 2013 season and signed by the Chiefs.

"Before we broke the huddle, (the defensive linemen) just said, ‘We're going to get off the ball and not let him get it.' "

And that's what the Chiefs did as Lynch was stuffed at the line, a charge led by Kansas City's Allen Bailey.

"They won the line of scrimmage," Carroll said. "We had to make two feet and we couldn't do it. We stuffed it up at them and they took their shot and we took our shot and they were very fortunate. They won, and that was a huge play."

Three strikes and out for Seahawks on fourth downs from ESPN

What are the chances the Chiefs stop Lynch there, even though everyone in the stadium assumed he would get the ball?

"Very slim, but it happened," Seattle tight end Luke Willson said. "I don't know if you want to call it lucky for them or we just didn't execute, but that doesn't happen very often."

The Seahawks thought they had a first down one play earlier when a slant-in catch by Jermaine Kearse was ruled down at the 35, but the Chiefs challenged the call and replays showed he was down at the 36.

Perhaps the Lynch run would have ended differently if starting center Max Unger hadn't left the game with a leg injury.

Team-by-team NFL Grades Week 11: Can the Chiefs win the AFC West? from CBS Sports

If you look at the top of the AFC West standings this week, you're going to notice something a little weird: The Chiefs are in first place.

After going 11-5 in 2013, Kansas City was pretty much everyone's pick this year to be the team that regresses. The argument was that the Chiefs went 11-5 by beating a bunch of bad teams last year and there was no way they could beat the good teams on their schedule this year.

Well, after Sunday's win over the Seahawks, it's time to take the Chiefs seriously because they are beating good teams and they're not just beating them, they're dominating.

Top 5 Must-See Plays from Week 11 (Video) from Yahoo! Sports

A Hemingway masterpiece

The Kansas City Chiefs used a strong run game and several key stops on defense to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 and move to 7-3 following an 0-2 start. But don't overlook the contributions of their special teams. Watch the gorgeous punt of Dustin Colquitt, which bounces just inside the Seahawks' goal line, and before it can tumble in for a touchback, Chiefs special-teamer Junion Hemingway saves it for a critical play late in the game.

What the TV shows said about the Seahawks, opponents from The Seattle Times

ON CHIEFS

Collinsworth: "Be careful about the Kansas City Chiefs right now, too. They can play defense and run the ball - pretty good formula come a little cold weather."

Ward on Jamaal Charles: "Right now, he's the best all-around running back in the game. What was so impressive about that game: Kansas City has no wide receivers, so Seattle played eight guys in the box and they still couldn't stop him."

Dungy: "Kansas City is playing the best ball in that division (AFC West), and Denver still has to go to Kansas City."

Jamaal Charles dominates as Chiefs edge Seahawks from NFL.com

The Chiefs are tied for first place in the AFC West at 7-3. Who saw that coming after their 2-3 start? Jamaal Charles was the best player on the field Sunday, exploding for 178 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns. Seattle's stout rush defense made a few key stops in short yardage, but overall they just didn't look the same without Brandon Mebane. Charles made a lot of noise with runs up the gut.

Fantasy Sunday: Broncos go bust, rookie breakouts continue from USA Today

An interesting note on the eight early afternoon games: only one of them had a rushing touchdown. The Kansas City Chiefs ran for three scores against the Seattle Seahawks - with Jamaal Charles hitting paydirt twice and backup Knile Davis planting the other.

Federal Investigation Into Painkillers Targets N.F.L. Teams' Medical Staffs from The New York Times

Federal drug enforcement agents questioned medical-staff members from the San Francisco 49ers and several other teams on Sunday as part of a continuing investigation into the distribution of painkillers in the N.F.L.

The unannounced visits by the Drug Enforcement Administration were spurred, in part, by reports of widespread abuse of painkillers that were included in a class-action lawsuit against the N.F.L. The suit, which is being heard in federal court in California, claims that team doctors routinely dispensed Percocet, Toradol, Novocain and other drugs to energize players before games and relieve pain afterward.

