Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/31

Six Takeaways from London Media Availability Friday from The Mothership

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid commented on playing in London this Sunday.

"I think there will be a number of people from Kansas City that will be here, but I think just the fans from London, they enjoy the sport," he said. "Soccer, we know, is the number one sport and we appreciate soccer, but there's a mutual respect there, I think, for American football. For them to continue to invite us over here to play, I think it's a great thing for the sport. It's a great thing for the fans."

Houston and Stafford's Georgia Connection Highlight's Sunday's Game from The Mothership

Former Chiefs

Detroit quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter (2012) served as the offensive quality control coach for the Kansas City Chiefs for a single season.

Lions senior coaching advisor Gunther Cunningham (1995-00) contributed to the Chiefs success in the late 90's. He served as the defensive coordinator from 1995-98 and was later promoted to head coach of the Chiefs for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Kansas City went 16-16 (.500) during his time. Cunningham later returned to Kansas City from 2004-08 to serve as the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs.

Detroit running backs coach Curtis Modkins (2008) served in the same role in Kansas City.

Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Announced from The Mothership

The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced its Class of 2016 today. Six inductees were selected from a list of 25 Finalists who had been determined earlier by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.

The Class of 2016 includes Ken Burrough (Texas Southern University), Jethro Pugh (Elizabeth City State University), Otis Taylor (Prairie View A&M University), Emmitt Thomas (Bishop College), Aeneas Williams (Southern University) as player inductees and Lloyd "Judge" Wells (Kansas City Chiefs' Scout) as a contributor.

Chiefs tired after nine-hour flight, but enthusiasm is up from The Kansas City Star

But while the coach's decision to leave for London on Thursday night instead of earlier in the week like the Lions, who left Monday, may have been the best way to keep his team's routine as normal as possible, the overall success of the plan won't be known until the game is over.

By the sound of it, however, Friday's practice — which was held at 3:30 p.m. London time, several hours after their plane touched down that morning — was a good one.

"We tried to keep it, as far as the meeting schedule goes, very similar to what we do back home," said Reid, whose team left Kansas City at 7 p.m. Thursday. "We practiced earlier, but I wanted to make sure we got the meetings here today and not last night. It worked out well, the guys had a good practice."

Week 8: Friday injury report from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs released the final injury report from London with no surprises ahead of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium.

And the only major question surrounded who will start for left guard Ben Grubbs, whom the Chiefs on Thursday ruled as out with a neck injury.

"We're rotating a couple folks in there," coach Andy Reid told reporters in London.

Reid, however, was coy as to the player filling in for Grubbs when pressed by the media.

Chiefs have options to replace Ben Grubbs at guard from The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs have some options. Starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif spent most of last season practicing at left guard, while Zach Fulton — who started three games at right guard this year — started all 16 games on the right side last year.

Meanwhile, starting right tackle Jeff Allen was a 14-game starter at left guard in 2013. If the Chiefs were to move him inside, they could start Donald Stephenson or Jah Reid at right tackle.

Chiefs fans gather in London to party on the team's tab from ESPN

More than 4,000 miles from Kansas City, Jon Cartwright lifted his pint of London Pride Ale in a toast to the Kansas City Chiefs.

He wasn't alone. Hundreds of Chiefs fans from all over the world -- England, Spain, Canada, other parts of the United States and, of course, Kansas City -- had come to party with their favorite NFL team.

It was all being paid for by the Chiefs, who wanted to reward their ticket holders who were coming to London for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium.

So the Chiefs took over a pub, The Admiralty, in London's Trafalgar Square.

Chiefs land in London to face Lions as official 'home' team from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs, renowned for their high-decibel fans and enviable home-field advantage, are about to play their strangest "home" game in team history -- in front of 84,000 mostly English spectators 4,300 miles (7,000 kilometers) from Arrowhead Stadium.

Sunday's Wembley Stadium matchup with the Detroit Lions (1-6) marks the latest chapter in the NFL's ambitious effort to build a popular British base for American football, and for the Chiefs (2-5) it will be their first regular-season game played on foreign soil.

