clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs playoff clinch scenarios, turnover margin and Super Bowls

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Kansas City Chiefs can clinch playoff berth with win Sunday | ESPN

The NFL confirmed that the 10-3 Kansas City Chiefs can clinch a playoff spot this weekend in any of five scenarios. The simplest is for the Chiefs to beat the 7-6 Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Do that and they’re in, regardless of what happens in any other games.

WR Chris Conley is on the verge of breaking through with Chiefs | The Kansas City Star

The reason he is a more complete and developed human being than he yet is as a football player starts with the fact that he didn't play the game until ninth grade.

"My parents wanted their (three) kids to be well-rounded, and they wanted their kids to know how to operate and carry themselves in other circles," Conley said in a series of recent interviews. "It was not anything against sports; it just wasn't time for that yet.

"So I was a straight-A student all the way through (to ninth grade), because that's all I did."

Remembering Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt’s life and legacy, 10 years after his death | The Kansas City Star

Lamar Hunt, the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs, the man who named the Super Bowl and a guy who once tried to buy Alcatraz, called the cell phone a couple of years ago when my wife and I were in the doctor's office with our oldest daughter.

"Is she all right?" he asked with grave concern in his voice.

"Oh. Yes, she's fine. It's just a regular checkup."

"Well, you take care of her. I can wait. If you would be kind enough to call me back later, that would be great." And he hung up the phone so quietly that I was not entirely sure he had gone.

Mellinger Minutes: Chiefs experiment, Royals frustration, whole wings and paying Eric Berry | The Kansas City Star

▪ If the Chiefs hold pace, this will be the fourth time in six years that Alex Smith's team has finished in the top three in turnover margin.

▪ All but two of 15 teams made the playoffs, and seven of the 13 made it to at least the conference championship.

▪ In four of the five years, one of the top three teams in turnovers played in the Super Bowl, and I believe the Chiefs are better than the Vikings and Raiders.

Chiefs receivers impart wisdom, knowledge upon high school players during ‘Catch A Break’ fund dinner | fox4kc.com


"Catch A Break" is program that started this year. The program aims to help folks catch a break from financial hardship. At the beginning of the season, Conley and Wilson pledged $100 dollars for every reception made during a game. As of Monday night, their contribution stood at $6,500.

Chiefs worked out linebackers with Derrick Johnson out for season | ProFootballTalk

Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports that the team worked out James LaurinaitisJasper Brinkley, Miles Burris, Jayson DiManche, Nate Irving and Nick Moody. All six have multiple years of experience in the NFL, but Laurinaitis is the only one who has seen action in the regular season this year. Laurinaitis played five games for the Saints early in the season, but was released from injured reserve recently.

Chiefs open up as favorites vs. Titans | Arrowhead Addict

According to oddsmakers, the Chiefs are either a five or six-point favorite for their game against Tennessee on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Considering the home team is always spotted a field goal, Kansas City is basically believed to be a couple points better on a neutral field.

Chiefs' Tyreek Hill continues to dazzle in primetime | AP

"I mean, I didn't know," Hill said. "That's great. But I'm not the only one on that field doing it. Without those guys blocking for me and Alex throwing me the rock, none of that stuff would happen."

NFL Week 15 picks: Buccaneers will stun the Cowboys, Giants top the Lions | CBSSports.com

After watching the Chiefs play for the past five weeks, I'm pretty much in shock that this team is 10-3 and not 7-6. Every time I think the Chiefs are going to lose, they find some impossible way to win late in the fourth quarter.

Kidney stones sidelined Oakland Raiders LG Kelechi Osemele vs. Chiefs | ESPN

"It started around 2 in the morning," Osemele said. "It’s pretty painful (stuff). I wouldn’t wish that on anybody." Osemele said he tried to sleep off the pain Wednesday night at the team hotel in Kansas City with no success. And after being examined by team doctors, he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Video: Chiefs receiver Chris Conley on superpowers | The Kansas City Star

Titans vs. Chiefs: 5 burning questions

But the bye week, and Denver’s top-rated passing defense, put an end to that. Mariota had his worst passing game as a pro on Sunday in the Titans’ 13-10 victory against the Broncos, when he completed just six of 20 pass attempts for 88 yards. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Mariota became the first player to win a game with six or fewer completions (on at least 20 pass attempts) since Jim Kelly did it for the Bills in 1995.

Tennessee Titans need to contain Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill | ESPN

The veteran quarterback is coming off perhaps his best two-game stretch of the season. Smith has been rewarded for his willingness to go downfield with the passing game. The Chiefs had five passes of more than 20 yards two weeks ago against the Falcons and five more last week against the Raiders. Otherwise, the Chiefs have only two games with five or more such passes and one happened when Smith was injured and split time with backup Nick Foles. As always, Smith is doing a good job protecting the ball (five interceptions and four lost fumbles) but he committed turnovers on consecutive offensive plays against Oakland.

NEW: Join Arrowhead Pride Premier

If you love Arrowhead Pride, you won’t want to miss Pete Sweeney in your inbox each week as he delivers deep analysis and insights on the Chiefs' path to the Super Bowl.