Chiefs Vs. Packers Reaction: Kansas City Provided Glimpse At Running Emphasis

During Week 3 of the preseason, Matt Cassel threw 34 passes before Brady Quinn came in to throw an additional 10 passes. Those 44 passes far out-numbered the 25 rushing attempts by the Chiefs and left fans confused about the offense of a team that typically is dependent on the run.

In Week 4 things appeared to be back to normal, according to Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride:

Against the Packers on Thursday, KC's offense looked a lot more familiar -- run, run, run. In fact, the Chiefs ran the ball 10 consecutive times to start the game. Four running backs were used in that span -- Peyton Hillis, Jamaal Charles, Shaun Draughn and Nate Eachus (Eachus' first first-team snaps). Matt Cassel threw one pass to Dwayne Bowe and then left the game. The Chiefs then went back to rushing the ball.

By the end of the game, the Chiefs had racked up 21 passing attempts, while running back Nate Eachus finished the game with 21 rushing attempts. Add in another 23 rushing attempts combined between five other running backs and it was clear that Kansas City hoped to place their emphasis back on the ground game.

For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company, and for Chiefs coverage, be sure to visit Arrowhead Pride. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for even more football coverage.

Chiefs Vs. Packers Final Score: Kansas City Held Out Of End Zone, Lose 24-3

The Kansas City Chiefs had a poor outing in their final preseason game as they fell to the Green Bay Packers 24-3 Friday night. The Chiefs got on the board in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Succop in the first quarter, but that would be the only points that they would score.

The Chiefs were burned by Packers quarterback Graham Harrell who was near-perfect as he completed 13-of-15 passes for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. As for the Chiefs quarterbacks they played four quarterbacks and none played all that well. Starter Brady Quinn was unable to move the offense and was 6-for-12 with 83 yards as well as throwing an interception.

The one bright spot for the Chiefs was their rushing game which amassed 247 yards with Nate Eachus rushing for 99 of those yards to lead the team.

Chiefs Vs. Packers: QB Brady Quinn Throws First Half INT, Packers Lead 14-3

Chiefs QB Brady Quinn was 6-for-12 for 83 yards and an interception, taking most of the snaps under center for Kansas City in the first half. It didn't generate much offense, however, and the Chiefs are trailing the Packers 14-3 at halftime.

Chiefs starting QB Matt Cassel threw one pass -- a completion for nine yards on the Chiefs' second drive -- and his night was over.

Kansas City started the game with nine consecutive rushes split between Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis and Nate Eachus, but it stalled, and ended with a missed 54-yard field goal by Ryan Succop.

Cassel hit Bowe on a nine-yard completion as part of their field goal scoring second drive, taking the lead in the first quarter.

It wouldn't last. Green Bay CB Sam Shields picked Quinn off in the end zone, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead. QB Graham Harrell connected with Green on a 17-yard strike on the Packers next possession to jump to 14-3.

For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company, and for Chiefs coverage, be sure to visit Arrowhead Pride.

Chiefs Vs. Packers: Game Time, TV Schedule, Injury Updates And More

The Kansas City Chiefs finish the preseason in Lambeau Field as they head to Green Bay to face the Packers on Thursday.

Chiefs' Injuries In Secondary Piling Up As Preseason Ends

With the start of the NFL regular season only a week away, the injury situation in the Kansas City Chiefs secondary is becoming more of a concern.

Kansas City will not have two of their starters in the defensive backfield -- CB Brandon Flowers and S Kendrick Lewis -- available for their final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Their status for their first regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons is still questionable as well.

Even worse, Flowers backup Jalil Brown suffered a groin injury in their preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks and has been unable to practice.

As a result, the Chiefs have turned to third-string CB Jacques Reeves, a 29-year old journeyman whose bounced around the NFL, to man the position across from Stanford Routt.

With two games against both Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning, Kansas City will need their secondary to be at full strength if they intend to make a run at the playoffs in 2012.

Read more on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Pride and SB Nation Kansas City.

Chiefs OLB Andy Studebaker Discusses NFL Cut Week

Cut week in the NFL is a stressful period for almost every player who isn't a superstar. But even with that added pressure, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Andy Studebaker insists that his fellow teammates haven't been trying to overcompensate.

"This is just that time of year," Studebaker said. "I don't think our pace has changed that much over the last two days as far as guys working harder because camp is about to be over."

This news might come as a surprise to some but perhaps it's just a case of the players trying to show the coaching staff that they're confident in their abilities to contribute. Still, with the NFL requiring rosters to be cut down from 75 to 53 players by Friday, Studebaker acknowledges that it's nearly impossible not to think about the reality of the business.

"...it's in the back of guys' minds, this is the reality of the situation that we're in," Studebaker said. "We have a lot of great guys. Sadly there are going to be some cuts, and it's just that time of year. Guys are playing hard, and we'll see what happens."

Luckily for Studebaker, his roster spot is essentially locked up as he's currently pegged to be Tamba Hali's replacement with the star pass-rusher suspended by the NFL for the season opener. With that in mind, it's still speaks a lot to Studebaker's character that he can relate to these players whose futures are remain very much up in the air.

