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OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR CHIEFS AND RAIDERS FROM AN INJURY PERSPECTIVE
November 11th – 6:01 PM

The Raiders are getting healthier, while the Chiefs are reeling a bit when it comes to injuries. As expected, four Raiders starters once again practiced in full today (G Robert Gallery, T Cornell Green, RB Darren McFadden and WR Chaz Schilens). The four starters had not been on the practice field at the same time since August 18th. The Chiefs, on the other hand, placed starting right guard Mike Goff on injured reserve today.

“When we met them (last) they were pretty healthy,” Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said. “They got banged up in our game but they’re getting healthy again which is important for them. Sounds like they’re getting the running back back and Gallery is a big piece of their offensive puzzle. They’re a team that has had some real good games and probably some games they’re not happy with. To me, you get a team that can beat that Philadelphia Eagles team that’s a big win for them.“

For the Raiders today, three players were listed on the injury report as not practicing: LB Ricky Brown (ankle), DE Greg Ellis (knee/shoulder) and WR Nick Miller (shin). TE Tony Steward was limited with a chest injury.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs made official injury designations on six players…
Did not practice: LB David Harron (knee)
Limited: LB Jovan Belcher (head), WR Chris Chambers (foot), G Wade Smith (ankle) and LB Mike Vrabel (hip)
Full: S Jon McGraw (thigh)

“STATS ARE FOR LOSERS”
November 11th – 4:25 PM

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley rattled off a bunch of stats today during his press conference that are interesting, shocking and actually quite concerning if you’re a Chiefs fan. He then went on to say that “stats are for losers.”

What he means by that statement is that only one stat matters - winning! That’s the first, second and last important thing in this league. But at the same time, stats do matter. In the NFL, there are a number of statistics that show a direct correlation between winning and losing.

Interestingly, the Chiefs are towards the top in the league in a number of critical statistic categories that typically result in wins. Unfortunately, the Chiefs have won only one game in eight tries. The statistical anomalies obviously point to a bigger issue.

As we covered yesterday, when an NFL team is positive in the turnover department, the overall record across the league is 83-25 (.769). The Chiefs have been positive in five games this season. The Chiefs record is 1-4 in those games.

“You’d like to win those games and statistics say you generally do close to 85% of the time,” Haley said. “Just being plus [in giveaway-takeaway] is an interesting stat for our team. We’ve been in the plus category five times and you win 80% of those games – it’s eight out of 10 generally if you end up in the plus home or road. You’re going to win eight out of 10 of those and it hasn’t worked out that way for us.“

So that statistic hasn’t held up for Kansas City. Okay. There are a number of obvious reasons for that. Red zone stalls, offensive three-and-outs after a turnover, etc. But the anomalies don’t end with the turnover battle.

“Going back to the bye week we’ve looked closely at ourselves and there are some interesting things about our team,” Haley explained. “Defensively, we’re in the top seven or eight in forcing three-and-outs - the top seven or eight in the league. Every team ahead of us in that particular category is a winning team. We’re not a winning team and something’s happening. I think it’s pretty clear to everybody that…“

Say it with me….”big plays are killing the Chiefs defense.“

“When we give up big plays in the passing games specifically that’s what’s causing us to lose,” Haley confirmed.

But wait…there’s more.

“Offensively, we’re number one in [fewest] giveaways – us and New England,” Haley said. “Seven times we’ve given the ball away. Generally that’s a winning stat. Generally if through eight games you give the ball away seven times you’re usually a winning team.

“So, we’re forcing three-and-outs, not giving the ball up, and we’re losing games,” Haley continued. “To me, we’ve got to create some more turnovers on defense and that would help us and it comes back to the minus plays. We’re now slowly starting to climb the ladder. We were dead last and there wasn’t anybody close.“

So are those stats pointless? Are those stats for losers? In the Chiefs case, yes. For right now at least.

