Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/8

Chiefs Beat Bengals 41-39 In Preseason Opener from The Associated Press via The Mothership

The Chiefs managed two offensive touchdowns against Cincinnati on Thursday night.

Their defense and special teams trumped them.

Sean Smith and Malcolm Bronson returned interceptions for scores, De'Anthony Thomas brought back a punt 80 yards for another TD and Kansas City beat the Bengals 41-39 in their preseason opener.

Kelce Comes Up Big For Chiefs Thursday Night from The Mothership

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke about Kelce after the game.

"It was good to have him back out there and he had quite a few snaps," Reid said. "And I think he did a nice job out there. He showed a little speed at the end, I mean heck, he was pulling away from secondary players.

"It wasn't just a linebacker so, I was impressed with that. He did some in-line block, line-of-scrimmage blocking which I thought he did a really good job of."

Andy Reid Post Gams Press Conference from The Mothership

OPENING STATEMENT: "Alright, as far as injuries go, (Kona) Schwenke has a shoulder strain and Albert Wilson has an ankle sprain. We'll just see how bad they are tomorrow. There are a lot of good things and there are some things we need some work on. But we'll get those corrected. That's why we're doing the preseason here. Obviously, the turnovers ended in 21 points. You can't turn the football over - we know this - and win in the National Football League. In return, we had a couple pick-sixes by our defense, so we were able to kind of equal that out. We had some good plays, both offensively and defensively and special teams from young guys that will contribute this year and help us out. That was a positive. That's where we're at. The time's yours."

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Preseason Week 1 vs Bengals

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs Bengals Tailgating

KCChiefs.com Video: Postgame Locker Room: Cincinnati

KCChiefs.com Video: Postgame: Alex Smith

KCChiefs.com Video: Postgame: Andy Reid

KCChiefs.com Video: Postgame: CIN vs KC

KCChiefs.com Video: Bengals vs Chiefs Preseason Highlights

KCChiefs.com Video: Can't Miss Play: Travis Kelce's TD Catch

KCChiefs.com Video: Can't Miss Play: De'Anthony Thomas Punt Return

KCChiefs.com Video: Cyrus Gray 2-Yard TD Run

Chiefs Kick Off Preseason With 41-39 Win Over Bengals from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs then held the Bengals on the next possession to force a punt.

Rookie De'Anthony Thomas then did the rest after fielding the ball at the Chiefs' 20-yard line. He found a seam up the middle, and then hit daylight along the right sideline, electrifying Arrowhead Stadium with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown.

"Once I had the ball," Thomas said, "got hit a little bit and I just saw a little crease, and I just hit it."

Look Out Below! After Allowing Six Sacks, Chiefs' Allen Says Youth Is Not An Excuse from FS Kansas City

Granted, it's Week 1 of the preseason. Or, as we like to call it, all stick and no dynamite. Surmise and assume at your peril.

But, oh, the niggles.

Receiving corps? Question mark. Still.

Secondary? Ask us when Eric Berry is good to go. Until then, hold your breath.

Quarterbacks? Two touchdown passes, three turnovers. Can't happen.

But of all the numbers that stood out from Chiefs 41, Bengals 39 late Thursday night -- a wacky contest that the two clubs combine for four non-offensive touchdowns -- this was the one that really, really stuck:

Six sacks.

Big Plays On D, Special Teams Lead Chiefs Past Bengals from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs rolled to the playoffs last season thanks largely to an opportunistic defense and an explosive special teams unit that accounted for nearly a touchdown a game.

Evidently, nothing has changed this preseason.

Observation Deck: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

The Chiefs need to get cornerback Smith back in their starting lineup. His demotion in favor of Ron Parker never made sense to begin with and it certainly doesn't now. Parker was burned on a 53-yard pass from Andy Dalton to A.J. Green and he picked up two illegal contact penalties, though one was declined. Smith came into the game replacing Parker late in the first quarter. On his first play Smith had his pick-6. If it wasn't clear before, it is now: The Chiefs are a better defense with Smith in their starting lineup.

