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Join Chiefs365 | Insider Forum with Josh Looney - Talk it up!

RETURN ROTATION/BACK-UP RB POST GETS INTERESTING

September 20th – 10:54 AM

The Chiefs return game and running backs rotation just got a lot more interesting with the surprise inactive status of RB Jamaal Charles. Charles was not listed on the team’s injury report and had been serving as the Chiefs kickoff return man and number two running back.

With Charles’ inactive status, newly acquired WR Bobby Wade and RB Dantrell Savage should be thrown right into the mix on special teams. RB Jackie Battle will likely serve as Larry Johnson’s back-up today, but Savage could come through with some carries as well. Today presents a big opportunity for Savage.

INACTIVES ARE IN

September 20th – 10:36 AM

Chiefs
Tyler Thigpen - 3rd QB
WR Terrance Copper
QB Matt Gutierrez
CB Ricardo Coclough
RB Jamaal Charles
C/G Andy Alleman
TE Brad Cottam
LB Pierre Walters

Raiders
Charlie Frye - 3rd QB
WR Johnnie Lee Higgins
RB Justin Fargas
T Khalif Barnes
G Paul McQuistan
WR Chaz Schilens
TE Brandon Myers
WR Nick Miller

CASSEL LOOKS READY TO GO

September 20th – 10:07 AM

Chiefs QB Matt Cassel is out on the field warming up with full pads dressed from the waist down. Last weekend Cassel only warmed up with shorts on. Could this be a preview of his dress here in less than two hours?

The early indications seem to point towards Cassel playing today.

KEYS TO VICTORY

September 20th – 9:09 AM

We broke down the key aspects of the Chiefs/Raiders match-up in the “Break It Down” video featured on the main page of kcchiefs.com.

In case you missed it, here are the Chiefs three keys to victory this afternoon. View the video on the main web page for the full analysis.

• Force Oakland into the Pass – Make the Raiders beat you through the air. It’s a tall task, but stopping Oakland’s three-headed monster of a rushing attack is crucial. Make QB Jamarcus Russel be the game-changer…not Mcfadden, Bush or Fargas.

• Third-down Opportunities – Keeping the defense off the field boils down to third down opportunities on both side of the football. The Chiefs offense didn’t even see a single third-and short opportunity and converted just 20% of third downs last weekend in Baltimore. The defense, meanwhile, allowed Baltimore to convert 59% of third down opportunities. Those numbers have to improve if KC wants a “W.”

• No Scores After a Sudden Change – This is the Raiders and Chiefs…We know that there are going to be some wacky plays. There always are. It’s how the Chiefs react after that sudden change that is key. Keeping composure after these moments and keeping Oakland out of the end zone following the sudden change is crucial.

FLOWERS SAYS HE’S READY

September 20th – 8:53 AM

Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers has been limited in practice this week, but he says that he’s ready to get on the game field today vs. Oakland.

“Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to play,” Flowers said.

Flowers was a late scratch before the Baltimore game last weekend with a shoulder injury originally suffered vs. Seattle this preseason. If Flowers’ prognosis is correct, that means that QB Matt Cassel is the only injury concern remaining for the Chiefs.

HY-VEE TICKET HUNT #1 A SUCCESS
September 19th – 1:03 PM

Congrats to Marvin from Belton, MO on winning the first Hy-Vee ticket hunt of 2009. Marvin was the first to arrive and find me at the Hy-Vee in Mission, KS and will be heading to the Chiefs/Raiders game tomorrow at Arrowhead.

Each home game week we’ll be giving away two FREE tickets courtesy of Hy-Vee. All you have to do is follow the Chiefs on Twitter, and the clues, to find me at an area HyVee location.

Enjoy the game Marvin.

IT’S ABOUT NOW
September 19th – 8:15 AM

The Chiefs and Raiders have met 100 times in the regular season. The Chiefs have won 53 times, while the Raiders have won 45 times (two ties). They’ve met in the 1991 playoffs and in the 1969 AFL Championship Game. There have been finishes that are now instant classics, like RB Larry Johnson’s plunge into the end zone during the closing seconds at Arrowhead in 2005 and CB James Hasty’s 64-yard INT return for a TD in overtime of a 1995 game.

The history is rich. The games are ugly. The Chiefs and Raiders rivalry represents a knockdown, drag-out type of thing. The games are both close and meaningful. But this weekend, history is on the backburner. For the next 48 hours, the most important game in this storied series is the one being played on Sunday.

“I understand there have been some great games over the years and I respect those games,” LB Mike Vrabel said. “But this week is about this team coming together. Right now we are tied with half of the league – we have one loss. We need to get back on the positive side with a win over the Raiders. Right now matters.”

With both teams sitting on 0-1 records, a win on Sunday is not only pivotal in the AFC West race, but in the overall picture that represents the regular season. Both franchises have struggled to find wins in recent seasons, but a win on Sunday and a .500 record could be the right mix that begins a healing process.

“Losing is contagious,” S Mike Brown said. “Just like winning is. We don’t know how to win yet, but once we get that taste we can go on a run.”

As Brown said, learning to win is important. Baltimore was ready to be beaten last weekend, but the Chiefs were unable to go to the jugular for the final time. Winning against the Raiders is an easy thing to talk about around the league, even easier for a team like Kansas City who has won 10 of the last 12 meetings. But Oakland is currently riding a two-game Arrowhead winning streak. Besides, talk is cheap in a rivalry match - previous results, stats and trends can be thrown out the window when the Chiefs and Raiders do battle.

“They’re going to line up and they’re going to say ‘our guys are better than yours and you’re not going to beat us’,” QB Matt Cassel said. “It’s one of those teams where you’re going to have to go out and strap up your helmet and we’re going to have to go out and play hard for 60 minutes because that is the only way you’re going to beat this team.”

Part of strapping on the helmet on Sunday will focus on stopping the Raiders rushing attack. The Raiders possess a ton of speed and a heavy dose of the run is expected. Oakland will give the football to three different runners that possess three different running styles on Sunday.

RB Darren McFadden is the speedster. He’ll hit the hole with a full head of steam behind him to try and break the big play. RB Michael Bush is the workhorse. Bush loves to take the football between the tackles and will try to pound on Kansas City with a powerful running style. Then there is RB Justin Fargas. He’s probably has the best all-around combination of the three.

Pop it to McFadden, pound it with Bust and leave the rest to Fargas. That’s the Raiders game plan in the rushing attack and it’s all set up to bring the defense forward, leaving one of the speedy wide receivers running open down the sidelines on a deep route. You make it hard on yourself when you face the Raiders if you don’t stop the run.

The Raiders are in town and they’re ready to give Kansas City everything they can handle. But this city and this team are ready to return the favor. For the second consecutive year, “Raider Week” falls on Red Friday/Home Opener weekend. The Chiefs had won all of their home openers vs. Oakland since 1985 before the Raiders took the most recent two. An Oakland hat trick will not be tolerated within the walls of Arrowhead.

Chiefs fans are the dark horse in this matchup. The Sea of Red is ready. This fan base desperately wants winning football to return to Arrowhead, and this team desperately wants to give the fans what they want. Who better to start a winning streak against than the Raiders?

“Just this week you can obviously feel the energy and excitement from the city that’s a little different,” Haley said. “You try to lay that out there for them but they haven’t needed a lot of help. I think they understand the Raiders are coming to town.”

It’s finally game weekend in Kansas City.