Game coming easier to Chiefs' Steven Nelson as he grows at nickel position from Chiefs Digest

Rookie cornerback Steven Nelson could have gone into a shell the first four games of the regular season.

The Chiefs' second of two third-round picks in May's NFL Draft was a healthy inactive, but sulking over lack of playing time simply isn't Nelson's style.

Instead, Nelson embraced the period while transitioning to the nickel cornerback position and the defensive scheme.

The educational process paid off with Nelson seeing live action since Week 5, and he is grateful the first month of the season allowed him an opportunity to grow.

Chiefs-Lions scouting report from The Kansas City Star

Bottom line: Chiefs 23-20

Both these teams have failed to meet expectations, but the Chiefs have the better team on paper and should be in a better mental state than the Lions, who are dealing with the drama surrounding coach firings. Unless Stafford gets hot — and yes, that's a possibility — the Chiefs should win this game.

Keys to the game: Lions @ Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Chiefs continue to wait for a game changing play from the kicking game, something bigger than Cairo Santos' seven field goals or Dustin Colquitt's continued excellence in punting.

Coordinator Dave Toub needs to squeeze a touchdown return out of De'Anthony Thomas or Knile Davis. If not there, they need to get their hands on a punt or field goal; blocked kicks are always good for turning a game's momentum.

So far the special teams have been ordinary, and that's not good enough for the 2015 Chiefs.

NFL Week 8 predictions: Nation likes Broncos over Packers, split on Bengals-Steelers from ESPN

LIONS VS. CHIEFS

Detroit Lions: The Lions understand what it takes to play overseas, having done it last year, and made the intelligent move to head over earlier in the week than Kansas City. But ... the Lions have a new offensive coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter, who has never called plays at any level. And they still have the same offensive line that allowed Matthew Stafford to be pummeled last week. The new run game coordinator, Curtis Modkins, also has never officially called plays. So it is next to impossible to responsibly take a team with that much uncertainty against a defense that has held its past three opponents to less than 20 points. Chiefs 23, Lions 17. -- Michael Rothstein

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs' long drought in forcing turnovers is finished. They have forced nine turnovers this season, including five in the past two weeks. The Lions have committed 18 turnovers, most in the league. These trends will continue and allow the Chiefs to win their second consecutive game. Chiefs 27, Lions 20. -- Adam Teicher

NFL Week 8 Picks: The Weight of the Interim Label from Grantland

CHIEFS (-4) over Lions (in London)

Kansas City's defense is finally coming around after an ugly start to the season. The Chiefs allowed 30-plus points in three straight games, but given that those performances came against the Broncos, Packers, and Bengals, you can understand why the points were flowing. (The Broncos supplemented their haul with a return touchdown.) Over their past three games, with the likes of Sean Smith (suspension), Dontari Poe (back surgery), and Eric Berry (recovery from chemotherapy) rounding into form, they've allowed a total of 47 points to the Bears, Vikings, and Steelers. Opposing offenses scored touchdowns on 11 of their 12 trips to the red zone during that ugly three-game opening stretch; in the three ensuing games, they've scored just three touchdowns in eight tries.

Week 8 NFL picks: Lions lose to Chiefs in London, Packers stay undefeated from The Washington Post

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs

Detroit fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi this week, but will have to improve significantly to get their second win of the season. Offensively the Lions score the fifth lowest points per drive (1.6) while allowing the second highest on defense (2.4).

Winner: Kansas City Chiefs 64.5 percent

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs -5.5

Lions injury report: Waddle questionable for Sunday from The Detroit Free Press

Linebacker DeAndre Levy, who's likely out for the season following hip surgery, is the only starter who has been ruled out for the game, while right tackle LaAdrian Waddle is questionable with a knee injury.

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who has missed the last two games with knee and elbow injuries, is expected back after being limited in practice earlier this week. Cornerback Josh Wilson will return after clearing concussion protocol. And wide receiver Calvin Johnson (rest) and cornerback Rashean Mathis (illness) will play after missing some practice time this week.

