2013-11-16



Well, the Kansas City Star has money-walled themselves off of Arrowheadlines today. Used to be able to drive readers to their stories from the mobile site but that ended this morning. You can still access and read articles on the mobile site, but it looks like the page is set up to not allow copy/paste. Honestly I'm not going to (and would hate to ask you to) click a link and try to stop the page in the middle of loading so I can read an article before the pay-wall hits. Just a huge pain in the ass to get the format used here. So with that, we'll move on to more accessible articles. Here is your Kansas City Chiefs news.

Game Preview: Chiefs vs Broncos from The Mothership

The upcoming Week 11 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos has been a magnet for headlines, predictions, statistical analysis and much more and we're now one day closer to the actual 7:30 PM CST kickoff on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is well aware of the hype surrounding Sunday night's contest, but says the game's outcome will only be decided by what's done on the field.

"All the hoopla and all of that stuff doesn't matter," coach Reid said. "Once the ball is kicked off, you're playing the game; that's what I expect the guys to do."

Andy Reid: "All The Hoopla Doesn't Matter" from The Mothership

Q: As a coach, are you conscious of the magnitude of this game?

REID: "Listen, it's two good football teams playing each other, so you've got to expect that. That's all part of this. I think for both teams, it's a privilege to be in this situation and now you go play. I've always stated this and will continue to do so that you make sure that you prepare for the team you're playing. We respect the heck out of them and then, you get yourself right to play, and that's what I think the guys have done this week. We had a good week of preparation here."

Chiefs Finalize Friday Practice, Ready For Road Trip from The Mothership

In addition to the Broncos pass rush, the Chiefs will face what is sure to be a boisterous home crowd, something they're prepared for, according to Chiefs OL Donald Stephenson.

"We've played in some pretty crazy environments already, but I'm pretty sure this is going to be the biggest one," Stephenson said. "We expected it. It's a big game, a rivalry game. If we go there and pay attention to the snap count and have good communication up-front; we should be able to handle it."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell & Clark Hunt To Host Clinic At Arrowhead from The Mothership

The Chiefs are offering a free Health and Safety Clinic on the evening of December 3rd, specifically geared to mothers of present and/or future youth football players. This is only the second time the NFL has joined with a team to host an event of this kind.

This exclusive clinic will be held on the Chiefs indoor practice field at the University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex from 6 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3rd. It will begin with a welcome by NFL and Chiefs personalities, prior to a seminar-style discussion about concussions and proper nutrition, led by medical professionals. These presentations will also include a Q & A opportunity for the mothers attending.

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Locker Room: Week 11

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Visit Whiteman Air Force Base

KCChiefs.com Video: Focus Point: Week 11

KCChiefs.com Video: Andy Reid Friday Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: How We Got Here: Week 8

NFL.com Video: 'Playbook': Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

NFL.com Video: NFL.com's Weekend Guide: Week 11

NFL.com Video: What's The Kansas City Chiefs' Game Plan?

NFL.com Video: Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid On Why He Was A Perfect Fit

Hey, National Media, The Chiefs Are Playing In This Game, Too! from FS Kansas City

The crazy thing is that if it weren't for the Dwayne Bowe arrest last weekend, the Chiefs would be nothing more than a side note for the national media in this mighty showdown Sunday night.

The national spotlight seems to have been mostly about Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The fact that the Chiefs are actually 9-0 and leading the division doesn't seem to play in to the national story line. Even Vegas seems to be dissing the Chiefs -- the Broncos are a nine-point favorite, a pretty big spread by NFL standards.

But all that suits the Chiefs just fine.

Secondary vs. Receivers Headlines Heavyweight Battle from Chiefs Spin

Denver's receivers are physically imposing, but even more so when considering the quartet has combined on 199 receptions for 2,367 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Still, Kansas City and its sixth-ranked pass defense offers something the Broncos' receiving corps has arguably yet to face this season.