More broadly, the agency has increased its policing of prescription drugs in recent years as addiction and abuse of painkillers and other medications have skyrocketed.

DEA pays Seahawks a visit in Kansas City from KIROTV

Officials with the Seahawks confirmed to KIRO 7 that they received a visit during their game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chiefs' fans react to Aramark food safety violations from FOX4KC

An employee for food vendor Aramark alerted the Kansas City Health Department to food safety concerns he'd documented in the more than two years he worked at both Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums.

Chiefs fan David Glassman said, "It takes a lot of courage to go against a corporation and the company like that, so I do appreciate that he stood up and said something, and hopefully changes are made because of it."

Some Chiefs fans indifferent about food violations at Arrowhead Stadium from KSHB

Arrowhead is known for tailgating and a lot of fans said they were relieved that they never eat inside the stadium.

"I just come for the food, games, beer," Joe Chames, a Chiefs fan, said.

"We did clam bake.  This year we're having salmon because they're coming from Seattle. Tennessee we did pulled pork," Donna Rucker, a Chiefs fan, said.

Allen Bailey on signing extension now: I saw what happened to Carson Palmer from ProFootballTalk

After Sunday's game, Bailey explained that seeing Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer tear his ACL had an impact on his decision to take the money now rather than wait to see if he could make more after the season.

"I saw the Carson Palmer incident," Bailey said, via Peter King of MMQB.com. "That was an eye-opener. Anything can happen, on any play. I decided to do it now. Plus, this is a great place for me. I love the family atmosphere we have here. We all buy in, and we all work hard. It's a great bunch of guys."

Chiefs' fans support little boy in coma after he was hit by SUV from FOX4KC

Chiefs fans often bring signs to games to support their team. However, support for football wasn't the only thing on display at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday morning.

Noah Kauffman didn't know seven-year-old JJ Beemer when he saw the boy's father post a request on Facebook. Jonathan De Vere asked people to support his son by creating signs and posters to display during football games.

"We're pulling for the little guy. Chiefs' kingdom is behind him 100%. It kind of turned into a little movement for JJ," Kauffman said.

KC Wolf leads church service at Arrowhead Stadium from KSHB

The man behind the KC Wolf mask, Dan Meers, led Sunday service at Arrowhead ahead of the Chiefs-Seahawks game.

The Chiefs offer a pregame service for fans who may miss church because of the game.

Monday Morning Quarterback from MMQB

Kansas City is dangerous, and I mean that in a good way. The defensive front manhandled Seattle on Sunday, and the Chiefs have allowed just 70 points over the last five games-all wins. The good thing for Kansas City is that it's not all the marquee guys, sack-master Justin Houston and noted rusher Tamba Hali. There is depth along the front. Recently, 2011 third-round defensive end Allen Bailey has become a force. That's why the Chiefs were glad to reward him with a four-year, $25-million contract Saturday-but more about that in a moment.

With Kansas City up 24-20 and Seattle facing a fourth-and-one at the Chiefs' 36 with 3:38 left in the game, Seattle lined up in a power formation, with Marshawn Lynch set back behind Russell Wilson. Everyone knew what was coming: Lynch up the gut. Dontari Poe lined up over the center for Kansas City, with Bailey to his immediate right. At the snap, Bailey caved in his man, ruining the push Seattle hoped to create for Lynch. Bailey corralled Lynch around the neck, and with four of his mates, stopped Lynch for no gain. Arrowhead went nuts. (Does it ever not go nuts?) Seattle had one more chance but never got past its own 28, and Kansas City had a very big win.

Week 11 superlatives: Charles paces streaking Chiefs; Raiders fail again from Sports Illustrated

Early Games

MVP: Jamaal Charles

The Chiefs' running back picked a heck of a time to top the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time this season. His 159 yards on 22 carries paced Kansas City in a crucial 24-20 win over the defending champion Seahawks.