Since starting their season 0-5, the Kansas City Chiefs have rebounded with three wins in their last six games.
Complementing the Chiefs’ recent success is a difficult road venue in Arrowhead Stadium. Denver is 1-12 all time in Kansas City during the month of December, with that lone victory coming fifteen years ago during Wade Phillips’ tenure as the team’s head coach.
“We know how difficult this has historically been, not only for the Denver Broncos but for any team, to go into Arrowhead Stadium and to win in December,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “We would anticipate a very difficult division game ahead of us this weekend against a team that is continuing to get better as the season progresses.”
Two sparks behind the Chiefs’ progress include a player who wasn’t a big factor early in the season — running back Jamaal Charles — and another who wasn’t even with the team — wide receiver Chris Chambers.
After signing Chambers on Nov. 3 and releasing Larry Johnson on Nov. 9, the Chiefs finished 2-2 in the month of November. One of those two losses came in Jacksonville by a narrow 24-21 margin.
Over the first seven weeks of the season, the Chiefs’ single-game rushing high was Johnson’s 83 yards in a 14-6 win at Washington. Since Johnson’s departure to Cincinnati, Charles has racked up 90 rushing yards in a Week 10 win at Oakland and 103 rushing yards in last week’s loss to the Chargers.
With a 5.2 yards-per-carry average, the Broncos defense is already on notice regarding Charles’ capabilities.
“He’s a tough runner,” Wesley Woodyard said. “We’ve seen plays where guys take shots at him but he refuses to go down. And not only that, his play spreads over to special teams — he gets out there and makes tackles and he’s a good returner. So we have to make sure we can’t let him get in the game this week.”
Having that versatile weapon has opened up Kansas City’s passing game. Quarterback Matt Cassel’s options have been boosted by his rapport with Chambers.
Over those four November games, Chambers hauled in 17 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Of those 17 receptions, five went for 20-plus yards and 13 went for first downs.
“He has added a playmaker to their offense, without question,” Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said of Chambers. “He has been a guy that the quarterback feels confident in on a short notice.”
From working with him over the last four seasons in New England, McDaniels got a first-hand look at Cassel’s confidence. With him under center, the Chiefs have played competitively, as three of their eight losses this season have come by a total of 12 points.
To McDaniels, that stat defines how well this upcoming opponent prepares on a weekly basis.
“What I do know is this team plays hard, has a game plan each week and usually executes that plan pretty doggone well,” McDaniels said. “That’s why they’ve been in a lot of close games, some they’ve won (and) some they’ve lost. It’s like most teams in the league. You change a few plays here or there, you could be talking about a 6-5, 7-4 team instead of a team that doesn’t have that many wins.”
MCDANIELS ISSUES APOLOGY
McDaniels issued the following apology at his press conference Tuesday:
“I am going to just make sure that I apologize to anybody that was offended by the language that I used the other night on the sidelines during the (New York Giants) game,” he said. “I certainly didn’t intend for that to come across in that fashion and would hope that that never happens again. I’ll try my best to make sure that it doesn’t from my end, but anybody who was offended by that, young or old, I know that’s not the kind of example that I want to set or that we want to set here with the Broncos organization. I would ask people to accept that apology for that incident.”
Here are some photos from the start of Tuesday’s practice session:
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Nolan, Week 13
I am wandering why McD was miked on live T.V. there is a very good reason why all who are normally miced are edited before heard on a broadcast. I am sure there are many things foul and otherwise said during the heat of the moment on the sidelines. No apology needed imo.
One last comment, there is a big difference when using the f bomb as an adjective as opposed to a noun.
I echo the sentiment…McD has nothing to apologize for…it fired the team up and quite frankly,like said earlier,NFL Knuckleheads had a chance to edit it out.If i remember correctly,we came out of commercial and the announcers said something to the effect of”Heres what happened on the Denver sideline while we were at break”.So,there fault,not McD’s…i loved it….
Hey guys, 07elway wrote an article about the history of the Broncos. This article is part 3. So check it out.
http://broncosarebest.blogspot.com/2009/12/celebrating-50-years-of-bronco-history.html
stevecan2
McD was not Miked for the game they just got to close with the audio pick up and caught the Fleecing of the O line. NFL Networks Bad!!
Concerning McD’s tirade; there’s a time to call a spade a spade; a time to call it an earth mover and a time to call it a GD shovel. Guess what time it was? And do any of you think that the Giants coaching staff was over there saying,”Golly whiz, guys, you really need to stop getting outplayed”? They just weren’t recorded.
To win this game, the Broncos will have to play even better than they did on Thanksgiving night. Absolute total dominance of the Chiefs is the only way the Broncos will win.
20-17 in OT by winner of coin toss.
babychamp: I agree with your post on Elam! Very stand up guy on and off the field. Most clutch kicker in Denver and the NFL for that matter for many many years. His teammates didn’t call him ICE because he froze up in the times we needed him most, it was because nothing could faze him. I will never forget that game against the Faiders with no timeouts, clock running down, no timeouts left and Elam got on the field to win the game as time expired. Also, the way I remember it! Elam was grooming Prater on becoming the kicker for the Broncos because they didn’t want to have 2 kickers on their payroll. How many people on this post right now would want to free up a roster spot for 2 kickers? one to kick off, and one to kick field goals? DIDN’T THINK SO!. Jason out of any player on this teams past, present, or future showed what it was like to be player that could be counted on week in and week out.
