Sam Mellinger's weekly analysis of Chiefs, Royals, other KC sports | The Kansas City Star
This team gave more terrific moments than most. The season ends in disappointment for everyone involved except one team, and if you can’t take some joy from the journey, then what’s the point? The end was a disappointment. No sane person would argue otherwise. This is Year Four of Reid and Dorsey, and they were always going to be fairly judged on a Super Bowl standard, so by the most important measurement they failed. But sports are also supposed to be fun. This is entertainment, and you don’t have to go too far back to find Chiefs teams that weren’t entertaining. That either didn’t give you hope at all, or gave it to you the way your dog takes pills — coated with peanut better, and holding the mouth shut while they try to squirm away. The Chiefs gave us all a lot of fun this year. In some ways, that’s also the most important thing.
Chiefs find themselves in familiar place after another playoff defeat | ESPN
The Chiefs not only won their first AFC West championship under coach Andy Reid, but at 12-4 had their best record since finishing 13-3 in 2003. The Chiefs thought they had a legitimate shot with a team capable of going places the franchise hadn’t been for many years.
About that report on Chiefs GM John Dorsey’s future | Arrowhead Pride
As we come out of the playoff haze, I’m reminded that there appears to be some things to be settled with the Chiefs GM.
Chiefs' Hill, Jones named to PFWA All-Rookie team | newspressnow.com
When the Professional Football Writers of America announced it’s rookie honors on Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs were well represented. The Chiefs led all clubs with four All-Rookie selections. Kansas City had defensive lineman Chris Jones and a triple honor by Tyreek Hill, who was selected as kick returner, punt returner and special teamer.
Chiefs have left us, but they will return | Arrowhead Addict
More than 24 hours removed from the defeat, I don’t find myself angry or bitter. I’m just sad. I miss my team. I complain about them throughout almost every game, bemoaning a penalty or dropped pass. But deep down, I love them desperately. The Chiefs are in many ways a lifeline to my inner child, the last great bastion of my former self. There is something endlessly nostalgic about that.
Chiefs hoping to take ‘next step’ next season | The Topeka Capital-Journal
Reid has long been a passing coach. But against the Steelers the Chiefs ran just 14 times for 61 yards with Spencer Ware leading the way with eight carries for 35 yards. Conversely, Le’Veon Bell had 101 yards rushing by halftime and finished with 170 yards. The Chiefs, though, tried to get the ball to their playmakers. Travis Kelce was targeted seven times and caught five balls for 77 yards and Tyreek Hill ran the ball three times and caught four passes but combined for just 45 yards on those seven touches. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin also caught just two passes.
Three quarterbacks have won 13 of the past 15 AFC titles, including 12 of the previous 13, and the streak is guaranteed to last one more year with two of those quarterbacks — the Patriots’ Tom Brady and the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger — facing off Sunday at New England. The third member of the AFC dominance crew, Peyton Manning, retired after last season.
Angry Chiefs fans mistook a Boston meteorologist for a football player on Twitter | Boston.com
The Twitter handle @ericfisher belongs to the chief meteorologist for Massachusetts’ CBS affiliate, WBZ-TV. And Fisher (the meteorologist) received a barrage of angry or simply erroneous tweets after the Chiefs 18-16 loss to the Steelers on Sunday night.
Chiefs' Alex Smith, Dustin Colquitt named Pro Bowlers | The Kansas City Star
It’s the second selection for Smith, who also was on the Pro Bowl team in 2013. Smith is coming off a season in which he threw for a career-high 3,502 yards, with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Stats that stood out: Steelers vs Chiefs | Steel City Underground
Le’Veon Bell’s 337 playoff rushing yards set an NFL record for the most in a player’s first 2 postseason games. He needs 6 more to break Franco Harris‘ postseason record for the Steelers,
Looking beyond the Chiefs playoff loss | Arrowhead Pride
I was thinking about both of my boys screaming into a complete fog of noise as the Chiefs were on defense (seriously, Arrowhead was a wall of sound for much of the night. I can’t possibly describe how incredible the crowd was throughout the evening), being a part of something bigger than them and loving every second of it. I was thinking about high-fiving my sons and jumping for joy with them after the first Chiefs’ touchdown, or after Berry’s miraculous pick, or any other of dozens of other moments. We tend to forget when the final result is a loss, but each game brings with it moments of joy. This game was no exception.
Redskins interview Manusky for defensive coordinator job | AP
Before rejoining the Redskins as outside linebackers coach under Joe Barry last season, Manusky served as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. He played linebacker for the Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs for 12 seasons before moving into coaching as Washington's linebackers coach in 2001.
Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid wins top coach award in AFC West | ESPN
Paul Gutierrez, Oakland Raiders reporter: Hey, Kool-Aid? Reid, who in his complete red getup and stalking manner resembles the drink's smiley-faced mascot, has been anything but refreshing for the rest of the division, or the league for that matter. All Reid has done since arriving in Kansas City in 2013 is average nearly 11 victories, including a 12-4 mark to win the division this season after sweeping the Raiders. In fact, the Chiefs have won 22 of their last 26 regular-season games dating to last season, some by the flukiest of circumstances