Camp Confidential: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

THREE REASONS FOR PESSIMISM

1. The Chiefs allowed an alarming 63 pass plays of 20 or more yards last season and another six in their playoff game. Since then, they released one starting cornerback and demoted another from their lineup. Under different circumstances, that might not be such a bad thing, but the replacements are players the Chiefs picked up off waivers last season. One is Marcus Cooper, who played well as the third cornerback the first half of the season but played so poorly over the second half that he had to be benched. The other is journeyman Ron Parker, who had been released eight times before joining the Chiefs.

Chiefs Fans Take Their First Crack At Navigating Through New Parking Rules from FOX4KC

For the most die-hard fans of the red and white, getting to the gates early and well-versed in the new parking rules was an easy task

"We have pre-season as well, we have to prepare," one fan explained.

Local Artist Uses Moments Of Impact To Draw Out Emotions Of Sport from FOX4KC

Pro football and art don't often cross paths, unless Chris Sembower's visions are on the gallery wall. Sembower is a designer and illustrator - with roots taking him back to Raytown South High School. His posterized series of digital paintings shows his love for the Kansas City Chiefs and his work focuses on the moments of impact that make fans love the game.

K.C. Handling Sensitive Issue The Right Way from ESPN

If the nickname and/or game-day traditions offend people, even if that amounts to a small group, an NFL team is obligated to listen and respond. That's the least any franchise can do for its community and the Chiefs, a powerful force in Kansas City since arriving in 1963, are meeting that obligation.

Kansas City Chiefs Win Appeal Of Age Discrimination Suit from Kansas City Business Journal

A Missouri Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs in an age discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee.

Former maintenance manager Steven Cox brought the suit, claiming that he was fired to make room for younger employees.

Viral Video Star Attends Chiefs Game After Tough Diagnosis from KMBC

Jack Hoffman was undergoing treatment for childhood brain cancer when he was given the chance to score a touchdown at the Nebraska Cornhuskers 2013 spring game. It was an opportunity made possible by friend Rex Burkhead, who now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hoffman came to see his friend and the Bengals play preseason football at Arrowhead Stadium.

Dwayne Bowe Unlikely To Make Bigger Fantasy Impact In 2014 from SB Nation

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is hoping to bounce back from a sub-par 2013, but expectations might have to be grounded. ESPN's Chiefs blogger Adam Teicher says there is "no indication the Chiefs will get more from [Bowe]" while observing him in training camp.

Observation Deck: Cincinnati Bengals from ESPN

Yes, the Bengals gave up 41 points, but that's not a good indication of where the defense stands at this point. Before the third-team rotations started to come in the fourth quarter, the Bengals only allowed one touchdown and two field goals. The Chiefs' other scores were the result of the interception returns for touchdowns and a kickoff return for touchdown. Among the highlights of the Bengals' defensive play were their six sacks, two of which led to fumbles that were recovered by defensive linemen.

Chiefs Outgun Bengals from Bengals.com

The Bengals' first unit overcame a re-tooled offensive line and opened the preseason in crisp fashion with a nine-play, 81-yard  drive that resulted in Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal that helped the Bengals get off to a 10-0 start in the season's first 9:24.  The field goal would be shorter than the 33-yard extra point he would hit a few minutes later.

Quarterback Andy Dalton and the Ones worked only in that drive and he hit three brisk completions on five chances three days after signing his big six-year extension and that included a long bomb to wide receiver A.J. Green.

Hall Of Famer Willie Roaf Is No. 17 On Louisiana's All-Time Top 51 Athlete List from NOLA.com

Who knows if Willie Roaf would have received any stars coming out of high school if recruiting websites existed.

Longtime Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Petey Parot remembers when the then-undersized Roaf stepped foot on campus in Ruston. Parot said Roaf arrived from his native Pine Bluff, Ark. at an unassuming 220 pounds.

Duvernay-Tardif Comfortable from RDS.ca [translated from the original French]

On a game, Duvernay-Tardif had to go forward to block a linebacker and this led to an appreciable gain. He was again called to block in the tertiary Bengals on another play.

This long series of 13 games and a duration of 7:52 ended with a touchdown run by Cyrus Gray. Duvernay-Tardif was the first to congratulate him when running back stood up.