Panthers at Chiefs
Sunday's game pitting the Carolina Panthers and host Kansas City took on a lesser meaning after Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher
fatally shot his girlfriend before committing suicide Saturday in front of his
coach and general manager at the team's facility. The NFL instructed the Panthers to travel to
Kansas City shortly after Saturday's tragedy at Arrowhead Stadium, and
the Chiefs said in a statement that it told the league it intended
to play the game as scheduled. "After discussions between the league
office, head coach Romeo Crennel
and Chiefs team captains, the Chiefs advised the NFL that it will play
(Sunday's) game vs. the Carolina Panthers at its originally scheduled
time."
Cam Newton threw
for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for two more as Carolina posted a
30-22 victory over Philadelphia. Newton could be in line for another
field day against Kansas City, which can match its longest losing skid
in franchise history with a ninth straight loss on Sunday. This season's Chiefs would like to keep the 1987 and 2007 renditions of the
club in their rear-view mirror. To do that, Kansas City will need to
find the end zone - a place it has failed to visit in 173 minutes, 37
seconds of game time. The Chiefs mustered just three field goals in last
week's 17-9 setback to AFC West rival Denver.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -3, O/U 40.5
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (3-8): With Jonathan Stewart likely sidelined with a high ankle sprain, DeAngelo Williams will receive the lion's share of the work in the backfield. Williams enjoyed considerable success in his last meeting versus Kansas City, rushing for two touchdowns and adding a receiving score in a 34-0 rout on Oct. 5, 2008. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Luke Kuechly has recorded a rookie-best 105 tackles this season.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (1-10): Kansas City will stick with Brady Quinn in hopes of securing its first victory at Arrowhead Stadium. Quinn, who has completed just 22 passes for 221 yards in six quarters, will look to ignite an offense which has mustered just three touchdowns in the last seven contests. Jamaal Charles rushed for 107 yards last week, but his biggest headlines came off the field when he asked for the autograph of future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Newton was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week following Monday's stellar performance.
2. Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell has scored in each of his last two games.
3. The Chiefs are a minus-21 in turnovers this season.