Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu Out of Playoff Game vs. Bills After Suffering Concussion
Jan 24, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) points during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
The Kansas City Chiefs announced star Tyrann Mathieu was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills after he was placed in concussion protocol.
The veteran safety finished the 2021 season with 76 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
For comparison, he finished the 2020 season with six interceptions, nine passes defended, one fumble recovery and 62 tackles in 15 games.
Regardless, losing Mathieu for any period of time isn't great for the Chiefs, as their defense has struggled throughout the season. The team finished 27th in the league with 368.9 yards allowed per game.
There's also no other player in the secondary who can fill Mathieu's role, as he's one of the most versatile players on the Kansas City defense.
Chiefs' Tyreek Hill Fined $13K for Celebrating with Pompoms in Win vs. Steelers
Jan 22, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 16: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter of the game in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill was fined by the NFL for his pompom touchdown celebration during last week's AFC Wild Card Round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the league fined Hill $12,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct, although no flag was thrown on the play.
The celebration occurred during the third quarter of Kansas City's 42-21 win after Hill scored a touchdown to extend the Chiefs' lead to 34-7.
Hill grabbed some pompoms from a Chiefs cheerleader and began dancing around, much to the delight of the home crowd at Arrowhead Stadium:
The celebration was reminiscent of Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens, who shook pompoms after scoring a touchdown while he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2002.
Hill recorded five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in last weekend's game, which was highlighted by the Chiefs scoring 35 unanswered points after initially falling behind 7-0.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense took control of the game after Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Mahomes got his entire receiving corps involved and threw for 404 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in the victory.
Kansas City may need a similar offensive performance Sunday when it hosts the Buffalo Bills in a highly anticipated AFC Divisional Round clash.
Chiefs' Willie Gay Will Play vs. Bills Despite Arrest Wednesday for Criminal Damage
Jan 21, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs middle linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (50) runs for the play during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay will play in the AFC Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Head coach Andy Reid told reporters Gay will be available despite being arrested Wednesday.
Per ESPN's Adam Teicher, Gay was released from a detention center in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thursday after pleading not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal property damage of less than $1,000.
In a statement to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Gay's representative, Maxx Lepselter, said his client was visiting his son when he got into an argument with the child's mother and broke her vacuum cleaner.
"No one was touched … beyond the broken appliance," Lepselter said.
According to Teicher, the police report estimated the total damage at $225 for the vacuum, a cellphone screen protector, a humidifier and damage to a wall and door frame.
Gay practiced for the first time this week Friday. The second-year linebacker has established himself as a valuable starter for the Chiefs defense.
A second-round draft pick out of Mississippi State in 2020, Gay appeared in all 16 regular-season games as a rookie but missed the Chiefs' three playoff games, including Super Bowl LV, because of an ankle injury and torn meniscus.
Gay missed the first four games this season while on injured reserve. The 23-year-old appeared in 12 games during the regular season. He recorded 48 combined tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions in 2021.
The Chiefs will host the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET with a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Will Play for Chiefs vs. Bills After Recovery from Injury
Jan 21, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be on the field for Sunday's AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills.
Per ESPN's Adam Teicher, Edwards-Helaire doesn't have an injury designation on the final practice report released Friday.
Edwards-Helaire was listed on the official injury report throughout the week with a shoulder issue, but he has been a full participant in practice each of the past three days.
The 22-year-old has had a tough season from an injury standpoint. He missed seven games during the regular season because of MCL and shoulder issues as well as the team's 42-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round.
Otherwise, Edwards-Helaire had a solid season, rushing for 517 yards and four scores while adding 19 catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. He split time with Darrel Williams, who came into the postseason with his own injury concerns and didn't see the field much in the win over the Steelers.
That opened the door for a bigger role for Jerick McKinnon, who responded with 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
"Every day you have something to prove in this league," McKinnon told reporters after the game. "I knew that I would get a little bit more opportunities than I've had in the other games that we played ... and I just wanted to prove to my teammates and my coaches that I can get the job done."
"I've seen it from training camp on that he's a playmaker," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of McKinnon. "Obviously, he's dealt with injury in his career and he dealt with a little bit of injury this season, but he's kept his mindset right, he's kept working hard. And I knew with some other guys kind of being down and dinged up that he would step in and fill in nicely."
Given how well McKinnon played last week against the Steelers, he might be in line for a bigger role against the Bills. Edwards-Helaire has started all 25 games he's played over the past two seasons, including two playoff games last year.
The Chiefs are hosting the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET. They would advance to their fourth consecutive AFC Championship Game with a win.
