Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/11

An article from Chiefs.com dated 6/17/2011:

10 Games In 10 Days: Bigger Than Football from Chiefs.com

It isn't often that a loss makes any top-10 list, but the final score was meaningless in this game. September 23, 2001 was about more than football.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue had suspended play following terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade Towers, struck the Pentagon and downed a plane in rural Pennsylvania. This was the first Sunday of NFL football in the post-9/11 world and the Chiefs were hosting the New York Giants. An overwhelming sense of patriotism reigned above everything else.

On this Sunday, the opponent was treated as if it were the home team. Chiefs fans gave Giants players a standing ovation during pre-game introductions and Arrowhead's familiar "Home of the CHIEFS" was left off the end of the National Anthem.

Today's News:

Chiefs vs. Chargers: Game Preview from Chiefs.com

With quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates serving as San Diego's nearly-forever constants, the team added wide receiver Travis Benjamin from the Cleveland Browns this past offseason.

Benjamin, who was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, is coming off his most productive season and was signed as a complement to Keenan Allen. Allen, the team's No. 1 wide receiver, returns to San Diego after a season-ending lacerated kidney injury that cost him half the year.

Chiefs starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines will be the most often tasked with guarding the duo. Peters is hoping to have a good follow-up season to his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2015, while Gaines makes his much-anticipated return to the regular-season starting lineup after missing nearly all of last year with a Week 3 left ACL tear.

Chiefs Opponent Preview: Get to Know the 2016 San Diego Chargers from Chiefs.com

Entering this season, the Chargers are aiming to rebound from a disappointing 4-12 season. To help accomplish that, they rehired Ken Whisenhunt, who was let go by the Tennessee Titans this offseason, back to the offensive coordinator position, which he held in 2013.

"It's been a very smooth transition," head coach Mike McCoy said via conference call on Wednesday. "Ken was here obviously in 2013 with us and did a great job there and he was fortunate enough to move on for a little bit and had an opportunity to make some changes this year to bring him back in and so it's been very smooth. The system's in place."

Back in July, Whisenhunt told Chargers.com he wanted to see a bit more balance in the passing game in 2016.

Chiefs and Chargers to Wear 9/11 Helmet Decal For Game Sunday from Chiefs.com

The decal is a blue and red ribbon, with stars and stripes and "9/11" written across it.

Allen Wright, the team's long-time equipment manager, was with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2001, when the catastrophic event took place. The Chiefs actually took on the New York Giants in their first game after the incident on September 23, 2001.

"I think everybody should have a little special feeling about it, just because it was so important in our history of our country," Wright said. "It was such a huge event that happened. If the league asks us to put it on the helmet, it has special meaning."

Chiefs release Dezman Moses to make room for Eric Berry from The Kansas City Star

Teams were required to cut their rosters to the limit last Saturday, but the Chiefs were allowed to carry 54 men since then because they were granted a roster exemption for safety Eric Berry. Berry skipped the first month of training camp after the team couldn't sign him to a long-term contract.

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Chargers 23 from ESPN

The Chargers, who have a veteran quarterback in Philip Rivers and the receivers to exploit the Chiefs' defensive issues, will get beyond 13 on Sunday.

The Chiefs will, too. Spencer Ware had demonstrated the ability to be effective against the Chargers, with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in the two games against them last season. In Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce and a better supporting cast of receivers than they had last year, the Chiefs have other offensive threats capable of making the game a challenge for the Chargers.

Despite their defensive issues, the Chiefs have more on that side of the ball than the Chargers, and enough to win the game.

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Chargers 23.

Chiefs look for fast start against Chargers from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs kickoff the season with soaring confidence and sky-high expectations. The team finished last year 11-5 and won the franchise's first playoff game in 22 years. Now the Chiefs aim to extend the season further into January.

Quarterback Alex Smith said everyone feels the sense of anticipation climbing toward the start of the new campaign.

"I feel really confident," Smith said. "I think this group is really confident in what we're doing, our preparation, our development, where we're at right now."

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (knee) will not play Sunday from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, listed as doubtful for Sunday's game due to a knee injury, will not play against the Chargers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Key matchup: Chargers S Dwight Lowery vs. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce from ESPN

It's safe to say Lowery will have his eyes on Kelce this weekend.