But those statistics are still important and they will still typically hold true to that of traits representing winning teams so long as we have the NFL as we know it today. What the Chiefs must do is continue to excel in those areas. They’ll be better in the long-term for it.

Right now, those statistics tell a lot about this football team. The Chiefs are the exception to the rule. They will continue to be until they can eliminate the negative plays, big plays and mental errors.

“We’ve got to continue not to turn the ball over,” Haley said. “We’ve got to not have minus plays which we’ll get us into the Red area more, I’ve got to believe.

“So, there are some interesting things,” Haley continued. “But stats are for losers.”

INJURIES UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR IRON MAN GOFF
November 11th – 3:37 PM

Hoping to add a reliable rock of stability to the offensive line, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli went out and signed an iron man during the offseason. This iron man hadn’t missed a game since 2002. This iron man hadn’t missed a start since 2002. This iron man is now on injured reserve.

Today, the Chiefs officially placed right guard Mike Goff on injured reserve.

“Mike is an important piece to us who we signed in the off-season to help a lot of these young guys figure out how to do it,” Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said. “Disappointing that his season is over; I know he is disappointed. But as we’ve said, injury is a part of this game. We actually were a little heavy at offensive line so I feel that last week Andy [Alleman] stepped in and played and he missed a couple of plays but fought back and finished the game strong. We’ll have to carry on. Guys have to step in.“

Last Sunday, Andy Alleman took over the starting duties at right guard. The game marked his first start with the Chiefs. Overall, Alleman has played in 19 NFL games (four starts) with New Orleans (2007), Miami (2008) and Kansas City.

“I think Andy is a guy who has some experience, who has played and we got him for a reason,” Haley said. “He’s worked hard and he’s battled some things physically but I think he’s a tough guy who wants to play and show what he’s capable of.“

A man who will forever be paired with Alleman in Chiefs history is Ikechuku Ndukwe. Alleman and Ndukwe both arrived in Kansas City during a package trade for an undisclosed draft pick on August 24th. Now, with Goff done for the year, Ndukwe and Alleman will battle for time at the same position.

“That’s probably his best position really,” Haley said of Ndukwe. “We tried to force the issue at tackle early but if it came down to it that’s a position he’s really comfortable playing. He’ll have his shot in there. That’s why I feel fairly comfortable with that being the spot.“

Ndukwe started the team’s first three games this season at right tackle before Ryan O’Callaghan eventually took over those duties.

CHIEFS/RAIDERS EXPECTED TO BE BLACKED OUT IN OAKLAND
November 11th – 2:52 PM

For the second consecutive week, the Chiefs game is expected to be blacked out in the local market of the host team (and no, we’re not talking about the people of the “Black Hole,” we’re talking television coverage). Luckily, this has yet to affect fans residing in Kansas City.

Last weekend in Jacksonville, the Chiefs experienced their first local blackout of 2009 when the Jaguars local market was unable to watch the telecast due to the inablility to sell out the game for TV purposes. On Sunday, the Jaguars produced a final announced attendance of 45,546.

In Oakland, each home game has been blacked out locally with the exception of the Monday night home opener against San Diego. Even then the Raiders needed the league to grant a deadline extension to sell an ample amount of tickets. In Oakland’s last home date vs. the N.Y. Jets (10/25), the Raiders announced a paid attendance of just 39,354 fans.

”I think it’s a league-wide issue,” Raiders head coach Tom Cable said. “There are really just a handful of teams that are getting a good crowd to start the game and the crowd is still there at the end. It’s really kind of a league-wide issue.“

Perhaps Cable is right. Just last week, the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals needed a league extension to show their contest vs. Baltimore locally.

ASOMUGHA SEES MORE VERSATILITY AMONG CHIEFS RUNNERS
November 11th – 2:28 PM

CB Nnamdi Asomugha may be the best cornerback in the NFL. He also may been one of the most knowledgeable defenders when it comes to preparing to play against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since being selected by Oakland in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, Asomugha has played the Chiefs twice each year. This weekend, however, he will be preparing for a Chiefs team without RB Larry Johnson.

