Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/28

Chiefs vs. Bills: Five Things to Watch from The Mothership

2. Can the Chiefs match the Bills physicality?

If there's one common component to a Rex Ryan-led defense, it's physicality.

"I think that's the way they're built," Sutton said of the Bills identity. "I know Rex having worked with him and on all phases of the game, he's going to expect his team to be ready to play as physical as anybody in the league.

"I think they're demonstrating that right now. You know what you're going to get. You know what it's going to take. They're never going to blink, so you can't either. You just have to dig in and get ready for a heck of a fight."

Rookie C Mitch Morse Has Been the Rock For an Ever-Changing Chiefs OL from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs have played in 10 games, and throughout them, the starting offensive line combination has changed five times.

The Chiefs have had different left guards, different right guards, different left tackles and different right tackles.

But they have only had one center, a rookie, and the only player that has played in every single offensive snap in 2015.

His name is Mitch Morse.

"He's getting better every week," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the offensive lineman on Wednesday. "He's still got a ways to go and he'll do that—that's the way he's wired. He'll keep working. If he makes a mistake, he normally doesn't make it twice. I think he's becoming more confident each week."

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

"This is an annual event that we have done since the passing of Derrick (Thomas) [who] started the Third and Long Foundation," said Betty Brown, board president. "Today, we're giving out 452 turkeys to needy families along with the Chiefs and Third and Long and we're going to feed 30-some entities like churches and different organizations."

In addition to the meal distribution, the Chiefs provided a special holiday surprise visit from quarterback Alex Smith, who personally delivered their meals to their door.

KCChiefs.com Video: A Chiefs Thanksgiving Surprise

Chiefs enter playoff picture and look to keep up the momentum from The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs added to their winning streak with a feel-good victory and got itself in playoff position. Momentum was clearly with them.

This season? Yes, as the Chiefs play host to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday looking to add to their four-game streak.

And last season, too.

After 10 games a year ago, the Chiefs were coming off a triumph over the Seattle Seahawks, had put themselves on the playoff bracket and with the same 7-3 record as the Denver Broncos and were wondering about their division title hopes.

Then it fell apart. Four losses in the final six games pushed the Chiefs out of the postseason.

Avoiding a similar fate and continuing on the path of success becomes the objective, and it's easier said than done.

Week 12: Friday injury report from Chiefs Digest

Defensive end Allen Bailey (calf), linebacker Dee Ford (back) and wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas (concussion) are ruled out for Sunday's contest after the trio didn't practice the entire week. Guard Ben Grubbs (neck) was previously ruled out on Wednesday.

The Chiefs have options to handle returner duty with Thomas out. Davis or rookie wide receiver Chris Conley (hand, probable) can handle kick returns, while wide receivers Albert Wilson or Jeremy Maclin could see action as a punt returner.

Chiefs' De'Anthony Thomas ruled out for Sunday from The Kansas City Star

For the Bills, quarterback Tyrod Taylor (right shoulder), safety Bacarri Rambo and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (knee) are listed as probable.

Bills-Chiefs matchup showcases NFL's top rookie CBs Ronald Darby, Marcus Peters from Chiefs Digest

"The kid you've got there from Washington, I loved him when he was coming out," Ryan said. "These are the two best corners in the draft, in my opinion, even though we got Darby in the second round. You'll see. He can flat play. I think it's pretty obvious that these two guys have got a great future in this league."

Ryan makes a strong argument, especially when considering the impact Darby and Peters have on their respective teams.

The 5-11, 193-pound Darby enters Week 12 leading the NFL with 18 passes defensed. He ranks fourth on the Bills in tackles with 50 (45 solo) and is tied at second with two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Peters has 14 passes defensed, which ranks fourth in the league. The 6-0, 197-pound Peters ranks fourth on the Chiefs in tackles with 42 (38 solo) and leads the team with four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

The Game Plan: Countering the Bills from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs have an opportunity this weekend to notch another tiebreaker to their wildcard belt with a win over the Buffalo Bills.

Kansas City has accrued 18 sacks and forced 13 turnovers in the past five weeks, while outscoring opponents 139-30 over the past four weeks. The Bills present some opportunities to enhance those numbers.

Here's how the Chiefs can accomplish a win:

Keys to the game: Bills @ Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

The K.C. defense must keep a cap on McCoy and not let him explode into the offensive picture on Sunday. McCoy will get his yards, the Chiefs just need to make sure he doesn't get extra.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a mobile guy, and he can make positive yardage with his feet. But he also does a good job throwing the ball, completing 68 percent of his passes, with 11 touchdown throws and four interceptions.

The Bills favor their tight end Charles Clay (41 catches, 422 yards, 2 TDs). The Chefs defense has been on an interception spree in recent weeks, and they can push their unit to a winning effort by continuing to take the ball away.

