clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Arrowheadlines: It’s worth noting the strength of schedule when evaluating the Chiefs

Chiefs headlines for Thursday, October 15

Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

The latest

NFL best bets for Week 6 include the Chiefs and Rams on the road | Washington Post

Kansas City Chiefs (-3½) at Buffalo Bills

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs -3½

On paper this might look like an even matchup, yet it’s worth noting the Chiefs have played against a tougher schedule than the Bills this season. Kansas City has played just one team with a record below .500, while the Bills have two wins against below-.500 teams, including the hapless New York Jets.

Despite that, the Bills defense was allowing six more points per game than expected after taking into account the down, distance and field position of each play against them, per data from TruMedia, even before the Titans crushed them on Tuesday night. The Chiefs are allowing just three more points per game than expected this season by that metric, putting them in the top half of the league.

Ryan Tannehill & Patrick Mahomes are putting up nearly identical stats | Out Kick

Not only has the Titans quarterback been competent, but his stats go toe-to-toe with the NFL media’s Chosen One. Before you say it, no, Tannehill doesn’t have a Super Bowl victory. That chess piece belongs to Mahomes. He will more than likely end up with multiple Super Bowl rings before his career is over.

This is about the Titans making it work with Ryan Tannehill who, at 42-46, was laughed out of Miami. Now 11-3 over his first 14 starts in Tennessee, the Titans have seen a good return on their investment. Never forget how Clay reacted to the Tannehill trade: “Smart of Titans to trade for Ryan Tannehill to back up Marcus Mariota. Tannehill is literally the only quarterback who has been injured more often the past several years than Mariota.”

Week 6 NFL QB Power Rankings: Derek Carr cracks top 10 as Justin Herbert, Ryan Tannehill rise up | CBS Sports

2 - Patrick Mahomes

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QB

Mahomes probably isn’t playing his absolute best football right now, but when has that really mattered for this offense? His “OK” days are some of the best in the business. A couple more weeks of turnover-worthy plays — he threw his first official pick in a loss to the Raiders in Week 5 — might warrant a slide. But for now, we’ll happily ride or die with No. 15’s big arm.

Last week: 2

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings: Packers new No. 1 as Chiefs fall, Browns soar into top six | CBS Sports

4 - CHIEFS

The defense fell flat against the Raiders. One other thing that is showing up is the poor play by the offensive line. It just hasn’t been as good.

Chiefs’ best, worst PFF grades in Week 5 | Chiefs Wire

Best: LB Anthony Hitchens Hitchens had a 77.3 overall grade. He battled through a hand injury during the game, yet… Hitchens had a 77.3 overall grade. He battled through a hand injury during the game, yet put up the best tackling grade on the defense with 81.4. He proved his value in the few series where he was on the sideline dealing with his injury.

Chiefs Announce Details for Voting at Arrowhead Stadium | The Mothership

“One of the things that our players have been very passionate about for the past few months has been voter education. We have focused our collective efforts on making sure our players, coaches, staff and Chiefs Kingdom are informed and engaged when it comes to their right to vote,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “One of the ideas that came out of our many discussions around voter education was to use Arrowhead as a polling location. This has been an incredible learning experience for our organization and we are excited to partner with the Kansas City Election Board and 15 and the Mahomies Foundation to turn Arrowhead Stadium into a polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We look forward to welcoming voters to Arrowhead Stadium to engage in this important civic duty.”

Packers add former Chiefs WR Kalija Lipscomb to practice squad | Packers Wire

The rookie receiver spent all summer with the Chiefs and was on the team’s practice squad for the first three weeks of the 2020 season.

Over 48 games and 25 starts at Vanderbilt, Lipscomb (6-0, 205) caught 198 passes for 2,356 yards and 22 touchdowns. As a senior, he caught 43 passes for 533 yards and three scores.

Around the NFL

Denver Broncos RB Melvin Gordon charged with DUI, speeding | NFL.com

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon was charged Tuesday night with driving under the influence and speeding between 25 mph and 39 mph over the limit.

Gordon was stopped at 5th Ave. and Speer Blvd. in Denver on Tuesday evening, per the Denver Police Department. Gordon, who was driving 71 mph in a 35 mph zone, consented to and failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.

Gordon is slated to be arraigned on Nov. 13.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton would ‘embrace’ playing in front of fans at LSU | ESPN

“I welcome it. I don’t think there’ll be many challenges. I mean it’s right up the road,” Payton said of Baton Rouge, which is about 80 miles to the northwest of New Orleans. “You’d be playing on grass outside in a great environment. And so if it was playing in the Dome with no fans or playing up there with 25,000 of our fans, then every one of us would make the second choice.

“To me, that would be exciting.”

Dan Quinn pens letter to city of Atlanta: ‘I’ll continue to root like hell’ for Falcons | NFL.com

“Finally, to the people of Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere, I can’t thank you enough for making this Jersey boy feel right at home. I know there are great things ahead for this team and I’ll continue to root like hell for them, and for you. I hope I represented your team with the grace and character you deserve.”

Quinn went 43-42 in what was his first foray as a head coach, leading the Falcons to a Super Bowl and three postseason victories. His teams never finished lower than second in the NFC South, although an 0-5 start to the 2020 season has Atlanta in fourth place.

NFL to reimagine 2021 Pro Bowl; ‘22 Pro Bowl awarded to Las Vegas | NFL.com

The NFL will continue to recognize the players’ outstanding seasons and welcome fans to demonstrate their passion for their favorite players when voting for the 2021 Pro Bowl Roster begins on November 17th. The full Pro Bowl rosters will be revealed in December, where the players are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts as one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players who are selected to the Pro Bowl roster.

Additionally, the league will work closely with the NFLPA and other partners, to create a variety of engaging activities to replace the Pro Bowl game this season. This virtual recognition of the season’s finest players will provide fans the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of their favorite stars.

The NFL and NFLPA’s intention is to play a full regular and postseason schedule, culminating at the Super Bowl.

The NFL also announced that the 2022 Pro Bowl will be awarded to Las Vegas and take place at Allegiant Stadium. This continues the league’s partnership with the Raiders and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, who are also scheduled to host the 2022 NFL Draft.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

Week 6 AP NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs just cling on to the top spot, Raiders jump up

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6th)

Undefeated through the first five weeks of the season — and things are starting to click on offense.

6. Tennessee Titans (9th)

Did anyone predict the Titans blowing out the Bills?

7. Buffalo Bills (5th)

We saw the true Jekyll and Hyde sides of Josh Allen last night. Monday’s game against Kansas City is a must-win for them to stay in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

A tweet to make you think

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media

Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

AP Instagram: Follow @ArrowheadPride

AP Twitter: Follow @ArrowheadPride

AP Editor-in-Chief: Pete Sweeney: Follow @pgsween

610 Sports Twitter: Follow @610SportsKC

Arrowhead Pride Premiere

Sign up now for a 7-day free trial of Arrowhead Pride Premier, with exclusive updates from Pete Sweeney on the ground at Arrowhead, instant reactions after each game, and in-depth Chiefs analysis from film expert Jon Ledyard.