Damon Arnette Signs Chiefs Contract, Was Released by Raiders for Threatening IG Posts
Jan 20, 2022
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed cornerback Damon Arnette to a reserve/futures contract, per Field Yates of ESPN.
Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted the player won't be available to play in the postseason for Kansas City, but he will be on the 90-player offseason roster.
Arnette began the year with the Las Vegas Raiders but was released in November after posting an Instagram video where he threatened to kill someone and showed several guns (warning: strong language).
The Miami Dolphins added the 25-year-old to their practice squad in December, but he will now get a chance with the Chiefs.
Arnette joined the Raiders as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Ohio State product appeared in just nine games as a rookie but made seven starts, totaling 25 tackles with two passes defended.
He saw a smaller role to begin 2021, playing just 21 percent of defensive snaps in four games, per Pro Football Reference.
The Raiders placed him on injured reserve in October due to a groin injury, and he never returned before being released.
Kansas City will now take a chance on the young cornerback while providing some insurance with Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes set to enter free agency.
Chiefs' Willie Gay Arrested on Misdemeanor Criminal Damage Charge
Jan 20, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 08: Willie Gay Jr. #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs exits the field after defeating the Denver Broncos 28-24 at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was arrested Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property of less than $1,000.
Gay was arrested at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Overland Park, Kansas, and is currently being held at the Johnson County Detention Center while he awaits bond.
Maxx Lepselter, Gay's representative, told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Gay and the mother of his son got into an argument, during which he broke a vacuum.
Gay, 23, is in his second season with the Chiefs after being a 2020 second-round draft pick. He recorded 48 tackles and 0.5 sacks during the regular season and had two tackles and a forced fumble in Kansas City's wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills in a divisional-round matchup Sunday. There has been no word on whether the pending criminal case will impact Gay's status for the game.
Patrick Mahomes: I Told Ben Roethlisberger I Have 'So Much Respect' for Him
Jan 17, 2022
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs shakes hands with Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the conclusion of a 42-37 Chiefs victory at Heinz Field on September 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes defeated Ben Roethlisberger during Sunday's playoff matchup, but the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has nothing but respect for the Pittsburgh Steelers legend.
"I just told him I have so much respect for him, I've watched him growing [up], and the way he plays the game, he competes to the very end," Mahomes said during his postgame interview on NBC (h/t The Athletic) when asked what he told Roethlisberger following Kansas City's 42-21 win. "And he did that this whole entire season."
The stark contrast between the two quarterbacks' respective trajectories was on full display Sunday night.
Mahomes put on a show and finished 30-of-39 passing for 404 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He unleashed perfectly placed deep balls to Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, mixed in an underhanded touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon, and was in full control from the second quarter on after a slow start.
Big Ben never established much of a rhythm until the game was well out of hand, leaving the Steelers to fall behind 35-7 midway through the third quarter.
He managed touchdown passes to Diontae Johnson and James Washington in what amounted to garbage-time production for the visitors, ending with a stat line of 29-of-44 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
While Mahomes is on pace to pass many of his counterpart's numbers and achievements if the early portion of his own career is any indication, there is no questioning Roethlisberger's on-field greatness.
He has two Super Bowl rings and is fifth on the NFL's all-time list with 64,088 passing yards and eighth with 418 career touchdown passes. He battled the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and more as one of the faces of the league during the last two decades and helped pave the way for players like Mahomes in a passing-based league.
Yet it is the younger Mahomes' Chiefs that are advancing in the playoffs as they pursue a third straight Super Bowl appearance.
Video: Watch Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Walk off Field After Potential Final Game
Jan 17, 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) walks off the field at the end of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-21. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Ben Roethlisberger's time in the NFL might have come to a close following the Pittsburgh Steelers' 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Late last month, the 39-year-old indicated that he might retire following the 2021 season.
"I don't ever speak in definites or guarantees. That's just not what I've ever done or who I am," Roethlisberger said before his final regular-season home game, per Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports. "But looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs are pointing that this could be it."
With the possibility that Saturday night's game could have been his last in the NFL, watch as Roethlisberger walked off the field in Kansas City to a salute from fans who attended the game:
Roethlisberger will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, having led the Steelers back to prominence with two Super Bowl titles in his 18 seasons with the franchise.
He is also a six-time Pro Bowler and the Steelers' all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and wins as the starting quarterback.
The 2004 11th overall pick finished up his regular-season career having completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 64,088 yards, 418 touchdowns and 211 interceptions.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Rout Steelers in Ben Roethlisberger's Potential Final Game
Jan 17, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts on the field before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
The Kansas City Chiefs are two wins away from their third straight trip to the Super Bowl.