Will Shields to receive Ring of Excellence on Sunday from The Kansas City Star

Enshrined in the Hall in August, Shields will receive his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence in a ceremony during halftime of the Chiefs-Bills game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Chargers' Jahleel Addae fined $23,152 for hit on Chiefs' Jeremy Maclin from Chiefs Digest

San Diego Chargers safety Jahleel Addae's crushing hit on Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in Week 11 didn't draw a penalty flag from the officials.

But the NFL paid attention to the helmet-to-helmet hit and penalized Addae in the pocket.

Vic Carucci's Take Five: Intensity has to be there for Bills from The Buffalo News

Defense must avoid being victimized by the Chiefs' exceptional screen game. Most opponents are liberal in their use of screens against the Bills because of the attack-oriented nature of their front seven. And they tend to have success with it because they're able to take advantage of the over-pursuit by linemen and linebackers.

No quarterback in the NFL is as adept at executing screen passes as Alex Smith, who has ridden many of those high-percentage throws to a streak of 253 attempts without an interception. He has superb feel for the rush, a great sense of timing of just when to make his release, and consistently perfect touch and accuracy that allows the receiver to catch the ball and begin running in one fluid motion.

Chiefs getting healthy as injuries mount for Bills from The Associated Press via The San Francisco Chronicle

During their four-game win streak, the Chiefs have benefited from some of their biggest stars finally getting back to speed. Derrick Johnson is resembling a Pro Bowl linebacker again after he tore his Achilles tendon last season, while Eric Berry likewise looks like a Pro Bowl safety less than a year removed from a cancer diagnosis that required chemotherapy.

While they were still behind early this season, Johnson and Berry are back to anchoring a defense that has helped Kansas City (5-5) climb back into the AFC playoff picture heading into Sunday's game against the Bills (5-5) at Arrowhead Stadium.

Week 12 Preview: Bills at Chiefs from Sports Xchange via WPTZ

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

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.

Bills D Hoping To Build Off Monday Night from My Twin Tiers

The Bills can prove the new and improved defense is no fluke against the new and improved Chiefs. Kansas City has won four in a row behind Alex Smith. He's no Tom Brady, but he has beaten the Bills each of the last three years.

Smith is most effective with short and quick throws, especially to backs and tight ends. It's the Bills top priority.

"Be more patient, get to your spot, get to your zone or if you don't have zone, stay on your man," Robey said. "The ball comes out quick, he doesn't want to make any mistakes so sometimes let's use that against him and try to make him somebody if everybody's where they're supposed to be."

"He has got great athleticism, he can get outside the pocket and extend plays," Stephon Gilmore said of Smith. "But he throws a lot quick game, kind of like Peyton (Manning), but it is a different offense."

Impotent Bills Face Tough Task Against Surging Chiefs from The Niagara Falls Reporter

Unfortunately for Bills fans, this team looks a lot like most Bills teams over the last 15 years when it comes to wins and losses:  not enough wins and too many losses even though the names have changed on the field and off.

There is still no franchise quarterback on this roster and while Taylor has his moments, he looks like a backup trying to carry an offense and he just doesn't have it.  The Bills can't seem to find Sammy Watkins even when he's on the field and whether it is Taylor or the play-calling, it doesn't matter.  He's barely a factor.

The defense had its best game against Brady and the Patriots but defense alone isn't enough in this league, especially one that's inconsistent.  The Bills need to score points to get into playoff hunt and the offense can't seem to deliver against the good teams.

Bold predictions: Palmer leaps over Brady in MVP race from NFL.com

Bills get blown out

The Chiefs have quietly been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last month. Sunday's home game against the Bills is one of the biggest games left on the schedule in the AFC wild-card race, and the Chiefs will send a message with a resounding win on Sunday. Buffalo's defensive line is banged up and the Chiefs running game is on a roll no matter who is carrying the ball. More importantly, the book is out on Tyrod Taylor. The Jets and Patriots have prevented him from getting outside the pocket in consecutive weeks, and blitzed the Bills like crazy. Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton loves to get creative, and the Bills offense has struggled to recognize where pressure is coming from -- Gregg Rosenthal

Mauga records 1st career sack in win over Chargers from The Nevada Appeal

"My interception was very exciting but also a huge relief," Mauga said. "I felt like I got the monkey off my back after dropping the last four dating back to last year."

Mauga, though, has been on a roll since coming back as he recorded his first regular-season interception two weeks ago when he picked off Manning and then recorded his first sack last week, taking down Phillip Rivers.

"All ll I can say is I'm finally on the board," Mauga said about getting his first sack." I don't blitz too often but when I have, I felt like I've gotten closer each time and this past game against the Chargers, it finally happened for me. And a huge reason for that was Dontari Poe. He drew three blocks, which allowed me to run free up the middle."