“It’s going to be different,” Asomugha said of the Chiefs offense without Johnson. “They still have a good running back group there, even without him. We knew what he brought to the table and he was always a guy that you had to key in on. It’s definitely going to be different. They can still run the ball and we haven’t been doing very well in the run, so we’re still going to have to play our best there.“

The last time that Asomugha prepared to face a runner other Johnson or Johnson’s predecessor Priest Holmes, Asomugha got ready to face an unknown rookie runner. That unknown rookie was third-stringer Kolby Smith in 2007. On that occasion, Smith made his first career start. The result was a Chiefs single-game rookie record 150-yard rushing performance turned in by Smith.

This time around, Asomugha remembers Smith, but he’ll also have to be prepared for a runner much different than Johnson as well; Jamaal Charles.

“I know that those are speed guys and quick guys,” Asomugha said. “They’ve been able to show that they have a lot of ability in the open field. Another thing about them is that they can catch the ball.

“The difference between them and LJ is that you can line them up anywhere and they can be utilized in many more ways than LJ was able to be utilized,” Asomugha continued. “We are going to have to be keying in on them in all aspects of the game.”

IT’S OFFICIAL: GOFF GOES TO INJURED RESERVE
November 11th – 12:58 PM

As was anticipated after making the trip to practice this afternoon, the Chiefs made it official by sending G Mike Goff to injured reserve.

LOTS OF INJURED CHIEFS IN WED. PRACTICE SESSION
November 11th – 11:48 AM

Lots of injuries today at practice for the Chiefs and the appearance of a semi-new face. I say semi-new, because LB Justin Rogers was back out on the practice field this afternoon. Rogers has been signed by the Chiefs twice this season (October 14th and 20th), but has yet to stay on the roster for a gameday. Apparently, Rogers has now been signed for a third time.

The only player missing from practice today was G Mike Goff. Common sense would lead one to believe that Goff has landed on injured reserve. He had a 113-game starting streak snapped last Sunday after battling a shoulder injury. Andy Alleman started in place of Goff at right guard last Sunday in Jacksonville. Still no confirmation from the team, however.

Another notable was S Jon McGraw’s return to the practice field, although DaJuan Morgan continued to take first-team reps at free safety. A trio of linebackers filled the team’s “rehab zone” - Jovan Belcher, David Herron and Mike Vrabel. LB Andy Studebaker filled in for Vrabel on the first-team defense.

Also, Lance Long continued to work with the first-team offense at slot receiver.

CHIEFS “JUST WIN”IN OAKLAND
November 11th – 9:57 AM

The Chiefs have only won seven games since the beginning of the 2007 season. Nearly a third of those victories, however, have come in Oakland. Despite the state of the franchise, whether it be a 13-3 2003 squad or a 2-14 2008 team, the Chiefs haven’t done anything except win football games when the club visits Oakland.

Currently, the Chiefs have a six-game winning streak when traveling west to take on the Raiders. The Chiefs last loss in Oakland came in that sloppy, rain-soaked contest at the end of the 2002 season (Oakland reached the Super Bowl that year). Overall, Kansas City has won almost 70% of their games in Oakland since 1995.

In fact, the Chiefs actually have the league’s longest winning streak in Oakland. San Diego also has a six-game winning streak, but has already burned their Oakland win in 2009. Through thick and thin, the Chiefs still manage to find victories out west. They haven’t come easy, though, as the average margin of victory has been just 6.7 points per game.

Many streaks have fallen during Kansas City’s two-plus season rough ride, but this is one that Chiefs fans have hung their hats on for years. Beating Oakland is always a high priority.

RAIDERS: PART DEUX
November 11th – 5:59 AM

It’s Raider Week…again.

Somebody give “Ol’ Grigs” a call, I think we could all use an “It’s RAAAIIIIIDDDDERRRRSS WEEK,” right about now.

