Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/27

Chiefs Partner with Third and Long for Thanksgiving Food Distribution from The Mothership

On Tuesday, members of the Kansas City Chiefs Community Caring Team, including president Mark Donovan, the Chiefs Rookie Club and the Red Coaters joined forces with volunteers from Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith's Third and Long Foundation to help feed community members in need for Thanksgiving.

The group focused their efforts on assembling goods and loading them onto trucks to be distributed to those considered food insecure throughout the Kansas City area this holiday.

"Today, we're loading up some good stuff for places around town to distribute to people who need food for Thanksgiving," said rookie center Mitch Morse, "everything from a variety of food such as potatoes, eggs, turkeys and just a vast quantity of all of those foods. It's a good time, it's really cool to see."

Chiefs Opponent Preview: Get to Know the Buffalo Bills from The Mothership

Taylor's favorite target in the offense is tight end Charles Clay (60 targets, 41 receptions), but he has scored using eight different receivers this season.

Despite what could be considered a down year for wide receiver Sammy Watkins, he is without a doubt Buffalo's most dangerous weapon.

Running back LeSean McCoy, a player head coach Andy Reid is familiar with from their time together in Philadelphia, serves as the team's primary running back. Karlos Williams, the second string, has 5 touchdowns rushing on the season.

Top Takeaways from Wednesday: Does Tyrod Taylor = Russell Wilson? from The Mothership

Sutton began by talking about what makes rookie cornerback Marcus Peters such a special player.

"I think one of the things that Marcus has done is he's done a great job of improving and trying to understand what we're doing, drilling down on his techniques," Sutton said. "The techniques in practice they're never going to fail you if you keep doing them. They're really important, I think, if you want to have a level of consistency that you need to be a really good player. So I think he's done a really good job of that. Al (Harris) and Emmitt (Thomas) have done a good job of working with him. So I think of all the things, that's it.

"He has some innate skills that are really good. He's highly competitive and he has a really good feel for the game—some of those you can't coach. And he's got a good understanding and feeling of what's happening in the game, what they're doing and all those things. For a young guy, I think that's a real asset for him. I think that's just going to get better and better the more he plays."

Chiefs vs. Bills: Rex Ryan and Bob Sutton Have a History Together from The Mothership

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton knows a little something about Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan.

That's because seven seasons and a team ago, Ryan and Sutton coached together with the New York Jets.

"I think the No. 1 thing is [Ryan] has a great passion for the game," Sutton said. "He loves coaching football and he brings a great energy daily. I think he's got a unique ability to inspire confidence in the players and the coaches around him."

Alex Smith Explains What He Sees in Rex Ryan's Defense from The Mothership

The Buffalo Bills have a tough front seven including two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams.

"That's a really good, really talented group," Smith said. "Then you watch them and they do a ton. Now with that Rex Ryan defense they throw a lot at you, with crazy looks that are all over the place, guys walking around and standing around. Guys are lined up anywhere and everywhere. They give you a lot to prepare for and we'll certainly have to be on it getting ready for this."

QB Series Chapter 25: The Essence of Leadership from The Mothership

Everything Dick Vermeil had said about Trent Green came true.

All of it.

His command of the offense.

His accuracy.

His leadership.

Green's teammates were outspoken about his leadership, and said it repeatedly, from the first day he got there to the day he departed.

Defensive back Ron Parker is Chiefs' ‘ultimate team guy' from The Kansas City Star

Last line of defenders are lumped together as defensive backs, but that generic term fails to explain the specific skill sets of the cornerbacks, safeties and nickel corners.

Ron Parker is an excellent source for this. He's played them all.

"Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I try and do my best," Parker said.

That's a good thing because perhaps no player on the roster has been asked to shift more than Parker.

All-white uniforms have Chiefs looking, feeling good while notching wins from Chiefs Digest

Still, who was the brainchild of changing up the uniform on the road?

"I'll guarantee it didn't come from the chubby guys, that part I'll guarantee you," coach Andy Reid said. "But I don't know. I mean, these guys, uniforms are a thing right now. They're a thing at the college level, they're a thing at this level and hey, that's great, man."

The 6-1 Howard, who weighed 330 pounds in training camp, agreed emphatically with Reid on not being the player to recommend the all-white uniform, which isn't flattering on the big guys.