"They have some big guys there, but we have size as well," Chiefs rookie cornerback Marcus Cooper said. "We know those guys are strong and we have to match that."

Chiefs-Broncos Game Not One-Dimensional Affair from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

While the intoxicating matchup of Peyton Manning and the Broncos' high-flying offense against Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and the Chiefs' ferocious defense has garnered the spotlight this week, what happens when they're off the field could prove just as critical to the outcome.

After all, the Broncos (8-1) can't win if they can't score, and they can't score if Manning and his trusty lieutenants are standing on the sideline.

"I've heard that strategy before, keep-away, but that's certainly not something we're even talking about or focusing on at all," Smith said. "We have to go out there and execute. I think if you go out there and play keep-away, it's hard for good things to happen."

No, The Kansas City Chiefs Aren't A 'Lucky' Undefeated Team from The Atlantic

After posting the league's worst record last year, KC has started the season 9-0, becoming the first team in history to do so.

Yet for all their success, the club gets little respect. As Forbes noted, fans believe the club is "not as good as their record." Again and again, pundits call them overrated, flawed, or claim that their opponents have nothing to fear. According to a goofy new stat from Football Outsiders, the Chiefs are already the luckiest team in the league. Someone posted on the NFL Memes Facebook page that the Chiefs are "the worst undefeated team in NFL history," and as of Thursday night, 267 people had agreed.

What a crock.

The Playbook: Previewing Broncos-Chiefs, Saints-49ers, More Week 11 Games from Sports Illustrated

What that game means depends on the outcome here. A Chiefs victory would put them in firm control of the West and officially set the league on 16-0 watch; if the Broncos hold serve, they could head into Week 13 with the AFC's top record. (Kansas City hosts San Diego next Sunday, while Denver travels to New England.)

Either way, the stakes are high - mile high, actually - Sunday night in Denver.

Week 11 Preview: Chiefs @ Broncos from Chiefs Spin

Given the attention, the NFL and CBS made a wise choice to allow the flexing of this showdown to NBC Sunday Night Football.

Week 11's contest has been dubbed the Game of the Season, a mini Super Bowl of sorts.

And some of the Chiefs players are fully aware of what's at stake Sunday night.

Now, KC Can Match Up With Denver WRs from ESPN

The last time the Chiefs played against the Broncos, Kansas City tried to cover big Denver receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker with a pair of 5-foot-9 cornerbacks.

Brandon Flowers and Javier Arenas were often in position, but because they are a half-foot shorter than Thomas and Decker, they couldn't stop the Denver receivers. The pair combined for 14 catches, 198 yards and three touchdowns on Dec. 30, 2012, in a lopsided Chiefs defeat, 38-8.

Kansas City Chiefs Getting No Love Ahead Of Clash With Broncos from The Toronto Sun

The whole world thinks Kansas City is going to be taken to the cleaners by Peyton Manning and his other-worldly offensive machine that has averaged more than 40 points per game this year.

That kind of hubris always makes me nervous. And I'll bet that Andy Reid is just licking his chops in anticipation. Reid has transformed Kansas City from league doormats a year ago to the top of the heap this year. They have done it with a dominant defence, extraordinary special teams play and a caretaker offence led by QB Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles.

Reid, a shrewd game-planner, has had two weeks to plan for this watershed confrontation that could validate his team's turnaround. You think he might not point out to his players just how little regard the football world has for the Chiefs' chances?

NFL Picks, Week 11: Undefeated Kansas City Chiefs The Last Bastion Of Magic... At Least For Now from The National Post

Peyton Manning has missed a practice here and there with an ankle injury, which has been taped up, and which is a concern for a team whose backup quarterback is the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Brock Osweiler. Also, it means Manning's 40-yard dash time has probably dropped from about 7.4 seconds to something like an 8.3.

Pick: Kansas City

Excitement Builds In Denver With Two Days Until Chiefs vs. Broncos Game from KSHB

The undefeated Chiefs are the talk of the town in both Kansas City and Denver.