He also knows what the good book says about the “LOVE of money being the root of all evil” so IMHO don’t think that had anything to do with it!
Jason the HOF should be waiting for you when you decide to retire. Good luck from a huge fan!
Coach
stevecan2: Sorry, meant to say I agree with your take on Elam
I don’t accept McD’s apology, because he shouldn’t be sorry. I don’t go around with a potty mouth but if you want to use those words, I can’t deny you your 1st Amendment. I also can’t be mad for you exercising that right. When you’re in the red zone and you end up having 3 penalties and settling for a FG, his words were right on. “We’re trying to win a *beep* game.” That’s what we’re trying to do, and another message I like about McD is he said he wants “the players and staff to accept the message, not how it is delivered.” Sometimes you have to deliver it with a punch or no one will notice. Anyway when emotions get rollin’ those things happen.
Hopefully Goody works on his hands..could’ve had 3 picks last week. I really want a repeat of last week. Just punish the Chiefs and not let the crowd even get into the game. Hopefully we can make Charles aware of a guy named Dawkins. We should introduce Cassel to Dumervil, Dawkins, DJ, Champ and the entire D really. Let’s just destroy Cassel!!!
Go Bronocs!!!!
Well said stevecan2 on your 10:15 and 10:27pm posts from 12/01/09.
babychamp-broncos and stevecan2, as far as entering your picks this week, I can only take your first pick, babychamp 38-6, stevecan 20-17.
07, if you will never go to a game at Arrowhead ever again because of the cussing, then I must tell you, you should never go to any NFL games in any NFL stadium, including Invesco. The game of football is a place where all of the week’s stress is released in different types of fashion, and some resort to foul language, intentional or not, to do so. This is not like going to church, different times for different things. I am sorry that you feel bad about this blog and how people interact, personally I love it, sure there are some dorks out here, always will be some, no matter where you go or what you do, that’s the nature of life, every one is different. Your high standards are to be applauded, but they will keep you out of the loop more times than would care to, not all people who swear here and there are bad people, and not all people who don’t swear are good people. In fact, a lot of mass murderers are referred to as the nice guy living down the street who seemed so polite, you would of never thought…. My point is things are not always the way they look, and I, for one, will not write someone off for poor language, now, if they are plain mean spirited, like some guys on this blog have proven to be, that’s different and I just ignore them, don’t engage them, so they are the losers anyway. But, lady, come on, you have to get over those high standards of yours from time to time so you can enjoy the greatest live show on earth, an NFL game in an NFL stadium. For the time I have been reading you and seen how you stand up to your beliefs and principles and how you fight others over every single one of them, it seems that you are making your existence way more complicated than it ought to be, simplicity is key to bliss, it’s water under the bridge, don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill, that sort of things goes a long way to a long healthy prosperous life, the standing up for your belief at all cost and at all times is a sure way to end up with a lot more pain than we can handle in this world. We make our own lifes, I respect your choices, I just thought this old man would give you something to think about, what you do with it is your choice, your life.
28-13 Broncos
sorry 27-13
im going to the game this weekend i cant wait last time i went to a bronco game it was in arrowhead and denver lost and i took so much crap from dum chef fans lol i hope we completely dominate them sunday
42-3 denver
well, normally i dont make my pick till later in the week, but im feelin froggy today soo…..
30-13 for denver of course!
moreno FINALLY gets his 100 yd game plus 2 TD’s
Orton has a fair day with 250 yds and 1TD
our redzone woes will continue i think tho (unless McD runs a lot more there) and prater gets his 3 FGs.
Doom gets 2.5 sack
Defense gets 3 turnovers
Charles only get 68 yds on the ground
there ya go baylin… my final answer!
Go Broncos
“DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS”
Got your picks, guys, keep them coming.
Ok baylinorcrush, ive looked at everything and have decided and came up with my pick!
Broncos 30-7!
Bay – I’m done answering to you or anyone else around here but don’t you dare tell me to “get over my high standards”. I don’t need your “old man” analysis on life everytime I disagree with something. I’m beyond mature for my age, had to be that way since I was 11, I don’t need anyone telling me to chill out or anything. I’m probably the most relaxed person you’d ever meet… I just don’t go around looking for trouble.
And I never said I was going to write someone off (in this case McD) b/c of this. I respect him for apologizing to those of us who didn’t care for what we heard. How many people in this business do you know would do that? Probably no one. Like I said before BOTH parties are at fault, more so the NFLN for airing it but there would be nothing to argue about had McD not said it. However, I understand he got caught up in the moment but it was that one word he said that has caused a ruckus around here. This subject is getting real old, real fast.
Broncos will come out in full force on Sunday and come away with a rare win in KC.
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS!!!!
This blog took a harsh turn…”Its like Daddy just him Mommy at the dinner table but were all still tryin’ to eat..its OK Daddy just got a little crazy its ok, just eat..I don’t wanna eat.” LOL…Dane Cook you so funny.
I’m still tryin’ to figure out what Dumervil is doing in the picture above..Nolan kind of looks mad..LOL.
Go Broncos!!!!
McDaniels isn’t Shanahan, so the past record has no relevance. The thing that helps McDaniels have so much succes is that he is so good at finding a way to exploit the other team and adjusts his team accordingly. Shanahan wouldn’t adjust until midgame.