Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, the only injury is (T) Josh Simmons. Look forward to the challenge of playing the Raiders, good football team. Two 3-0 teams playing and in Las Vegas. Doesn’t get any better than that and great opportunity. Had a good week of practice and look forward to again that challenge. Time’s yours.”

Q: Has DB Chamarri Conner shown enough to return?

REID: “Yeah, they’ve done a good job of punching the ball out, tip balls, and then interceptions. So, they’ve covered all those areas and done a nice job. So, you’ve got to protect the football is what it comes down to.”

Q: What do you think has allowed your team to take off offensively when going under center?

REID: “(QB Patrick) Pat’s (Mahomes) been doing it since he’s been here, so that’s not new to him. Maybe it’s the volume of it, but it’s not that new. He’s able to execute all that, just like he can in the gun.”

Q: What have you seen from TE Noah Gray?

REID: “Listen, (TE) Noah (Gray) does it the right way. He is 100 miles an hour on everything.&nbsp; He is a smart guy. I mean, his practice, he practices like he plays, 100 miles an hour, and he’s a great kid on top of that.”

Q: On the opposing defense’s decision to play the pass vs. the run.

SMITH: “Yeah, I think that just having a great running back room and schematically getting things going with the run game, just allows our offense to be that much better. And definitely wears down defenders, and adds a level of unpredictability as well. They’re not really anticipating pass every play or anything like that. You keep them honest, keep them on their toes while also wear them out, so you don’t necessarily get their rush in that impression too.”

Q: How impressive has it been to see what T Kahlil Benson has been able to do?

SMITH: “It’s been freaking awesome man. To watch (T Kahlil Benson) him, as an undrafted guy coming in here, getting an opportunity and just keep excelling, and working his butt of every day like he does. He gets coached hard, and he responds really well to it. He responds to every challenge they present to him, and just as an older player, in a similar position, (C) Creed (Humphrey) and I just try to give him any encouragement, advice and tips that we can. I’m really excited by his development, not only as a player but as a person, man he’s a great guy. I can’t say enough good things about KB. Like I said, just being a pro and coming to work every day. And it’s not going to be perfect, I mean, hell I’m not perfect, as a rookie starting in the NFL, he’s not going to be perfect, but he’s working to be better and that’s like the best part about it. He’s eager to learn, he’s eager to be great.”

Q: Does it change your approach when you have guys like RB Kenneth Walker and RB Emmett Johnson on the team, knowing that you might have another opportunity to block down the field?

SMITH: “Yeah, 100 percent. Just trying to finish a play, where it’s a pile or anything of that nature. Like I said, they’re going to keep fighting for yardage, so we’ve got to keep fighting for them as well.”

Q: On the different defensive personnel looks.

TRANQUILL: “Well, I think a coordinator’s looking at personnel and if we roll dime (personnel) out there, they’re probably expecting that we can get in certain looks but if we leave a nickel (personnel) package out there with two linebackers, they’re probably not expecting us to role our coverage sometimes and we still do that and so, able to present some looks even out of nickel personnel.”

Q: What’s unique to you about this team?

TRANQUILL: “Resilient. It’s cool to see how many new guys have come in through free agency or the draft and how quickly guys have meshed. So, I’ve had experiences in the NFL where that takes some time, takes some games, can even take a few seasons. And to see guys come in right away and click right away and click with our culture and the way we do things has been cool to see.”

Q: What stands out to you about the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry?

TRANQUILL: “Yeah, there’s a deep history there. It’s fun even coming into the organization, learning about how deep and rich that tradition is. But both teams 3-0 right here, for a chance to be top of the division. I know they’re riding high, and they’ve got a lot of confidence right now. They’re playing really good football, and we’ve got a good team too, so it’s exciting, man. It’s early in the season, but it feels like a really big game.”

Q: How has RB Kenneth Walker helped the offense?

GRAY: “(RB Kenneth Walker) He's a phenomenal running back. I love him to death. He works hard. He's just a humble dude and an even better guy, though, in the locker room. He's just a tremendous human being. It's been really awesome getting to know him and really glad he's a part of the team.”

Q: On the environment in the locker room this season.

GRAY: “Yeah, I love these guys. It's a great locker room. I've got a lot of friends in that locker room, guys that are going to be lifelong friends of mine. So, it's always great when you get to come to work and enjoy and love what you do, and I do that every single day, and I've been blessed doing that. So really just a shout out to those guys. We enjoy our time together, but when it's time to be serious and practice and meetings and stuff like that, those guys are locked in. So, it's a great environment and super blessed to be a part of it.”

