Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/7

Andy Reid and Travis Kelce Agree; Chiefs Plan Moving Forward is Simple from The Mothership

It's going to take work.

It's really that simple for one very easy and straightforward reason—the pieces needed to get back on track are already in place.

"There's a tremendous amount of urgency in our building to get this thing right," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on "Kingdom Live" with the "Voice of the Chiefs," Mitch Holthus, on Monday night. "There are a lot of people involved in this—players and coaches working together to try and make sure we come out with wins.

"The one thing I know is we'll continue to battle and get better. We have the right guys here to do that. That's why I like this football team."

Marcus Peters Earns Defensive Player Honor from NFL Network Analyst from The Mothership

The folks over at NFL.com have put together their awards for the first quarter of the season and there was one prominent name on the list that would be of interest to Chiefs Kingdom.

According to NFL Network analyst and former defensive back Bucky Brooks, Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Marcus Peters is the winner of the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award for the first four games of the season.

Around the AFC West: TE Antonio Gates Returns to the San Diego Chargers from The Mothership

After serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, tight end Antonio Gates returned to the Chargers Monday.

At the podium, head coach Mike McCoy said he was confident Gates would come back to the team in outstanding shape.

"He works so hard and he has so much pride and he's a pro," McCoy said. "He'll come back in great shape. He'll be ready to go. I'm sure he's going to have some ideas for us on what we can do and go from there. We're happy to have him back."

Are things as bad as they seem for the Chiefs? from ESPN

The Chiefs have played the NFL's most difficult schedule to date, based on the combined record of their four opponents (13-3).

So maybe things aren't as bad as they look for the Chiefs, who play their second game of the season at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday against the 1-3 Chicago Bears.

ESPN Analytics crunched the numbers and came up with some interesting ones for the Chiefs and the outlook for the remainder of the season.

The Chiefs were ranked as the NFL's 14th best team, despite their 1-3 record. They're predicted to finish with a record of 8-8.

Jamaal Charles is getting the ball enough from ESPN

Between catches and carries, Charles is on pace to get the ball 316 times. That would leave him 13 short of the career mark he set in 2013, or about one touch per game short.

"He had a couple catches for us that were pretty good and had opportunities for a couple others that would've pretty good too," coach Andy Reid said. "So as much as we move him around, I'm OK with [11 carries in each of the last two games]. I'm for whatever it takes to do well."

The last two games haven't been ideal for the Chiefs to get Charles involved as a runner. They never led in either game and in fact trailed much of the time in both.

Chiefs are still No. 18 in ESPN Power Rankings from ESPN

But that team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is 18th in this week's poll. That's down six spots from last week yet the Chiefs are the highest-ranked team with just one win and ahead of three teams with better records.

Voters are obviously taking the Chiefs' difficult schedule into account.

NFL 2015 Week 5 Lines: Point Spreads, Totals And Complete Betting Odds From Las Vegas from The International Business Times

After winning their fourth straight game to start the season, the Packers are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs as the biggest favorites of the week. The Packers are giving 9.5 points to the St. Louis Rams, who upset the undefeated Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. Even with a 1-3 record, the Chiefs are 9.5-point favorites when they host the Chicago Bears, who got their first win of the season in Week 4 when Jay Cutler returned from injury.

Real Talk: One win doesn't change everything, but Bears' confidence growing from The Chicago Tribune

Campbell: It's important to note that the Bears' progress would be evident this week even if Gould's 49-yarder had sailed wide. Sunday's victory was a relief for the team in that it provided a clearer indication, but the process is playing out more or less on schedule thanks to some good coaching and players who respond to it.

A 1-3 record through four games seemed realistic once the schedule was released. So let's see how this continues against some more evenly matched opponents and perhaps with some healthier key players. Throw in some Kansas City barbecue this weekend and the upcoming off week, and the next month is looking up.

Wiederer: See you at Jack Stack, then. Kansas City, here we come.

Sports Illustrated Podcast: Audibles Podcast: Analyzing the illegal bat, plus the woes of kickers, Chiefs

Facing their own deadline, owners offer diverging views on how to return NFL to L.A. from The Los Angeles Times

But the clock is winding down on the NFL's stated goal of making a decision in time to have professional football in the L.A. market by next season. And, although many owners are cryptic about which way they're leaning, clearly opinions are beginning to solidify.