For the first time of the Todd Haley era, we’ll see how Kansas City’s rookie head coach fares against a team he’s seen once before. A bit of a double-edged sword, Haley has the advantage of playing a familiar opponent with a rookie head coach. In Oakland, Tom Cable has that same advantage.

The two teams will be the same on Sunday, but their look will be quite different. On the surface, the Chiefs will simply look different as they will wear a white jersey/white pant look for the first time this season. Those uniforms, by the way, will be those of the 1962 Dallas Texans. Sunday’s game will be Kansas City’s final AFL Legacy Game of the season.

At their core, offensive and defensive schemes will also be the same for both the Chiefs and Raiders on Sunday, although exactly how each team tweaks their attack will remain to be seen. The personnel executing those schemes, however, will be much different – at least from a Raiders perspective.

As is the case with most teams coming off a bye weekend, the Raiders had a number of players practice on Monday who hadn’t been at work in quite some time. Four offensive starters returned to work when linemen Robert Gallery and Cornell Green returned to practice alongside offensive playmakers RB Darren McFadden and WR Chaz Schilens. It’s the first time that each of these four starters had been on the practice field at the same time since the preseason.

Schilens, a second-year player out of San Diego State, is a player who few are familiar with outside the Bay Area. Inside the walls of Al Davis’ Black Hole, however, Schilens is an athlete that the Raiders had high hopes for coming into 2009. Schilens is known for possession great leaping ability and was projected as being the Raiders primary receiving target heading into training camp this season. He missed the first eight games of the season with a broken foot suffered during the preseason.

The once dangerous “three-headed monster” in Oakland’s backfield has also been neutralized this season due to injury. The Raiders haven’t had the trio of McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas healthy and active at the same time except for two occasions this season. Only McFadden and Bush dressed the last time Kansas City faced Oakland.

Each team has struggled since the Week Two meeting at Arrowhead on September 20th. Both teams have been able to turn in just one victory since the two rivals squared off in Kansas City, but Oakland has struggled at a much greater level than Kansas City over those past six games. The Chiefs have put up double the offensive scoring (92-45) and given up 13 fewer points since that last meeting (154-167).

On paper, the two teams are almost dead even statistically. That’s fitting, considering both teams have similar records and Chiefs/Raiders games are traditionally competitive, regardless of the overall state of each franchise. But surely you remember the last meeting between these two teams. Obviously, what’s perceived isn’t what ultimately becomes reality.

The last time that the Chiefs played the Raiders, Kansas City dominated the football game from start to finish, but still managed to find a way to lose. In fact, the Chiefs dominated at such a high level, the game was the first time that the Raiders had ever won a football game giving up more than 400 yards of total offense while producing less than 200 total yards.

That right, the first time. The Raiders have been in existence since 1960. Ouch. It’s been that kind of season to date for Kansas City.

In the first meeting between the two teams, the Chiefs would limit Oakland to just 67 rushing yards and Raiders QB Jamarcus Russell would complete just seven passes, while the Chiefs would roll up over 400 yards of total offense. A typical score in this situation would be a large victory margin…30-3, 27-0, 44-6, 17-2…but it wasn’t. Point taken.

Want some more? The Chiefs ran 28 more plays than Oakland, more than doubled the Raiders first down output (25-to-11) and had the football for 17 more minutes than Oakland (38:39-to-21:21). Say it with me…D-O-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N.

Unfortunately, domination was defined by a 13-10 defeat for Kansas City in this one. Penalties, turnovers and mental lapses; they all piled on the Chiefs and they resulted in a loss, despite a one-sided football game.

Not to pile it on, but the point is that Haley and the Chiefs need to find a way to duplicate the offensive and defensive effort of their first outing against the Raiders. If they can, they won’t drop the season series to Oakland for the first time since 2001.

Chiefs fans need a little boost right now. Nothing brings together the town quite like a win against the Raiders.