Sandy Clough is the host of the number one sports talk show in Denver. 104.3 "The Fan" is tuned into thousands of car radios every afternoon.

This week, he's been flooded with calls about Sunday's game.

Broncos fans have mixed emotions of defiance and apprehension going into the big game.

Yet, Clough says this will be the best matchup between the two in nearly two decades.

Broncos-Chiefs Game A Matchup Of Strength vs. Strength from USA Today

Something, finally, is going to have to give.

The Denver Broncos can't possibly keep up this torrid scoring pace against the NFL's top-ranked defense.

And the Kansas City Chiefs, finally facing an elite starting quarterback, won't be able to hold Peyton Manning and the Broncos to less than 17 points.

Chiefs Of No Respect Have Chip On Shoulder? Won't Matter vs. Broncos from The Denver Post

I surfed the web Friday morning, looking for a little respect for the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was hard to find.

The Chiefs will arrive in the Mile High City on Sunday with a 9-0 record and a formidable defense that leads the NFL in a bunch of categories, including points allowed per game (12.3). They've got an excellent pass rush and will no doubt come to town with a chip on their shoulders.

But outside of the hard-core Chiefs fans, it's tough to find any true believers.

Chiefs vs. Broncos Could Be The Game Of The Century from USA Today

Denver and Kansas City are even more impressive when looking at their performances relative to some of the best teams in NFL history. For example, here's how the Chiefs' defense stacks up against the 1962 Packers, 1969 Chiefs, 1976 Steelers, 1985 Bears, 2000 Ravens and 2002 Buccaneers.

Denver BBQ Gets The KC Taste Test from KSHB

One of Denver's best food trucks has a Kansas City native and Chiefs fan at the grill. Mike Carlin wears his Chiefs hat proudly as he serves delicious tacos and sandwiches out of Mike's Kitchen.

Ricky Martinez, manning the cupcake truck parked next to them, proudly wears his Broncos hat.

"Go Broncos!" he yelled.

Why The Undefeated Chiefs Are Underdogs Against The Broncos from The Business Insider

3. The Chiefs strength on offense is the Broncos strength on defense

The Chiefs average 119 yards on the ground per game behind leading-rusher Jamaal Charles, making them 12th in the league. The Broncos only allow 87 yards rushing per game, which is fourth-best among NFL teams.

Derrick Johnson: Chiefs Must Pressure Peyton Manning from NFL.com

The Kansas City Chiefs have a plan for Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on Sunday night.

Hoping to muffle a quarterback who's 9-1 in his career against K.C., the Chiefs' sack-happy defense aims to punish Manning from wire to wire.

"He's not very mobile, and people haven't gotten to him that much ... but when you get there, you've got to do some damage," inside linebacker Derrick Johnson said this week, per The Kansas City Star.

Broncos And Chiefs Square Off To Be The Best Of The West from NYU Local

The recent analysis of this Denver team has been that they aren't as good as their 8-1 record may suggest. Games against the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts exposed just how flawed the Broncos' defense really is. However, the Chiefs aren't exactly the team that will blow you out of a game; watching Smith under center, you'd think he's literally allergic to throwing a pass deeper than 10 yards. While they have Jamaal Charles and have been using the short passing/screen game effectively, they'll need a few big plays to move the Broncos' defenders out of the box.

On Sunday night, we could be see a modern classic in the making. It has all the cliche story lines you could want: offense against defense, one of the best quarterbacks of our time, if not ever, against a game manager, a Super Bowl favorite against the surprises team of the year. There's even a nice little tagline; the winner will be the best of the West. Enjoy it, ya'll.