Kansas City beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 42-21 in Sunday's AFC Wild Card Round game at Arrowhead Stadium. Patrick Mahomes was unstoppable and led the way for the victors, who continued their recent dominance of the AFC.
While the Steelers actually scored first, it was quickly clear how overmatched they were on both sides of the ball in what may have been Ben Roethlisberger's final game. They are also still looking for their first playoff win since the 2016 campaign.
Notable Player Stats
Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC: 30-of-39 passing for 404 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
Jerick McKinnon, RB, KC: 12 carries for 61 yards; 6 catches for 81 yards, 1 TD
Travis Kelce, TE, KC: 5 catches for 108 yards, 1 TD; 1-for-1 passing for 2 yards, 1 TD
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT: 29-of-44 passing for 215 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Chiefs Offense Overcomes Slow Start in Dominant Fashion
Kansas City already beat Pittsburgh by 26 during the regular season without Travis Kelce and has far bigger and realistic goals than a first-round win, meaning anything but a straightforward victory would have qualified as a surprise.
The start of the game did not follow the script.
Kansas City's first five possessions ended in three punts, Devin Bush intercepting Mahomes and T.J. Watt returning a fumble on a botched wildcat play for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh the initial lead. It was a rather shocking development, and it looked as if the Steelers were going to take the lead into the half.
He ripped off three touchdown passes in the last six minutes of the first half with the first one going to Jerick McKinnon on a shovel pass, the second one going to Byron Pringle with a perfectly placed ball in the corner of the end zone and the third going to Kelce after he broke free on an inexplicable busted coverage in the final seconds before intermission.
Suddenly the Chiefs could do no wrong as McKinnon darted through Pittsburgh's defense, Demarcus Robinson made plays downfield and even offensive lineman Nick Allegretti caught a touchdown on a trick play. Throw in a deep ball to Hill for a touchdown, and the game was over in the blink of an eye when it looked for a moment as if Kansas City would be challenged.
Instead, it felt like the home team could have picked the score when it went even deeper in the playbook and had Kelce throw a touchdown pass to Pringle in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills will stop the Chiefs from reaching a third straight Super Bowl this season, but the version of Mahomes and Co. that took the field Sunday looks ready to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Pittsburgh's Offense Overmatched Until It's Too Late
Frankly, Sunday's game felt like a formality on paper. After all, the Steelers barely snuck into the playoffs thanks to the Indianapolis Colts' stunning loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and were given the daunting challenge of facing the Chiefs in Kansas City as a reward.
It was far too great of a challenge.
While the Steelers' defense deserves plenty of credit for not only keeping them in the game but actually giving them a lead in the first half with a touchdown, their offense was completely overmatched.
Roethlisberger struggled to hit anyone downfield, and Najee Harris had no running room against Kansas City's defensive front. Perhaps the Roethlisberger of old could have used his legs to keep plays alive and find streaking receivers, but there is a notable lack of zip on his throws at this point.
Pittsburgh finished the first half with seven punts and two first downs in an abysmal offensive performance that likely had neutral fans wishing Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs instead of the No. 7 seed.
Things somehow got worse when Harris lost a fumble on the Steelers' first offensive snap of the second half after the rookie didn't lose a fumble during the entire regular season.
Garbage time came fast, but Big Ben at least got the offense on the board with touchdown passes to Diontae Johnson and James Washington in the second half. Yet all it did was make the final score slightly better for a team that was far behind the competition on the road.
What's Next?
The Chiefs are headed to the Divisional Round and will host the Bills.
Junior Siavii Found Dead in Kansas Prison; Played for Cowboys, Chiefs, Seahawks
Jan 15, 2022
Seattle Seahawks' Junior Siavii on the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders in the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Former NFL defensive tackle Junior Siavii died on Thursday at the age of 43 in Leavenworth federal prison in Kansas.
Anna Armijo, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said in a statement (h/t Bill Lukitsch and Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star) that Siavii was found unresponsive and was treated by prison staff before being transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to Lukitsch and McDowell, Siavii has been held under federal detention orders since 2019. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Nov. 2019 on nine charges, including conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Siavii was originally arrested in August 2019 and charged with three counts of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms, but the grand-jury indictment superseded that indictment.
No cause of death has been given at this point.
After playing two seasons at the University of Oregon, Siavii was a second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2004 NFL draft. He played two seasons with the team before injuries kept him out of the league for two years.
Siavii returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared in all 16 games that season, recording 11 combined tackles. He was cut and claimed on waivers by the Seattle Seahawks before the 2010 season.
The American Samoa native started a career-high six games with the Seahawks in 2010. He recorded 56 combined tackles and one sack in 56 career NFL games with three teams.
