Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/19

13 Takeaways from Wednesday's Media Availability from The Mothership

Reid also touched upon how the Chiefs defense can continue to improve after five weeks of continued success.

"There are individual things that we can all get better at, right?" Reid said. "So, I would tell you, we can do that [with] communication. This group here is going to test you on a lot of different formations and looks and the ball is going to come out quickly. It's another test that's going to be presented to you and how well you prepared. He's going to study your technique and your fundamentals, have you worked on those? How sharp are you against the different looks they're going to give you? Each week, you can grow and get better at those things, and it kind of goes that way throughout your career as a player. You're never satisfied and you've never perfected the thing all the way down until you retire, then you become an expert (laughing)."

Chiefs Kingdom Food Drive Kicked Off Tuesday at Harvesters from The Mothership

The Chiefs called upon their wide receivers to help begin the drive with that initial bulk load. The volunteers of Harvesters, of course, were delighted to have the Chiefs help out with the cause.

"In one word: excitement," described Valerie Nicholson-Watson, the president and CEO of Harvesters. "It is exciting for staff, it is exciting for the other volunteers who are here. It's such an awareness builder when you have an entity in your city such as a professional sports team, and we love our Chiefs.

"When they get behind an effort, you know it's going to be successful. All of their fans will get behind it, so we are really expecting a great food drive and a great game come next Sunday."

Avant: Conley and Wilson Share a Trait That's Rare For Most Young Receivers from The Mothership

When asked about what has been the leading difference between last year's receivers and this year's unit, Wilson explained the key has been a shift in approach.

"I think we just have an attitude out there now that we're just coming in and not taking anything from anybody," he said. "At practice, no matter what type of practice it is, we come in with that mindset that we're going to work today and get the best of it."

QB Series Chapter 24: A New Coach, A New QB from The Mothership

Dick Vermeil and Trent Green were made for one another. No quarterback for the Chiefs ever had a more supportive head coach than Vermeil, or needed one at least at first in Kansas City. No coach ever had a more perfect quarterback to run his offense than Green, and run it he did with such precision that it became one of the most proficient scoring machines in NFL history for a time.

Vermeil had returned to head coaching, not to rebuild a team, but to make one more run at a championship with a team that he was led to believe still had a chance.

It was another new offensive system, and one in need of a quarterback who could run it. There was no time to lose, Vermeil believed, and Green would be the best person to run it.

Chiefs' season turned when turnovers stopped from The Kansas City Star

Everything is working for the Chiefs. They're scoring, stopping scoring, winning the field position battle, you name it and the Chiefs are making it work in a three-game winning streak.

They've also excelled at not making mistakes.

In a matter of a few weeks, the Chiefs, 4-5, have gone from a giveaway team to a takeaway team, and they travel to San Diego on Sunday tied for second in the NFL in turnover ratio at plus-eight.

That matches the undefeated Carolina Panthers and trails only the New York Giants at plus-12.

Everybody is contributing on both sides.

Alex Smith's streak without pick helped spark Chiefs' winning streak from ESPN

Smith hasn't often loaded his team on his back and carried it to a victory with his passing during his NFL career. Such wins since he joined the Chiefs in 2013 don't exist.

But he's also rarely taken his teams out of games with turnovers. Since an early-season loss to the Denver Broncos, in which Smith threw two costly interceptions, Smith has been very good in that regard again this year. Just one percent of his passes have been intercepted, which is third-best in the league behind Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

Week 11: Wednesday injury report from Chiefs Digest

Starting left guard Ben Grubbs (neck), defensive end Allen Bailey (calf), linebacker Tamba Hali (knee) and cornerback Sean Smith (knee) did not practice Wednesday.

Grubbs, in particular, has already been ruled out for Week 11's game.

The Chiefs continue to take it easy on Hali during the part of practice much in the same fashion from past weeks.

Chiefs' Ben Grubbs to miss third straight game with neck injury from Chiefs DIgest

And given the region of the injury, it remains unclear if Grubbs, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will return to action in the near future.

"Well, we don't (know)," coach Andy Reid said. "But he is making progress and that's a good thing as far as soreness or any of that."

Reid, however, appeared optimistic while cautioning Grubbs' status will depend on medical results.

Four Chiefs starters miss practice Wednesday; Ben Grubbs ruled out from The Kansas City Star

Chargers injuries

Receiver Malcom Floyd (shoulder) and tight end Ladarius Green (ankle), two contributors to the Chargers' offense, did not practice.