Chiefs Depth Chart 2012: Urgency Increases For Outside Linebackers

The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot to figure out before cutting the roster down to 53 men on Friday.

Matt Cassel Says Dwayne Bowe 'Will Be Ready To Go' Despite Training Camp Absence

To say Dwayne Bowe was behind the curve was an understatement given the wide receiver held out through offseason activities and through the entirety of Kansas City Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Instead of getting into camp to learn the new Chiefs offense, Bowe decided to wait several weeks to make his stance known on his contract frustrations with the franchise tender. The end result was an impact player who was several practices, drills and playbook sessions behind everyone else.

Yet from the moment he's arrived, Bowe said he's made it his mission to learn as much as he can as quickly as he can including coming early and staying late. His teammates seem to agree that he's finally coming along in Brian Daboll's offense.

"He's working hard," said quarterback Matt Cassel. "Each and every day he is here early before everybody else even gets in the building, so he's working hard, he's doing his part. I think the coaches and everybody else that are trying to get him going are doing the same thing."

Cassel would not say whether he'll be absolutely ready to start against the Atlanta Falcons in the season opener, but he does believe that Bowe will have himself ready.

"He'll be ready to go, I'm sure. Again, it's not my decision whether or not he's ready, but the coaches will make that ultimate decision."

Everybody Panic! It's Preseason With The Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs lost a preseason game, which inevitably means widespread panic in the heartland.

Will Brandon Flowers Miss Chiefs' Opener Against Falcons?

The foot injury suffered by Brandon Flowers of the Chiefs still has the cornerback being withheld from practice and it is now possible that Flowers, arguably the Chiefs' best defensive back, will miss the regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

ESPN's Bill Williamson looked at injuries in the AFC West and highlighted the possibility:

Kansas City cornerback Brandon Flowers is still not practicing because of a foot injury he suffered July 31. With the regular season starting in 13 days, it is safe to say Flowers is in jeopardy of missing the opener against the pass-happy Falcons.

As Williamson notes, the Falcons are a pass-happy team that features dynamic receiving threats like Julio Jones and Roddy White. Matt Ryan leads the NFL in passing after three weeks of the regular season and the Falcons finished in the top 10 in the NFL in passing last season.

Flowers, a second round pick in 2008 of the Chiefs, signed a five-year extension worth $50 million during the 2011 season and has 13 career interceptions with the team.

For more on the Chiefs, visit Arrowhead Pride and SB Nation Kansas City.

Brady Quinn Earns Kansas City's No. 2 Quarterback Spot

Although it hardly comes as a shock considering recent developments this preseason, the Kansas City Star's Adam Teicher confirmed on Monday that the Chiefs will open the year with veteran Brady Quinn as their No. 2 quarterback.

A player like Quinn feels like he's been around the league for a while now, but at 27 years old he's still just entering his sixth NFL season and has plenty to prove. The strong-armed former Notre Dame product beat out an ineffective Ricky Stanzi for the backup gig fairly easily this preseason, in a competition that many originally thought Stanzi had a chance to win.

Along with his dismal 66.8 career quarterback rating, Quinn has not thrown a pass in a regular season game since his 2009 campaign with the Browns. Despite each of those being obvious red flags for a backup quarterback, Quinn still does possess the necessary arm strength and moxie to add more than he detracts from his team's offense when on the field. And on a team looking to make opponents pay with its run game and defensive pressure, that might be all Kansas City needs.

The Chiefs certainly don't want to envision life without their starting quarterback anytime soon, but like it or not, it will definitely be Quinn who gets the first crack if something should happen to Matt Cassel this season.

Check out Arrowhead Pride for more Chiefs coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for even more analysis from around the league.

Dontari Poe Could Start For Chiefs Against Green Bay Packers

Dontari Poe is likely to face a long year in his rookie season. It's simply the nature of learning the defensive tackle position as a rookie in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs are going to make certain that Poe will have the chance to take it all in as they figure out how to handle Poe and the steep learning curve.

Head coach Romeo Crennel said that Poe might get the chance to start against Green Bay in the preseason finale when the Chiefs face the Packers. With Anthony Toribio likely out due to injury, Crennel said he liked Poe's ability to learn in a place like Lambeau.

"Probably Dontari might get the chance to start because it's Green Bay," said Crennel when asked who would start in Toribio's place. "What they represent is Title Town, they're the Packers, and to play in that environment, I think will be good for anybody, but particularly for a rookie."

Crennel said the Chiefs first round choice is coming along at an expected pace with both signs of life and rookie mistakes.

"He's making progress, but he's still that rookie that reverts back to what he knows at times and he forgets how to remember how we want to do it," said Crennel. "I know there was one play in the game, he was in good position on the block, and then he ended up jumping off the block. He thought that he could make the play, and that opened up a hole. You have to point those out to him and get him to correct it. He's a conscientious student, so I think that he will get it corrected."

He'll get a great chance to learn against the Packers this weekend.

Head over to Arrowhead Pride for more Chiefs coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Chiefs Injury Round-Up: Brandon Flowers, Kendrick Lewis Among Several Hurting In KC

With all eyes looking to Thursday's preseason finale with the Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs continue to deal with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball as the 2012 NFL season looms large.