"On me, I'm like dang, constantly pulling on my shirt making sure my gut's not out," Howard said with a chuckle. "But it's working for us, man, so we'll just continue doing it."

Chiefs' Black Friday shopping list includes comeback award for Eric Berry from ESPN

Any team except the Colts as an opponent in January: The Chiefs haven't been good against any opponent in the playoffs in the past 20 years, but Indianapolis has been a particular problem for them. The Colts own four wins in Kansas City's eight-game postseason losing streak. The Chiefs even had a 28-point third-quarter lead the last time they played against the Colts in January and still couldn't get the job done. So it's best if they try against another opponent.

Chiefs' West, Thomas remain out of practice from The Kansas City Star

For the Bills, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was a limited participant on Thursday with a shoulder injury and is expected to play Sunday.

Week 12: Thursday injury report from Chiefs Digest

Chiefs running back Charcandrick West (hamstring) missed a second straight day of practice, putting his status in the air for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

West suffered the injury in Week 11, and the Chiefs could turn to Spencer Ware or Knile Davis if needed. Ware rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts in relief of West last week.

Chiefs say Spencer Ware will play key role this Sunday from ESPN

The Chiefs have been impressed with Ware since he was promoted from the practice squad last month to take the roster spot vacated by the injured Jamaal Charles. He replaced West in Sunday's game in San Diego and led the Chiefs with 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown in a previous game against the Detroit Lions.

He runs with a type of power the Chiefs' other backs don't have.

Chiefs' Derrick Johnson is a finalist for Rooney Sportsmanship Award from The Kansas City Star

"It would mean so much," Johnson said. "I take a lot of pride doing the right things on and off the field, and that just speaks volumes especially for this team. I got a lot of great guys around me, it makes it easy to fit in with a bunch of good character guys that I have on the team.

"I want to win it, but I'm more so focused on I want it on my team. The guys in this locker room think a lot about me. A lot of guys outside the locker room don't know me, but to win it for the Chiefs, that's big."

Chiefs' Derrick Johnson nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award from Chiefs Digest

It took a congratulatory text message from Johnson's mother, who found out from friends, to make the 11th-year pro fully realize what the buzz was about.

Johnson is one of the 32 players nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, which honors NFL players who "best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition," as announced by the NFL.

"I didn't even know until she hit me up about it, so that was pretty cool," Johnson said of receiving notification from his mother. "A couple of people told her about it, and I definitely told her thank you for everything she's done for me."

Using Jeremy Maclin as returner shows that Chiefs take the job seriously from ESPN

"We're going to play the best players," special-teams coordinator Dave Toub said. "If he's our best punt returner, we can use him. That's the way Andy [Reid] relays everything to me."

Another wide receiver, rookie Chris Conley, replaced Thomas as the kickoff returner in San Diego. The Chiefs might again need alternate returners in Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. Thomas didn't practice Wednesday and Reid said Thomas had yet to pass through the concussion protocol.

Chiefs have no fear, doubt, worry with punter Dustin Colquitt from Chiefs Digest

Dustin Colquitt is in the midst of maybe his finest season in Kansas City and fear, doubt and worry are now sitting on the shoulder of Chiefs opponents. The other guys are losing the field position battle each game because of Colquitt's skills.

The NFL recognized that this week when Colquitt was named the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against San Diego. This came despite the fact he averaged just a fraction over 40 yards on his five punts against the Chargers.

NFL punting is more than kicking the ball as high and far as possible. Colquitt could kick that way and rank among the league leaders. But he's working a different path, and it's all about helping his offense get out of a hole, and giving his defense a chance to bottle up the opposing offense.

Five things to know about Kansas City Chiefs from The Buffalo News

They are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The Chiefs were left for dead in the AFC playoff race after a 1-5 start, but since then have run off four straight wins to put themselves in the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC. Quarterback Alex Smith runs a deliberate offense that aims to chew up the clock. The Chiefs are seventh in the NFL in time of possession, holding the ball for 31:27 per game. Smith has done a good job of taking care of it, too, throwing only three interceptions on the year. During its four-game winning streak, the offense has averaged 32.5 points per game. It also has not turned the ball over - the first time in team history the Chiefs have done that for four straight games.