Jones has lavishly praised the deep-pocketed Kroenke before for his willingness to be bold and take a risk on L.A., much the way Jones took a risk when he bought the Cowboys in 1989, in the aftermath of the Texas oil bust.

"Lamar Hunt stood up in an owners' meeting — and I was so proud when he said it," Jones said, referring to the late owner of the Kansas City Chiefs. "He said, 'The biggest risk I've ever seen in sports is Jerry Jones when he bought the Dallas Cowboys.' ... I was intoxicated and blind with passion, and I wanted to be involved in the NFL and I wanted the Cowboys, and I ignored that. That's to me the passion that moves mountains. That's the thing that gets it done.

"Los Angeles is the deserving market and has been without the NFL so long, that if we have an opportunity to do something like that out there... ownership that will make that kind of commitment, if we have that, we've got to take it."

Wednesday NFL preview: Why Le'Veon Bell could have a big week from ESPN

Though the Chiefs have a need for a nickel cornerback, third-round draft pick Steven Nelson has been inactive for the first four games. "He's a rookie,'' coach Andy Reid said. "He still is learning. That's understandable.'' The Chiefs will continue to evaluate Nelson in practice, and he'll make his debut if Reid and the defensive coaches feel he is ready. -- Adam Teicher

These NFL teams are a mess, and it's only week 5 from KSHB

In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs came in looking for their third-straight winning season under head coach Andy Reid, but some unfortunate timing is putting that in jeopardy.

"Looks like the Chiefs season is in shambles right now. They're 1-3, but their season's not over. First of all, their three losses came to teams that are combined 12-0," KSHB's Frank Boal said.

Fantasy football studs for Week 5: Return of the Maclin from USA Today

1. WR Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears
$7,200 salary | 14.4% of cap

The 11th most expensive wideout is our top-ranked point-per-reception receiver. That's enough of a profit to make sure he's in every one of your FantasyScore lineups. Chicago ranks 10th in average PPR points per game yielded to wide receivers. Maclin and Alex Smith have perfected their connection the last two games, going 19-f0r-25 on attempts while Maclin averaged 9.5 catches and 144.5 receiving yards.

Roethlisberger denies report he's targeting Oct. 25 return from WPXI

Earlier this week, NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported that Roethlisberger was targeting the Chiefs game as his return.

Speaking on his weekly radio show Tuesday, Roethlisberger denied that report.

"That did not come from me, the Steelers or any of our doctors," Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers host the Chiefs four weeks to the day from when No. 7 suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and bone bruise to his left leg.

Column: Ravens can survive without receiver Smith from The Frederick News-Post

The coming schedule might help as much as the early schedule hurt the Ravens. Future opponents that looked good in the preseason, such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, are struggling. Jacksonville is in its usual sorry state.

The NFL is all about parity. On any given Sunday, one team can be as bad as another. But if you have a good quarterback, you always have a chance to win.

Even if the star wide receiver is missing.

Reading the Defense: Week 5 IDP fantasy preview from NFL.com

Week 4 sleeper

Jarvis Jenkins, DL, Chicago Bears: We've spent so much of the early season picking on the Bears that it's about time to hand out some positives. Jenkins has played well in the last couple of weeks and racked up all three of his sacks in the last two games. The Chiefs offensive line has been a mess so far, allowing 17 sacks. Don't be surprised if Jenkins stays hot at the expense of Alex Smith and the Kansas City offense.

Gosselin's NFL rankings: Why Giants, Redskins, Raiders are better than Cowboys from The Dallas Morning News

22. Kansas City. The Chiefs have allowed a league-high 11 TD passes this season. That's half as many as all of 2014 when KC ranked second in the NFL in pass defense.

John McClain's Week 5 NFL power rankings from The Houston Chronicle

21. Kansas City 1-3 (16): The Chiefs have struggled because of a difficult schedule that eases up considerably with a home game against Chicago.

WGN Radio Podcast: Intentional Grounding, Episode 10: MNF Officiating, Bears-Raiders Recap, & Week 5 Preview