Week 11 Predictions: Broncos Top Chiefs; 49ers, Patriots Fall from NFL.com

Did you hear these two teams are locking up this weekend? It's only been covered on NFL Network from every angle for 12 hours a day. That said, here's how we see the tale of the tape: 

Quarterback: Broncos
Running back: Chiefs
Receivers: Broncos
Special teams: Broncos
Pass rush: Chiefs
Run defense: Broncos
Secondary: Chiefs
Coaching: Chiefs
Location: Broncos

This is one close call. I think the Chiefs will score a defensive touchdown in this game; thus, the 27 points. But special teams is the interesting category. Denver's kicker ( Matt Prater), punter ( Britton Colquitt) and returner ( Trindon Holliday) are all having outstanding years. These teams match up with each other very well, but we can't ignore where the game is being played: Denver. And that's the tiebreaker here. Consider that the Chiefs struggled in Buffalo against a Bills team led by Jeff Tuel. We've been burned taking plenty of road teams in the past, including last week ... not this time.

Broncos-Chiefs, Patriots-Panthers Among Week 11 Must Attend Games from Sports Illustrated

Perhaps no 9-0 team in NFL history has been picked apart more than the Chiefs, however. Skeptics question their schedule (Kansas City's nine opponents are a combined 30-54 and none has a winning record). They wonder if Kansas City can come back if it falls behind by 14 or 17 points (the biggest deficit it has had to overcome this season has been seven points, twice). And many think Alex Smith is nothing more than a caretaker quarterback, even though he has a 29-6-1 record in his last 36 starts for the 49ers and Chiefs.

If the Chiefs can beat Manning and the Broncos in Denver, no one should doubt them. If not, they'll get another chance in two weeks when the teams meet in Kansas City.

Broncos vs. Chiefs: Top Five Storylines from DenverBroncos.com

Limiting Jamaal Charles

Only one player has more yards from scrimmage than Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles does this year, as his 123.8 scrimmage yards per game are just behind LeSean McCoy's NFL-best 125.8.

His 725 rushing yards are fifth in the NFL and his 389 receiving yards are third in the league among running backs.

McDonald's Toy Surprises Metro Mom from FOX4KC

The game on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos is one of the most anticipated games of the season so far.  With all the hype, and a little animosity, one metro family was surprised to see a McDonald's toy they thought might be showing favoritism toward the orange and blue.  Turns out, they were just unlucky.

Chiefs Will Send The House; Will Manning Survive? from KDVR

Five of the Chiefs nine wins this season have come against teams that were starting backup quarterbacks or worse. As long as we have the best quarterback in the league, the Broncos will be fine.

So what would happen if, for some inexplicable reason, the Broncos lost the best quarterback in the league? How do you think the Chiefs defense would fare against the Broncos backup, Brock Osweiler - you know, the guy who has more tattoos than attempted NFL passes?

2 Days To Denver: Turning The Tables from Warpaint Illustrated

The Chiefs have so many non-believers waiting for them to fail it's not inconceivable to see why they could lay an egg in Denver. Still for those that buy into that theory, let me offer this take.

The heart that beats within the Chiefs locker room is the strongest and most unified I've seen in Kansas City since Hank Stram was patrolling the sidelines. New Head Coach, Andy Reid, has done a miraculous job of creating a calm and competitive 53-man roster that believes they can defeat anyone at anytime home or away.

The culture has changed so much in Kansas City in less than a year that it's hard for anyone outside of the heartland, or anyone else who walks into that locker room, to understand the powerful change that's occurred within the soul of this franchise.

Film Festival Is Chief Reason City Hall Red, Not Broncos Orange from The Denver Post

Days before one of the most anticipated NFL games of the year - the Sunday night showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs - the building was illuminated red Friday night, after being purple most of the week.

There's A Strange Love In The Air During Divisional Rivalry Games from USA Today

Chris Clark, LT, Denver Broncos

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning's ankle seems fine heading into his team's big AFC West showdown with the Chiefs, but it'll be the responsibility of his linemen to make sure he takes as little contact as possible. Clark, who replaced Pro Bowl player Ryan Clady earlier this season, will bear the biggest burden as he tries to get in front of Kansas City's Tampa Hali. Right tackle Orlando Franklin will be tasked with stopping the Chiefs' other talented outside linebacker, Justin Houston. Both of the pass-rushers are averaging at least one sack per game, so it's not going to be a fun task.

