Chiefs vs. Steelers: Five Things to Watch from The Mothership
The Steelers have managed to consistently get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, picking up 17 sacks this season, which ranks No. 6 in the NFL.
They have 10 players with at least 1 sack.
"Really, it's over the last three games that he's increased (the pressure), Reid noted. "So the guys - he's got good players and he's bringing them from different areas."
In the last three games, the Steelers have forced 7 turnovers, which have led to 28 points on the board. It's one of the main reasons they've managed to win two of their last three without their starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury.
The Chiefs offensive line will need to control the line of scrimmage to find success in the running game with
Charcandrick West andKnile Davis , which will hopefully minimize the number of third-and-long situations.
Chiefs vs. Steelers: Sunday's Game Will Feature a Long-Awaited FCS Team Reunion from The Mothership
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, which means plenty of long-awaited matchups for college football fans.
The Georgia crew is back with Steelers cornerback Brandon Boykin and linebacker Jarvis Jones joining the Chiefs four former Bulldogs: quarterback
Aaron Murray , wide receiverChris Conley and linebackersJustin Houston andRamik Wilson .Steelers quarterback Landry Jones reunites with fellow Oklahoma Sooners in Chiefs tackle
Donald Stephenson , cornerbackJamell Fleming and long snapperJames Winchester .But along with the FBS reunions is a much less talked about one: Central Michigan of the FCS.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Ron Parker from The Mothership
7. What is your favorite TV show?
The First 48.
8. What social media do you use most?
Instagram.
D.J. Alexander Proves Sometimes It's About the Name on the Back of the Jersey from The Mothership
It's one of the most used clichés in all of sports and said by all coaches at every level, that "it's about the name on the front of the jersey and not the one on the back."
That's the way coaches preach humility.
It's effective and it's almost always true.
But for Kansas City Chiefs rookie linebacker
D.J. Alexander , the story behind the name on the back of his jersey isn't one of self-promotion. It's to honor a man who helped get him to where he is today.It's an honor D.J. will once again be able to share in person this weekend as that man makes his first trip to Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs' Jeremy Maclin might play on Sunday from The Kansas City Star
Maclin, who has been going through the league's concussion protocol, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday but was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report and appears to have a good shot of playing Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"He's passed everything, we just have to see (Saturday) how he feels," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He went through practice today and did a nice job with it."
Another player who suffered a concussion against the Vikings is not so fortunate, however, as defensive end Mike DeVito is out vs. the Steelers. DeVito is still going through the league's concussion protocol.
Week 7: Friday injury report from Chiefs Digest
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OUT: S Will Allen (ankle), DE Stephon Tuitt (knee), QB Michael Vick (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Cortez Allen (knee), QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee)
PROBABLE: CB Antwon Blake (thumb), CB William Gay (not injury related), LB James Harrison (not injury related), LB Jarvis Jones (hip), LB Ryan Shazier (shoulder), TE Matt Spaeth (not injury related)
Ben Roethlisberger upgraded to questionable from ESPN
Players have said Roethlisberger has looked crisp at practice this week, but the team is preparing Jones with first-team reps.
Safety Will Allen (ankle) and defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee) also will sit out Sunday.
Allen will miss his second straight game and again be replaced by Robert Golden.
Chiefs still sorting through No. 2 receiver options from The Kansas City Star
But now, at a surprising 1-5, the Chiefs have as one of their goals for the rest of the season developing a complimentary threat, an "X" receiver to complement Maclin's skill at the "Z" position.
Two youngsters, rookie Chris Conley and second-year pro Albert Wilson, have taken turns drawing the assignment. Through six games, Conley has caught seven passes for 91 yards, while Wilson has caught six passes for 82 yards.
If Maclin cannot play Sunday — he left Sunday's game with a concussion and is questionable, though it is promising that he practiced Friday — the Chiefs will be relying on Wilson and Conley even more.
Chiefs rookie DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches relished first career appearance from Chiefs Digest
The matchup against the Minnesota Vikings marked the first time Nunez-Roches was active for a regular-season game after being a healthy inactive the previous five weeks.
So it comes as no surprise the Chiefs' sixth-round pick out of Southern Mississippi savored the occasion.
"I really did," Nunez-Roches said with a wide smile. "I think it took me to when I was warming up to really hit me like you might really play this game. And I took that moment and I was like, just be thankful, seize every moment and opportunity because you never know when it will come again."