National picks: Big day for Lions' Ameer Abdullah? from The Detroit Free Press

Orr writes: "While a portion of the city will be captivated when Fulham skipper Kit Symons takes his gang across town to face Bristol City, Abdullah will certainly make the highlights on Sky Sports. The versatile Lions back has been plagued by fumbling issues and, as a function of his haphazard offense, has not been used to the best of his ability. That all changes this weekend, when the Lions ride him to victory over the Chiefs."

As for our usual national NFL prognosticators, they're split on what difference new offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter will make to the Lions, but they seem to be leaning toward the Chiefs on Sunday:

Agent's Take: Megatron to the Panthers, and 6 more bold trade ideas from CBS Sports

Any team with fewer than three wins that isn't in the AFC South or NFC East, the NFL's weakest divisions, should recognize that a playoff berth isn't realistic. Most of these teams, which include the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers, have less than a five percent of making the playoffs, according to Football Outsiders. The Kansas City Chiefs have the best chance of the group at 13.6 percent.

Here are several bold trading deadline moves that NFL teams should consider if adopting more of a MLB/NBA approach. A team acquiring a player will only be responsible for 9/17th of his 2015 base salary and any other applicable salary components in his contract.

The Playbook: A complete guide to Week 8 action around the NFL from Sports Illustrated

Only for the masochists

Lions at Chiefs (9:30 AM, FOX)

As much as people have been wondering about Andy Reid's future in Kansas City... is there a more lost and directionless team in the NFL now than the Lions? New offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter (no, really), replacing the recently fired Joe Lombardi, must find a way to get his underperforming charges going against a still-hot Chiefs defense. Good luck with that, Jim Bob. —DF

De'Anthony Thomas seems pretty stoked to have 80 pounds from SB Nation

80 POUNDS, BABY! $122.73 just sitting there on De'Anthony Thomas' table, covered in little tiny queens. If he gave you a pound, he could still give a pound to 79 friends. Have you ever had a couple 10 pound notes? DE'ANTHONY THOMAS HAS MORE THAN THAT, BOZO!

Cairo Santos always dreamed of getting his kicks at Wembley... but Brazilian did not think it would be for the Kansas City Chiefs! from The Daily Mail

This year's raft of NFL regular season games at Wembley concludes with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But for one player, stepping out onto the famous turf at the home of football means just that bit more.

'I grew up playing soccer my entire life,' Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos explained.

'I always worshipped the No 10 jersey of Brazil, the famous yellow shirt, and dreamed of playing in a World Cup or something like every kid does,' he said.

Santos was a handy footballer too, representing Fluminense Under 15s. He then moved to Florida, away from his hugely competitive home country, to see if he could become a professional.

Despite receiving offers of a scholarship from two schools, Santos discovered his skills translated well to kicking field goals. He fell in love with American football and made it his goal to get to the highest level possible. That decision has been vindicated.

Brazilian realizes dream of playing at Wembley, but as NFL player from O Tempo [translated from the original Portuguese]

The Kansas City Chiefs is an irregular campaign so far. In seven games, he has only two wins. Next Sunday, the victory is essential to stand firm in the fight for a spot in the playoffs.

"It's an amazing thing. Everyone is kind of shocked here, because we have a good team has talent, but the way we've been losing hurts a bit. Against Denver and Chicago were in the lead and in the end they managed to win . But it has more games and we have many chances to win and recover, "he said.

The player, in turn, is going through a very good time. 49 kicks for field goals in 23 matches in the NFL, he hit 40. And never missed an extra point of 51 -51.

In defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals, on 4 October, he made all 21 points of the team.

KC native brings KC bbq to NYC from KCTV5

There's a list of folks who can eat for free at John Brown's. It contains people like The Pope and Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger. Bowen said all Royals players are now on the list.

And, one last note-Sunday morning when the Chiefs play the Lions in London, John Brown Smokehouse will be showing the game live.