Chiefs Fan Honored As Fan Of The Week By NBC Network from KSHB

Noah Morton was named by the NBC Sunday Night Football social media team as fan of the week. Morton, who is originally from Ottowa, Kan., will tailgate on the NBC Football van, get free tickets to the game and an exclusive tour of Sports Authority Field at Mile High where the Broncos play.

Snow In Mountains Over Weekend, Slight Chance In Denver from The Denver Post

Weather for the Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, with a 6:30 p.m. start, should be clear but cold. The temperature should be about 35 degrees at kickoff and drop to about 29 degrees by game's end.

Six For Sunday: Backup QBs Aren't Acting Like Backups; Can That Last? from CBS Sports

What has happened so far this season when a top-10 defensive team meets a top-10 offensive team? Much to my surprise the defensive teams have trumped the offensive teams by almost a 2-1 margin. This weekend three of the top 10 defensive teams go head to head with top-10 offensive teams.

Kansas City takes on the Denver offensive machine, San Francisco goes head to head with the Saints offense, and Cleveland's top-10 defense tries to stop the Bengals' offense. I have a feeling the tables will turn as the offenses try and close the gap on those defenses.

Chiefs-Friendly Bar In Denver Welcomes Transplant Fans from KSHB

"We come here every Sunday," Yadu Bhardwaj said, sitting at Don's Club Tavern.

This Denver dive bar, managed by a Kansa City native, went full-on Chiefs bar last year. Now, a new generation of Kansas City transplants is keeping the Broncos and Chiefs rivalry fresh with their new Denver friends.

Breaking Down The Chiefs Offense from DenverBroncos.som

In one respect, the Chiefs do not find themselves in elite company -- quite the opposite, in fact. Their average of 5.24 yards per pass play is third-lowest in the league, and makes Kansas City the league's only winning team that gains less than 5.7 yards per pass play.

But what separates the Chiefs from other teams that hold that distinction -- including a pair of 1-8 teams in Tampa Bay and Jacksonville and the tumult-whipped Dolphins -- is an ability to avoid mistakes like no other. The average team has 14.9 giveaways this season. Kansas City has eight, and is the only NFL team in single digits regarding turnovers.

Week 11 NFL Picks Against The Spread For The Sun's Handicapping Contest from The Las Vegas Sun

The case for Kansas City plus-8: An opportunity to get more than a touchdown with the NFL's last-standing undefeated team may never again materialize. The Chiefs have treated bettors so well, too, supplementing their 9-0 straight-up record with a 6-3 tally against the spread.

Kansas City has already beaten sports books' preseason win total by two games. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is unofficially the patron saint of bye weeks, going 14-1 straight-up and 11-4 against the spread off of rest in his career.

He's had 13 days to cook up ways for the league's second-best passing defense, according to DVOA, to slow its best passing offense. Kansas City's All-Pros on defense - lineman Dontari Poe, linebacker Justin Houston and safety Eric Berry - aren't hobbled by a sprained ankle like Denver quarterback Peyton Manning.

Week 11 NFL Viewing Guide: This Is What We've Waited For from Grantland

Peyton Manning goes a long way in hiding the woes of his offensive line. Manning (and Drew Brees, and Matthew Stafford) can make subpar offensive linemen look something close to respectable with how quickly he gets rid of the ball and how he moves around the pocket. The problem is that second skill isn't nearly as valuable with Manning hobbled, which he currently is. With the pressure Kansas City is likely to create from the outside, a clean pocket for Manning to step into is more important than it's been all year. Enter Manny Ramirez.

Ramirez was the Broncos' third option at center coming into the season, but he has played well. He'll need to on Sunday, because the man trying to bring havoc to the middle of the pocket is having a great season of his own. Dontari Poe has been one of the most improved players in the league from his first year to his second, and while his talents as a run defender aren't surprising, his 4.5 sacks are.

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