Is Andy Reid really the NFL's fourth best head coach? from ESPN
He's the only coach in USA Today's top seven to have never won a Super Bowl but he still did a lot of good work over a long period of time with Philadelphia.
As for his time with Kansas City, there's no question the Chiefs are better off with Reid than they were before he walked in the door. Reid runs a solid program and he's giving them much-needed stability. Fans who want to run him out of town now that Reid's team has lost five straight games should remember the disasters the Chiefs endured under each of his predecessors, Todd Haley and Romeo Crennel.
Two Chiefs fined for penalties in loss to Vikings from The Kansas City Star
Cornerback Steven Nelson was fined $17,363 for his roughing-the-passer penalty against Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, while running back Charcandrick West was fined $8,681 for his chop block on defensive end Scott Crichton.
Chiefs' Steven Nelson, Charcandrick West draw fines for Week 6 infractions from Chiefs Digest
Tight end Travis Kelce, who drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the fourth quarter, and defensive lineman Jaye Howard, who was penalized for roughing the passer in the third quarter, were not fined, per the league spokesman.
STEELERS VS. CHIEFS
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers are finding creative ways to win and tons of momentum. The Chiefs are teetering on combustion. A Landry Jones meltdown is possible but new-found confidence can carry him after he completed 8-of-12 for 168 yards and two scores against the Cardinals. The Steelers defense is one of the league's best at creating turnovers (five interceptions, four fumble recoveries) and should force Alex Smith into a few without Jamaal Charles. Steelers 27, Chiefs 14. -- Jeremy Fowler
Kansas City Chiefs: Given the way the defense played last week against Minnesota, the Chiefs have reason for hope against Pittsburgh, particularly if third-string quarterback Landry Jones starts for the Steelers. But, again, the question for the Chiefs is whether their offense, which has scored only 10 points in each of the past two games, can produce. The answer is probably no against the Steelers, who are fifth in the NFL in scoring defense at 18 points per game. Steelers 20, Chiefs 13. -- Adam Teicher
K-State lessons influence Steelers rookie B.J. Finney's drive for improvement from Chiefs Digest
Finney, who joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State, won't travel with Pittsburgh's active 53-man roster while he improves his craft on the practice squad.
"He gives us a hard day's work," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Finney in a conference call with Chiefs beat writers. "He's in our program developing."
And there is one area Finney admitted as his biggest challenge transitioning from college to the professional ranks.
Chiefs giving free beer to fans making trip to London from Sports Illustrated
Kansas City is a long way from London, so to thank fans for their support the Chiefs have rented out a bar and will be giving away free beer on the Friday afternoon before the game for a few hours, team president Mark Donovan told ESPN.
Kansas City Chiefs offer free beer to fans at London game from Sun Times National
The Chiefs will play the equally bad Detroit Lions next week in yet another game overseas as the NFL continues to market the league to the rest of the world.
Hey, when two competing teams whose records combine for exactly two wins, any excuse to drink is a valid one, especially when the drinks are free.
Banged-up Steelers preparing to visit ailing Chiefs from The Associated Press via The Lexington Herald-Leader
The Steelers and Chiefs have both dealt with a crippling number of injuries this season, whether it was Pittsburgh losing quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick or Kansas City losing Jamaal Charles for the season.
The big difference? Pittsburgh has pressed on. Kansas City has shriveled up.
The Steelers head to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday in search of their third straight win, and their fifth victory in sixth games.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 3 ways to intercept Alex Smith from PennLive
Turnovers have been key to the revival of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense that ranks fourth in the league in scoring. And with the team planning on starting third-string quarterback Landry Jones in Kansas City, turnovers will be as crucial as ever.
The Steelers have five picks this season after finishing last year with 11. In looking at each of Smith's interceptions this season, the Chiefs quarterback provided three basic, different examples of ways to pick him off.
Chiefs star Jamaal Charles featured in Hallmark's 2015 ornament lineup from The Kansas City Star
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles may be out for the season, but there is one place you can find him — in Hallmark stores.
Charles is one of 11 sports figures featured in the Kansas City-based company's Keepsake Ornaments collection for 2015. There are about 400 ornaments in the Keepsake line this year.
Chiefs struggle connecting with fans from The Topeka Capital-Journal
ESPN's annual Ultimate Team Standings of franchises in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL ranked the Chiefs at No. 38 out of 122 teams. That marks a jump of 18 spots from a year ago, and is good for 11th overall in the NFL.
The rankings are determined using a survey of fans, financial information and team performance on the field in eight different categories.