Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/15

Chiefs vs. Cardinals: Game Preview from The Mothership

Saturday night's contest against the Arizona Cardinals (0-0) will offer the first glimpse, for both fans and coaches alike, at the new members of the Kansas City roster performing against players in a different uniform.

According to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, every player will have an opportunity to take the field on Saturday.

The first team will play in the first quarter, the second team will play in the second quarter and midway through the third quarter and the third team will handle the rest of the game.

Chiefs vs. Cardinals: How to Watch and Listen from The Mothership

The Chiefs are 8-3-1 all-time against the Cardinals in the series history.

The Chiefs were 3-1-1 against the Cardinals when the franchise was located in St. Louis. After the Chiefs last matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986, there was a nine-year hiatus before Kansas City faced the Arizona Cardinals in 1995. The Chiefs are 5-2 against the Cardinals since they relocated.

Kansas City is 4-3 when playing the Cardinals as the visitor. This will be the Chiefs fifth game playing as the visitor in Arizona. Arizona won the previous meeting as the home team in Week 14 of 2014, 17-14.

The two clubs have never met in postseason play.

Chiefs vs. Cardinals: Trent Green's Five Things to Watch from The Mothership

Even though these preseason games don't count on the final scorecard, many individual jobs are won and lost based on performances in these next four games. Both sides of the ball want to show they can execute properly and the guys want to fly around and make plays.

For the Chiefs, there isn't a shortage of storylines to follow on Saturday night either.

Before he was the color analyst for the NFL on CBS and the Chiefs preseason games, Trent Green was busy throwing touchdowns at Arrowhead Stadium. He currently ranks second in franchise history in passing yards (21,459), touchdowns (118), completions (1,720) and attempts (2,777).

He's well-versed in the game of football and he's got five things to watch in the game on Saturday:

Chiefs Turn Fan's Dream into Reality from The Mothership

Scott Fields had just one goal when he drove five hours to Chiefs training camp Wednesday: meet Eric Berry, the man who inspired him on two separate occasions to beat cancer.

Back in 2013, Scott attended his first game at Arrowhead stadium soon after learning of his first diagnosis with cancer.

It was Berry who stood out to him that day against the Raiders.

Just two years later, Scott would again lean on Berry as motivation. This time not for his tenacity on the football field, but for something far more profound.

Game Day Forecast from The National Weather Service

Saturday Night

A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 89. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.

FOX Sports Video: Eric Fisher, offensive line will be key to Chiefs being contenders and not pretenders

Scenarios to monitor when Chiefs open preseason against Cardinals from Chiefs Digest

A return to football begins Saturday night when the Chiefs travel to Glendale, Ariz., to take on the Cardinals in preseason action.

While there are plenty of position battles yet to be determined, don't expect all of them to be fully settled in the first exhibition game.

The preseason offers an evaluation period for the coaching staff, especially when considering the starters are expected to play the first quarter before giving way to backups.

Contributor Nick Jacobs recently offered five players to watch, but here are five scenarios to also consider:

Five to watch in Chiefs' preseason opener from Chiefs Digest

Most eyes will fall rookie cornerback Marcus Peters, the team's first-round pick, or wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who signed a five-year, $55-million free-agent deal in March.

Starters, however, aren't expected to play beyond the first quarter, meaning the spotlight shifts to backup players battling for a roster spot or extended playing time during the regular season.

Here are five to monitor:

Phillip Gaines need to show his progress vs. Cardinals from ESPN

Gaines came back in the offseason as a different player. He showed a confidence in his ability than hadn't been evident. The result was that Gaines was one of the stars of offseason practice sessions. He has continued his solid play into training camp.

Plenty of offseason and training stars have floundered once the preseason games started. That's why I want to see how Gaines fares in Saturday night's exhibition game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Gaines will be a starter for the Chiefs. He's the cornerback the Chiefs need to be able to count on for the long haul.

Chiefs look for James O'Shaughnessy to prove he's for real vs. Cardinals from ESPN

After releasing veteran Anthony Fasano and losing Demetrius Harris to a broken foot, the Kansas City Chiefs haven't done much to fortify at tight end behind starter Travis Kelce.

The reason is rookie James O'Shaughnessy, their fifth-round pick from Illinois State. The Chiefs are counting on him to be their second tight end, at least until Harris returns after having a second surgery on his foot in May.

Preseason is warm-up for new Cardinals DC James Bettcher, too from ESPN

The Arizona Cardinals' preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs will be James Bettcher's first game as defensive coordinator. He's spent the last three seasons coaching outside linebackers for the Colts and Cards, but now he's overseeing an entire unit. And he'll do it from the field, Arians said.

"It's a practice run for [coaches] also," coach Bruce Arians said. "Especially defensively with a new voice on top and all the guys on the sideline, him hearing them calling the game, them shutting up and letting him call the game.

"I might click over more this time to see how much chatter is on that side of the ball just to help Bettch out a little bit."

Chiefs figure to sit several ailing players in exhibition opener from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Linebacker is the position where they are most banged up. Former first-round pick Dee Ford is still out from a concussion, Josh Mauga left practice Wednesday with a bum heel, D.J. Alexander is hobbled by an ankle injury and James-Michael Johnson has a calf injury.

That means rookies Ramik Wilson and Justin March could get considerable time.

Chiefs backup quarterback Aaron Murray to put progress to the test in preseason opener at Arizona from The Kansas City Star

Some credit for Aaron Murray's big day at practice on Wednesday, the Chiefs' final workout at camp before Saturday's preseason opener at Arizona, goes to the men he wants to supplant: Alex Smith and Chase Daniel.

"I've been taking what they've taught me over the past year, Alex and Chase and the coaches, and have applied it in practice, and it's up to me to take advantage of it," Murray said.

Why would the quarterbacks ahead of Murray on the Chiefs' depth chart lend a helping hand, and in essence risk their positions? This is how the process works.

Native American anti-mascot rally planned at Saturday's Arizona Cardinal's game from The Arizona Republic

The organizers are emphasizing that theirs will be a peaceful, respectful event and have been working with the police and private security to ensure everyone stays safe.

This is necessary because at some Washington games, Native Americans have been threatened with murder and assault and have had beers and other objects thrown at them. Advocates have been trained to use cellphones to record their experiences.

The Arizona coalition also urges fans to refrain from painting their faces red, wearing costume headdresses or other Native-themed apparel. The coalition is requesting a meeting with Arizona Cardinals management to talk about banning such practices.

O'Brien's decision on QB needs to come sooner than later from The Houston Chronicle

The Texans' first snap in Saturday's exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers will go to Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer. Whoever takes the first snap is the leader in the race to become the first-team quarterback. Period.

Unfortunately for O'Brien and the Texans, it is a race.

This quarterback competition has taken too long. I'm tired of writing about it; O'Brien's tired of reading about it.

It is not a good thing that Mallett and Hoyer are tied for first after this much time, which includes an entire offseason program and two weeks of training camp.

Which player from each team will have a breakout fantasy season? from ESPN

Albert Wilson. The wide receiver won't often be featured in a Kansas City offense that also offers Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles as options. But Wilson flashed some potential when he broke into the lineup late last season by averaging more than 16 yards per catch. Wilson has big-play ability and could be a bargain as a later-round pick. -- Adam Teicher