"Just based on his height, length and catch radius and his relationship with his quarterback, he presents some challenges you don't typically see on a week-to-week basis," Lowery said. "So I think technique is very crucial going against that. It's what puts you in the best position. And also understanding that they're going to make plays, and we just have to contain and make plays when we're in position to make plays as well.

"The great thing about football is it's not just about one guy or two guys -- it's about 11 guys on the field. And it's going to be important for us to play as one as much as possible, because that's what a successful defense does."

Restocked Chargers to take AFC West test from The San Diego Union-Tribune

This is a new team.

A new year.

While looking Sunday for a new result, the Chargers do so with perspective. This is their first chance, after a 4-12 season, to show what they can be in 2016.

It is not their last.

"It's a good test early for this team with everything that happened last year with it," said safety Dwight Lowery, who was with the Colts in 2015. "And it's (a chance) for us to reveal to ourselves where we're at and how we respond to adverse situations. But in no way, shape or form, in my opinion, will this dictate the season. It can't, win or lose. There are still 15 games to play. We'll still play the Kansas City Chiefs again."

San Diego Union-Tribune Video: Acee-Gehlken Advance: Chargers to grill Chiefs?

The Broncos And Chiefs Are Still Running The AFC West from FiveThirtyEight

You know what else Elo doesn't know? The crushing, numbing experience of an Andy Reid playoff meltdown. Three seasons ago, Reid's Chiefs blew a 28-point lead to Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round. After going 9-7 in 2014, the Chiefs sprang to life in the second half of 2015 and entered the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league. With their win in the wild-card round, their Elo rating spiked to 1699, the highest it's been since they beat the Vikings in the 1970 Super Bowl. And then, of course, disaster.

NFL Week 1 preview: New beginnings, optimism, Cardinals-Patriots showdown from The Denver Post

Chargers at Chiefs, 11 a.m. No Jamaal Charles in this one, but Kansas City will still likely lean on its run game and defense in hopes of pulling out a win.

Sam Farmer's NFL Week 1 picks from The Los Angeles Times

San Diego (4-12) at Kansas City (11-5)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Chiefs 24, Chargers 20

TV: Channel 2. DirecTV: 706.

Line: Chiefs by 6 1/2. O/U: 44 1/2.

The Chiefs look a little more explosive than they have been the last couple of years. The injuries are already starting to mount for San Diego. Take Kansas City at home.

Chargers vs. Chiefs 2016 picks: Experts think Kansas City will win opener from SB Nation

Over at CBS Sports, the panel is going with the Chiefs by a 7-1 margin, while all nine of the ESPN experts picked the Chiefs. And over at FOX Sports, all five of the experts think the Chiefs will win as well.

Here at SB Nation, it's a clean sweep:

KMBC Video: Chiefs tailgaters prepare for new restrictions

Why Dak Prescott's got this for Cowboys: Mom, family, community from The Fort Worth Star Telegram

Dak Prescott has rock star status in two towns -€” Haughton, La., and Starkville, Miss.

Haughton is a blue-collar town of 3,500, but the town's high school has 1,200 students as it draws from neighboring towns such as Princeton.

The high school football team, much like in similar-sized towns throughout Texas, is a source of pride for the area. Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney, the 1981 AFC rookie of the year, might be the most notable alum.

Whatever Happened to ... War Memorial Stadium? from The Rochester Democrat

Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson called the Rockpile "nasty" in the book, The Little League that Could/A History of the American Football League by Ken Rappoport.

"You would wonder, what would they throw at you?" said Dawson, who played much of his career for the Kansas City Chiefs. "They threw stuff at their own players, so you know they were going to throw stuff at you."

The place was basically a baseball stadium converted to a football field.

Walker: Saints coach Sean Payton reflects on that tragic Sept. 11 in New York from The Advocate

The Giants didn't play again until Sept. 23, when they traveled to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

"It was one of the few times, if ever, you played Kansas City and the crowd actually cheered when you're introduced," Payton said. "It just touched so many people."

Payton still has the team pictures the Giants took in the locker room following that 13-3 victory. In one picture, players wore caps representing New York's police department, fire department and port authority.

The Giants will remember the day again Sunday, but this time they'll wear gloves designed by Under Armour. The red, white and blue gloves include the words "We will never forget."

About 1,300 miles away, there will be a coach on the sideline in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome who will never forget, either.