Among the most pressing issues for head coach Romeo Crennel right now is the health of his secondary, as defensive backs Brandon Flowers, Kendrick Lewis and Jalil Brown all continue to sit out with respective injuries. "Flowers is still working on his foot, Kendrick is still working on his shoulder, but Kendrick is beginning to do strengthening motions and things like that, so he’s coming on a little bit," Crennel said.

The timetable for the 24-year-old Brown appears to be a bit more inconsistent however, as he's one of two players on the roster along with wide receiver Terrance Copper currently dealing with a nagging groin injury. "We’ve got two guys with groins," Crennel said, "So we’re going to rest those guys and try to get them back as soon as possible also."

Aside from also being forced to treat ankle injuries to defensive linemen Allen Bailey and Anthony Toribio, Crennel did offer up a bit of good news as he announced that both tailback Cyrus Gray and corner DeQuan Menzie would begin to be eased back into action. "Cyrus Gray and Menzie, they’ll be out there in a limited form and fashion and we’ll see what they can do," he said. "We’re going to keep an eye on our big three with the knees – just check their reps and not overdo it with those guys."

It's obvious that staying healthy will be a big part of what the Chiefs want to achieve in 2012, but this is hardly a promising start after a campaign a year ago that was marred by ill-timed injuries. Crennel's defensive secondary alone is taking the brunt of things right now, and that could be a recipe for disaster playing the same division as Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning.

Head over to Arrowhead Pride for more Chiefs coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Chiefs Vs. Packers: Jacques Reeves Could Start At Corner For KC

Injuries have hit the Kansas City Chiefs somewhat hard during the preseason, with the cornerback position being especially bitten by the injury bug with both Brandon Flowers and Jalil Brown likely out for the Chiefs' next game against the Green Bay Packers. That leaves veteran Jacques Reeves as the likely starter according to ESPN's latest Chiefs notes:

With starting cornerback Brandon Flowers still out with a foot injury he suffered almost four weeks ago and replacement Jalil Brown dealing with a groin injury he suffered against Seattle, Jacques Reeves is currently a starter alongside Stanford Routt.

The several injuries to cornerbacks should be alleviated by the time the regular season starts for the Chiefs, with at least one of Brown or Flowers likely to return in time.

For more on the Chiefs as the preseason winds down, visit Arrowhead Pride. For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company. And for all your NFL news as teams trim their rosters, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Chiefs Announce First Roster Cuts Of NFL Preseason

The Kansas City Chiefs made the first of two sets of roster cuts during the preseason on Sunday, trimming their roster down to the league-mandated 75 players.

The most notable player on the cut list is wide receiver Jeremy Horne, who spent the last two seasons with the Chiefs. Horne appeared in 12 games in 2010 and 2011, catching one pass for five yards and returning two kickoffs for 44 yards.

Here is a full list of cuts, by position:

Offense

Running backs: Shane Bannon

Tight ends: Tim Biere

Wide receivers: Jeremy Horne, Brandon Kinnie, Zeke Markshausen, Aaron Weaver

Offensive linemen: Justin Cheadle, Cam Holland

Defense

Defensive linemen: Ethan Johnson

Linebackers: Caleb Campbell, Dexter Heyman

Defensive backs: Dominique Ellis, Jean Fanor

Special Teams

Kickers: Matt Szymanski

The Chiefs will have to cut the roster to the regular season limit of 53 by Aug. 31, meaning that this Thursday's game vs. the Green Bay Packers will be of paramount importance to depth players.

For more on the Chiefs as the preseason winds down, visit Arrowhead Pride. For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company. And for all your NFL news as teams trim their rosters, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Chiefs Injuries Piling Up In Secondary

The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Green Bay on Thursday licking their wounds from a preseason drubbing at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. While there is cause for concern after the performances against the Rams and Seahawks, Kansas City will likely try to avoid any serious injuries and play things safe in the final exhibition before the opener.

One area that's been hit hard by preseason injuries is the cornerback position, which suffered another blow against the Seahawks when Jalil Brown went down with a groin injury. Brown was already starting in place of the injured Brandon Flowers, who is expected to sit out Thursday and miss the entire preseason. It's now also likely that Brown will be on the shelf Thursday at Lambeau. That means Jacques Reeves will see plenty of action at corner just one day before the roster is trimmed to the final 53. Romeo Crennel thinks Reeves can hang in there at the starting spot against the Packers (via Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star):

"Jacques made a play in the game (Friday) night on a long ball down the sideline. Now, (Terrell Owens) also caught one on him but he did make a play. He's got a little experience so I think he'll go out and do a pretty good job."

In addition to the missing corners, it's likely that Crennel will also be without wideout Terrance Copper and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio.

For more on the Chiefs as the preseason winds down, visit Arrowhead Pride. For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company. And for all your NFL news as teams trim their rosters, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Chiefs Vs. Packers: Green Bay Awaits As KC's Final Preseason Opponent

The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Green Bay for the final preseason showcase ahead of Friday's 53-man roster deadline.