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Five Things To Watch: Chiefs vs. Vikings from The Mothership
1) Offensive line
Everything starts up front on the offensive side of the ball.
It's been discussed ad nauseam, but if the regular season started today, the Chiefs would have the youngest offensive line in the NFL once again.
This game against the Vikings is an opportunity for this group to show its development and help sustain a drive for the first-team offense that leads to a touchdown, something they haven't done in eight tries so far this preseason.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledges the development of this young group.
Exercise Caution With High Temperatures from The Mothership
With temperatures for tomorrow night's preseason contest against the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium expected to be over 90 degrees, the Chiefs are recommending fans take the following precautions to protect themselves from the elements:
10 Reaons Why Saturday's Broadcast Is A Must-See from The Mothership
8. Remember the famous play call "65 Toss Power Trap" during Super Bowl IV? Well, former Chiefs RB Mike Garrett who ran in for the touchdown during that play will be on the sidelines.
Chiefs Statement On Donald Stephenson from The Mothership
This morning the NFL notified the team of
Donald Stephenson 's four-game suspension. Obviously losing Donald is disappointing, but we are in full compliance with the league's policy. We will have no further comment on the situation.
KCChiefs.com Video: Pregame Report: Minnesota
KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Vikings Broadcast Preview
KCChiefs.com Video: The Voice Issues The Kingdom A Challenge
NFL.com Video: NFL NOW: Vikings vs Chiefs
Game Day Forecast from The National Weather Service
Today Isolated showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 8am. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 103. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind 8 to 10 mph.
What To Look For In Vikings-Chiefs Match-Up from Chiefs Spin
The biggest takeaway from the preseason is an annual reminder the four exhibition games are for evaluation purposes.
And none are more important than the third game where starters typically play into the second half with a view to the regular season.
With that in mind, here are areas to focus on when the Chiefs host the Minnesota Vikings Saturday evening.
Chiefs-Turned-Vikings QB Matt Cassel: 'I Have No Ill Will' from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City
The last time Matt Cassel stepped inside Arrowhead Stadium, banners were flying overhead asking for him to be benched. He'd been booed at a celebrity softball game and become a scapegoat for an entire organization that had fallen on hard times.
Two years later, the former Chiefs quarterback has the inside track on the starting job for the Minnesota Vikings, who visit Kansas City for a preseason game Saturday night.
"I've moved on. They've moved on," Cassel said ahead of his return. "I've got a lot of family friends out there. I actually still have a home there. The truth of the matter is, I have no ill will."
Few people would blame Cassel if he did.
Double Coverage: Vikings At Chiefs from ESPN
What's the feeling down there in Kansas City after a surprising 2013 season and a number of defections in free agency? Are the Chiefs in position to challenge the Broncos, or are they primed for a fall after making the playoffs last year?
Teicher: You could say the fall began last season. The Chiefs started 9-0 but lost six of their last eight games, counting the playoff defeat against Indianapolis. They were stung by wasting a 28-point third-quarter lead against the Colts, and I can't tell you for certain that they're over that. That issue aside, the Chiefs appear to have some issues that will hold them back.
Five Storylines To Watch In Saturday's Game from Vikings.com
Will Norv Turner open up the offense?
Vikings Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner is one of the longest-tenured and most creative playcallers in the NFL. The Vikings opened up their offense a little more in the second preseason game than they did in the first. Will the third game see even more Turner aggressiveness? Tight end
Kyle Rudolph has looked reinvigorated in Turner's scheme, coming off an injury, and second-year proCordarrelle Patterson appears to be taking an increased role in the offense. Will these trends continue against the Chiefs on Saturday?
NFL Suspends OL Donald Stephenson Four Games from Chiefs Spin
Stephenson released a statement through the NFLPA.
"I'm extremely sorry that I failed to check with the NFL, NFLPA, or Chiefs medical team before I took a medication that requires a therapeutic use exemption," Stephenson said in the statement. "The rules are strict, and without at TUE, the consequence is a four game suspension.
"I apologize to the Hunt family, John Dorsey, Coach Reid and his staff, my teammates, and our awesome Chiefs fans. It is not a mistake I will ever make again. I will train extremely hard during my time away from the team, and I will be ready to contribute to my team's effort to win a Super Bowl as soon as I return."
The Chiefs named Stephenson, a native of Blue Springs, Mo., the starter at right tackle during the offseason.
Stephenson's Suspension Hurts Chiefs Where They Could Least Afford It -- Up Front from FS Kansas City
Charles? Bruised foot.
Berry? Recurring heel problems.
Fisher? Slow recovery from two offseason surgeries that have clearly limited his effectiveness.
Bowe? Suspended for the regular-season opener against Tennessee because of a drug-related arrest last November.
Today, Stephenson joined the bad karma club.
The Chiefs' 25-year-old right tackle was suspended for four games by the NFL for reportedly violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Chiefs' OL Can't Take Any More Hits from ESPN
The Kansas City Chiefs lost three regulars from last season's offensive line during the opening days of free agency, but were confident they could absorb those blows. They still had Eric Fisher, the first pick in the 2013 draft, plus three other linemen who played a lot last season and were drafted in recent seasons in the top three rounds.
The Chiefs still might be right, but with the suspension of starting right tackleDonald Stephenson for the season's first four games for violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, that premise is looking shaky.
Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Houston Unable To Land Long-Term Deal from CBS Sports
Kansas City Chiefs star linebacker Justin Houston intends to play out the final year of his rookie deal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Houston remains so far apart with the Chiefs that the source said there was no chance of a long-term deal getting done.
Contract Watch from National Football Post
So the Chiefs traded for Alex Smith and went to the playoffs in his first year with the club. However, Smith doesn't really inspire teams to say, "This is our franchise quarterback." He enjoyed his best statistical season in 2013 with career highs in almost every category, but Smith is a game manager and most teams are looking for more than that. On the positive side, he's only 30-years-old, is accurate and doesn't turn the ball over. So there are plenty of teams that would be happy to make them their starter. If this deal gets done, it should be pretty close to what Andy Dalton got in Cincinnati, which is not going to make agent Tom Condon fond of signing off. A bridge could come in the form of adding more guaranteed money to the deal to get it done with a lower average per year. Without that, Alex will likely have to step it up or step in to get the deal done.
Snoop Dogg Does Not Approve Of Former Chiefs' Head Coach Todd Haley's Job Performance With Steelers from The Pitch
Following last night's (albeit meaningless) preseason loss to state rival the Philadelphia Eagles, none other than Snoop Dogg - who is apparently a Steelers fan, even though he's from Long Beach? OK - took to Instagram to vent about Haley's play-calling. Verbatim transcript: