NFL TV Distribution Map Already Out

You can see if the Chiefs are televised in your area here:

NFL Distribution Map

We will try to televise the game here like usual. Last week we had a pretty tough time as the NFL is cracking down on as soon as they hit. I should be able to at least provide a link for you though.

Todd Haley's Proving Himself

It is a time like now, that players start to understand why the coaches have them doing things a certain way and why the criticism is directed in such an offensive manner. With a coaching style like Todd Haley's, winning is something that has to happen.

Obviously winning is something that has to happen for every coach, but if you are a guy like Herm Edwards, you can lose games and still retain the respect and love of your players because of how you bond with them. In Haley's case, it becomes a situation where the player has to weigh the reasoning of a merciless training camp, practicing in pads during the season and constantly getting screamed at if he is not perfecting his craft.

As much as I liked Herm, I have a very difficult time believing that the Chiefs would have came away with a win today, if he was the coach. As for Haley, this is a moment when you stand back and say "wow, I get it now." This is why, they had to be the best conditioned team in football, this is why it was not OK to make mistakes, and this is why the players need to know that if they don't play hard, they will be wearing street clothes next weekend.

From Alex Magee in Big Ben's face all afternoon to Glenn Dorsey becoming the player we all envisioned. From little known Andy Studebaker playing like the AFC player of the week to Chris Chambers becoming what he was supposed to be his entire career. This is Haley's way. The maximization of every single player on the team and the ones who can't fill that potential are not part of the "right 53."

Is it just me, or does Derrick Johnson play out of his mind every time he is on the field. His play the last 3 years didn't demonstrate in any way shape or form that he should be an automatic starter this season. But like most players that you see playing more and more, Haley says "he's starting to get it."

Lance Long with the 30 yard catch on 3rd down in the 4th quarter, Wallace Gilberry blowing up the Steelers tackles all game, Javon Belcher with what turned out to be the game winning stop for the defense in OT. The list goes on. These guys are nobody's, that Haley has turned into players that could help this team win for a long time.

It looks like 22 guys off the street could win 2 games, because Haley has won 3 in 10 games and with 2 games against Denver, and games against Buffalo and Cleveland, Haley could easily win 6 games this year and triple last years mark by Herm Edwards. That doesn't include an upset against Cincinnati (who were beat by Oakland on Sunday) or San Diego. The Chiefs are as high as they have been for 2 years right now and if confidence breeds success than watch out.

I can't imagine what this staff is going to be able to do with a couple more drafts and off seasons. You add talent to this structure and the Kansas City Chiefs could be dangerous for a long time.

Player Of The Game: Andy Studebaker

This one has to go to Andy Studebaker. With 4.5 tackles, a 1/2 sack, and 2 interceptions, one of which went 94 yards for the Chiefs second longest pick of all time. It will be tough to sit this guy on the bench when Vrabel comes back.

Honorable Mention

Jamal Charles made this win possible with an opening kick return for a touchdown for 94 yards. he also had 58 yards rushing against the best run team in football and with 2 receptions and one for a touchdown, he has shown that this offense is MUCH better without Larry Johnson.

Chiefs Undefeated In The Second Half Of 2009

Todd Haley often talks about breaking the season down into quarters so that you don't get too far up or too far down on your team. The first quarter of the Chiefs season ended up a disappointing 0-4. The second quarter ended 1-4 and now 2 games into the third quarter, the Chiefs are 2-0, already better than than the first two quarters of the season. Bottom line: The Chiefs are getting better.

In a game that nobody thought that the Chiefs had a chance at, they played smart and tough for 4+ quarters. Jamal Charles opened the game with a 97 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Steelers would go on to score 17 unanswered points and go to halftime with the lead 17-7.

I don't know what coach Haley told the Chiefs players in the locker room, but whatever it was, it worked. After Andy Studebaker's first interception of the game, Matt Cassel threw a touchdown pass to Leonard Pope on the very next play. Down 14-17, the Chiefs never looked back.

Andy Studebaker remained focused as he picked off the next pass that came his way and returned it 94 yards to set up a Ryan Succop field goal and tie the score 17-17.

The Steelers would eventually score to set up one of the Chiefs finest drives of the season. With 7:37 left in the 4th quarter and 91 yards away from a tie, Cassel threw a 30 yard strike to Lance Long and followed it up with a 47 yard bomb to Chris Chambers. After a 2 yard shovel pass to Jamal Charles, the Chiefs had the game tied again.

Overtime

The Steelers win the toss and end up punting to the Chiefs. Starting at the twenty, Jamal Charles takes the first run of OT for ten yards on an end around. 2 plays later would mark the beginning of a franchise turnaround when Matt Cassel hit Chris Chambers for a 61 yard gain that set up the game winning field goal by Ryan Succop from the 4 yard line.

Here's Your Complete Box Score

Kansas City Chiefs

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
M. Cassel	15/30	248	2	0
Rushing	ATT	YDS	TD	LG
J. Charles	17	58	0	10
B. Wade	1	8	0	8
Ko. Smith	1	3	0	3
M. Cassel	1	-1	0	-1
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
C. Chambers	4	119	0	61
L. Long	2	37	0	30
L. Pope	2	26	1	21
M. Bradley	1	22	0	22
M. Cox	1	19	0	19
B. Wade	3	17	0	9
J. Charles	2	8	1	6

Defense	T-A	SCK	INT	FF
D. Williams	9-1	0.0	0	0
B. Carr	8-0	0.0	0	0
J. McGraw	7-1	0.0	0	0
J. Belcher	6-0	0.0	0	0
M. Brown	5-4	1.0	0	0
B. Flowers	5-1	0.0	0	1
T. Hali	5-2	0.0	0	0
G. Dorsey	4-1	0.0	0	0
A. Studebaker	4-1	0.5	2	0
D. Johnson	3-4	0.5	0	0

Pittsburgh Steelers

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
B. Roethlisberger	32/42	398	3	2
C. Batch	1/2	17	0	0
Rushing	ATT	YDS	TD	LG
R. Mendenhall	21	80	0	13
W. Parker	6	24	0	9
M. Wallace	1	5	0	5
B. Roethlisberger	1	4	0	4
M. Moore	2	1	0	4
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
H. Ward	10	128	1	33
H. Miller	7	95	1	41
S. Holmes	7	86	0	20
M. Wallace	2	47	0	33
R. Mendenhall	4	36	1	13
W. Parker	1	11	0	11
M. Spaeth	1	7	0	7
D. Johnson	1	5	0	5

Defense	T-A	SCK	INT	FF
T. Carter	7-1	0.0	0	0
J. Farrior	5-0	0.0	0	0
R. Clark	3-2	0.0	0	0
W. Gay	3-0	0.0	0	0
J. Harrison	3-1	1.0	0	0
I. Taylor	3-0	0.0	0	0
L. Timmons	3-1	1.0	0	1
N. Eason	2-0	0.0	0	0
C. Hampton	2-1	1.0	0	0
B. Keisel	2-0	0.0	0	0
L. Woodley	2-0	2.0	0	0

Chiefs Beat The World Champions !!!

In the most amazing upset of the year, our Kansas City Chiefs beat the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers 27 - 24 in OT. It was a 61 yard pass to Chris Chambers in overtime that set up the game winning kick from the 4 yard line by Ryan Succop. This is by leaps and bounds the biggest win for the Chiefs in at least 3 years. I will have a full game summary coming up

Chiefs VS Steelers Preview (CBS and NFL)

Troy Polamalu Ruled Out For Sundays Game

The Chiefs opportunity to win on Sunday, against the World Champs, has just increased. Troy Polamalu will not play. The Steelers defense has showed this season that it is not the same without Polamalu. He has missed numerous games this season and that has turned the NFL's best defense into a defense ranked 15th in total yards allowed. This probably takes a turnover away from Pittsburgh's defense on Sunday and at this point anything helps.

Larry Johnson Could Play Significant Role On Sunday

According to Jason LaCanfora, Cedric Benson has missed practice all week and Larry Johnson has received "ample" playing time. According to his source, LJ could end up playing a significant role in this weekend’s game. Apparently, you can use your mouth to run yourself out of a city you can't stand and a team that you don't want to play for and then get to start on a new team two weeks later? Sounds like LJ got exactly what he wanted.

I'm pretty interested in seeing what LJ can do behind that line. After all, it was never LJ's fault that he didn't produce and as soon as Jamal Charles gets a shot, all the sudden we have a running game. Maybe it just wasn't the type of blocking LJ needed or maybe Jamal is just that good. Who knows?

My guess is that LJ is the same guy there that he was here. What do you think?

Chiefs sign FB Tim Castille

Castille (5-11, 238) played in 14 regular season games with Arizona a year ago, catching four passes for 11 yards and recording 10 special teams tackles for the Cardinals. He also added one catch and a special teams tackle in two postseason games in 2008. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Arizona in 2007, and was on the club’s 53-man roster for all 16 games. Via kcchiefs.com

Is Mike Cox out? I always wondered how he would do after his buddy Chan Gailey left. It looks like the Chiefs have picked up another fullback and with positions like safety and offensive tackle being so thin, it would be a pretty big surprise for the Chiefs to carry two full backs. My guess is that hes going straight to the practice squad.

Dwayne Bowe Suspended for 4 games

Dwayne Bowe was suspended for 4 games for taking a banned diuretic to lose weight during training camp. Dwayne Bowe did not try to appeal the suspension, which generally means that he knew and understood the ramifications of his actions during that time.

You can expect Haley to get his fair share of criticism after this as well. It was Haley who ran the toughest training camp in football and Haley who demanded the extreme weight reductions in order to participate in that training camp. To top it all off, who was Haley most hard on through training camp and throughout the regualr season? No other than our own suspended star wide receiver, Dwayne Bowe.

Prior knowledge?

I'm assuming that Todd Haley knew that the suspension was coming and that's why the need to find another WR was so important throughout the season. On second hand, if Haley or Pioli knew this, why would Bobby Wade be inactive the past 2 weeks? If anything, he would be getting as many reps as possible with his teammates on Sundays.

It would be good news for Chiefs fans if the front office did know about this already. That would mean that they supported Dwayne Bowe and did not seek punishment for him before the league made it's decision. If this is the case, you can expect Dwayne Bowe back as a full member of this team after the suspension and into next season.

For The Next Month

Unlike the Larry Johnson situation, I have a hard time believing that this will be addition by subtraction for the Kansas City Chiefs. If anything, this is just another dagger to an already under talented Chiefs program. All we can hope for is the emergence of Chris Chambers, Bobby Wade or Lance long.