NFL picks and predictions, Bills vs. Chiefs 2015: Kansas City heavy favorites in Week 12 from SB Nation

Both teams are 5-5 when the Buffalo Bills hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Just a week removed from keeping Tom Brady and the Patriotspretty limited despite a seven-point loss, the Bills are expected to fall to a seemingly unstoppable Chiefs team.

Everyone knew it was going to be good when the Patriots used "Rex Ryan" as an audible against Rex Ryan and the Bills last week, but things just got better when Ryan started throwing his headset around on the sideline. The Bills have all the talent to be successful and have been hit or miss this year, but they've started to show glimpses of potential the past few weeks.

Six Points: Bills vs. Chiefs from FOX Sports

1. Bring heat right up the middle against Taylor

Left guard Richie Incognito is inconsistent and unreliable. Starting right guard John Miller suffered a high-ankle sprain last week in Foxboro. Nose tackle Dontari Poe (24 total tackles) and defensive end Allen Bailey (4 1/2 sacks) should have a field day against a not-so-healthy Taylor.

Buffalo Bills (5-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) from Sports Xchange via Lindy's Sports

PREDICTION: The Bills may be the more physically gifted team, but they also took a physical pounding during Monday night's loss at New England. Traveling again on a short week against a surging Chiefs team proves to be too much as the steady Chiefs wear the Bills down through ball control offense and a defense that can force a steady diet of three-and-outs.

OUR PICK: Chiefs 23-19

Chiefs help provide Thanksgiving meals for hundreds from KCTV5

He is no longer here, but the late Derrick Thomas began a holiday tradition that continues today.

The Chiefs Community Caring Team and volunteers from Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith's Third and Long Foundation joined forces to help feed those in need in the community this Thanksgiving.

The group distributed meals for nearly 1,500 Kansas City homes on Tuesday, continuing the legacy of the Thomas. Rookies and members of the foundation all pitched in, even Thomas' son, Derrion Thomas, who has been helping others since he was a little boy.

This is his way of keeping his father's memory alive.

Thirty-three in a row? Champs can't stop now from The San Francisco Examiner

THE LIST: Ball's best bets against the spread in Week 12 of the NFL season:

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-3 1/2): Wouldn't Alex Smith look good in a 49ers' unie right now?

Top rookie CBs Darby, Peters on display Sunday in KC from WGR 550

When the Bills take on the Chiefs in Kansas City Sunday, there will be a battle going on between two players who won't even be on the field at the same time.

Rookie cornerbacks Ronald Darby of the Bills and Marcus Peters of the Chiefs are both having terrific seasons.  Each will be given serious consideration for the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Darby, the Bills second-round draft pick out of Florida State, has already taken home AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month honors, back in September.  Both players were nominated for the award in September and October.  The November nominees will be announced next week.

Carrington looks like next man up on Bills' defensive line from The Buffalo News

Rex Ryan all but ruled out defensive end Mario Williams from playing in the Buffalo Bills' crucial Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Williams did not practice Thursday for the second straight day, with the coach saying, "We all know what that means."

Williams suffered a foot injury in the Bills' Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots. He was using a scooter Wednesday to get around the Bills' facility. Ryan ruled out a broken foot.

Broncos' defense will take care of Tom Brady. from Philly.com

CHIEFS (-6) over Bills

This story is the tale of two seemingly different teams in the same town. Kansas City came out flatter than a piece of matzo, losing five of the first six. Then Andy Reid worked some magic, and the Chiefs have won and covered four in a row. And since the bye week, KC has outscored the last two opponents, 62-16. The Chiefs can join the 1970 Bengals as the only team to make the playoffs after starting 1-5. None of their final six opponents has a winning record, so rock on, Andy.

With Manziel out, Cleveland looks up from The Boston Herald

KANSAS CITY (-61⁄2) over Buffalo — Tough spot for the Bills, playing their third straight road game off a physical and emotional Monday night loss to the Pats. Lay the points with the hot Chiefs.

Vic Tafur's NFL picks for Week 12 from The San Francisco Chronicle

Bills at Chiefs (-6.5): We got off the Kansas City bandwagon last week because apparently we got tired of easy covers. Can we get back on, please? CHIEFS