Guard D.J. Fluker (illness), guard Orlando Franklin (knee), tight end Antonio Gates (knee), defensive tackle Corey Liuget (foot) and inside linebacker Manti Te'o (ankle) all practiced in a limited fashion. All are starters.

Charcandrick West makes plea for more Twitter followers, and it works from ESPN

It did. West picked up about 3,000 followers in about three hours after posting the tweet, which was retweeted more than 1,000 times in that span.

West, who about a month ago was as anonymous as an NFL running back could be, burst into the spotlight when he replaced the injured Jamaal Charles as the Kansas City Chiefs' featured back. In the four games since, West has become something of a sensation. He has rushed for more than 300 yards and scored four touchdowns.

The ever-smiling West, who has yet to meet a person he doesn't like, is made for social media.

Chiefs' Knile Davis remains upbeat, prepared for his next opportunity from The Kansas City Star

Chiefs running back Knile Davis wants to play. He believes he's shown he can contribute to the team and is convinced he will prove it again.

But until that day comes, Davis, who was a healthy scratch for the Chiefs' 29-13 win over the Denver Broncos, has a plan for handling what has, thus far, been a tough year.

"Man, I've been good, I've just been staying ready, man," Davis said. "And whenever my opportunity comes, I'm going to be ready to take advantage of it. Just right now, I'm keeping my head up, keeping a good attitude."

Not that it has been easy.

DL David King has plenty of familiar faces to help fit in with Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

"I'm surrounded by Sooners," said King, who played collegiately at Oklahoma. "(Long snapper) James (Winchester) texted me yesterday and offered up a bedroom in his house for me to stay in. I talked to (offensive lineman) Donald (Stephenson) and (cornerback) Jamell (Fleming)."

Stephenson said he didn't know the Chiefs claimed King off waivers until they saw each other Wednesday morning.

The offensive lineman said he was initially surprised, but believes King will be nice addition to the team.

The Chiefs and Philip Rivers have had an intense rivalry from ESPN

The first game San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers started against the Kansas City Chiefs set the tone for what would become a rather intense rivalry.

On Oct. 22, 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium, Rivers was 25-of-43 for 266 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He guided the Chargers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally from a 14-point deficit only to see his team lose when the Chiefs' Lawrence Tynes kicked a 53-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to give Kansas City a 30-27 victory.

Including that game, Rivers is 12-6 against the Chiefs with eight of those 18 games being decided by a field goal or less.

Chiefs' Jekyll-or-Hyde defense has been getting it done lately from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

There have been two entirely different versions of the Chiefs' defense this season: Really good and really bad.

That doesn't necessarily sit well with coach Andy Reid, who craves consistency above just about all else.

But with the Chiefs riding a three-game win streak and back in playoff contention, he may have to settle for hoping "really good" shows up more often than the alternative.

KANSAS CITY AT SAN DIEGO from CBS Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs ended San Diego's postseason hopes in last year's finale, but its first matchup with the Chargers this season comes against a team that's well out of playoff contention.

The surging Chiefs will try to send their AFC West rivals to a sixth consecutive loss while earning their fourth straight win Sunday.

San Diego needed only a win at Kansas City on Dec. 28, but lost 19-7 to finish 9-7 and one game behind Baltimore for the AFC's final berth. The Chiefs also finished 9-7 but needed losses from two other teams to make the postseason.

Scouting Report: Chargers vs. Chiefs from Chargers.com

On Defense for the Chiefs

One year after coming within 0.5 sacks of tying the all-time mark for a single season, Justin Houston continues to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.  The outside linebacker ranks fourth in the NFL with 7.5 sacks.  Tamba Hali continues to be a dynamic bookend rushing the passer with 3.5 of his own, but defensive end Allen Bailey currently ranks second on the squad with 4.5.  Meanwhile, Derrick Johnson leads the way with 50 tackles while dynamic rookie Marcus Peters' four picks are tied for the third most in the league.

Vegas pick'em: NFL Week 11 winners against the spread from The Las Vegas Sun

San Diego Chargers plus-3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs The Chargers were among the most beat-up teams in the league, and should get a legion of players back off of the injury report after a bye week. The Chiefs' five-game losing streak straight-up and against the spread that stretched into last month counts as much as their current three consecutive covers and wins.

Prisco's Week 11 NFL Picks: Cardinals beat Bengals, Packers sack Vikes from CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) at San Diego Chargers (2-7)
Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Chiefs are playing consecutive road games after beating up on the Broncos, while the Chargers are coming of a bye. The Kansas City defense was really good last week. This time, though, Philip Rivers will have success down the field against them. San Diego takes it.

The Pick: Chargers 28, Chiefs 27