Q: What do you make of the season that TE Travis Kelce has had?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesOctober 2, 2026OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, the only injury is (T) Josh Simmons. Look forward to the challenge of playing the Raiders, good football team. Two 3-0 teams playing and in Las Vegas. Doesn’t get any better than that and great opportunity. Had a good week of practice and look forward to again that challenge. Time’s yours.”Q: Has DB Chamarri Conner shown enough to return?REID: “Yeah.”Q: On the Raiders nine takeaways.REID: “Yeah, they’ve done a good job of punching the ball out, tip balls, and then interceptions. So, they’ve covered all those areas and done a nice job. So, you’ve got to protect the football is what it comes down to.”Q: What do you think has allowed your team to take off offensively when going under center?REID: “(QB Patrick) Pat’s (Mahomes) been doing it since he’s been here, so that’s not new to him. Maybe it’s the volume of it, but it’s not that new. He’s able to execute all that, just like he can in the gun.”Q: What have you seen from TE Noah Gray?REID: “Listen, (TE) Noah (Gray) does it the right way. He is 100 miles an hour on everything.&nbsp; He is a smart guy. I mean, his practice, he practices like he plays, 100 miles an hour, and he’s a great kid on top of that.”Chiefs Player QuotesOctober 2, 2026G TREY SMITHQ: On the opposing defense’s decision to play the pass vs. the run.SMITH: “Yeah, I think that just having a great running back room and schematically getting things going with the run game, just allows our offense to be that much better. And definitely wears down defenders, and adds a level of unpredictability as well. They’re not really anticipating pass every play or anything like that. You keep them honest, keep them on their toes while also wear them out, so you don’t necessarily get their rush in that impression too.”Q: How impressive has it been to see what T Kahlil Benson has been able to do?SMITH: “It’s been freaking awesome man. To watch (T Kahlil Benson) him, as an undrafted guy coming in here, getting an opportunity and just keep excelling, and working his butt of every day like he does. He gets coached hard, and he responds really well to it. He responds to every challenge they present to him, and just as an older player, in a similar position, (C) Creed (Humphrey) and I just try to give him any encouragement, advice and tips that we can. I’m really excited by his development, not only as a player but as a person, man he’s a great guy. I can’t say enough good things about KB. Like I said, just being a pro and coming to work every day. And it’s not going to be perfect, I mean, hell I’m not perfect, as a rookie starting in the NFL, he’s not going to be perfect, but he’s working to be better and that’s like the best part about it. He’s eager to learn, he’s eager to be great.”Q: Does it change your approach when you have guys like RB Kenneth Walker and RB Emmett Johnson on the team, knowing that you might have another opportunity to block down the field?SMITH: “Yeah, 100 percent. Just trying to finish a play, where it’s a pile or anything of that nature. Like I said, they’re going to keep fighting for yardage, so we’ve got to keep fighting for them as well.”LB DRUE TRANQUILL&nbsp;Q: On the different defensive personnel looks.TRANQUILL: “Well, I think a coordinator’s looking at personnel and if we roll dime (personnel) out there, they’re probably expecting that we can get in certain looks but if we leave a nickel (personnel) package out there with two linebackers, they’re probably not expecting us to role our coverage sometimes and we still do that and so, able to present some looks even out of nickel personnel.”Q: What’s unique to you about this team?TRANQUILL: “Resilient. It’s cool to see how many new guys have come in through free agency or the draft and how quickly guys have meshed. So, I’ve had experiences in the NFL where that takes some time, takes some games, can even take a few seasons. And to see guys come in right away and click right away and click with our culture and the way we do things has been cool to see.”Q: What stands out to you about the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry?TRANQUILL: “Yeah, there’s a deep history there. It’s fun even coming into the organization, learning about how deep and rich that tradition is. But both teams 3-0 right here, for a chance to be top of the division. I know they’re riding high, and they’ve got a lot of confidence right now. They’re playing really good football, and we’ve got a good team too, so it’s exciting, man. It’s early in the season, but it feels like a really big game.”TE NOAH GRAYQ: How has RB Kenneth Walker helped the offense?GRAY: “(RB Kenneth Walker) He's a phenomenal running back. I love him to death. He works hard. He's just a humble dude and an even better guy, though, in the locker room. He's just a tremendous human being. It's been really awesome getting to know him and really glad he's a part of the team.”Q: On the environment in the locker room this season.GRAY: “Yeah, I love these guys. It's a great locker room. I've got a lot of friends in that locker room, guys that are going to be lifelong friends of mine. So, it's always great when you get to come to work and enjoy and love what you do, and I do that every single day, and I've been blessed doing that. So really just a shout out to those guys. We enjoy our time together, but when it's time to be serious and practice and meetings and stuff like that, those guys are locked in. So, it's a great environment and super blessed to be a part of it.”Q: What do you make of the season that TE Travis Kelce has had?

🏈 Chiefs Quotes: 10-2-26

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: At this point in the season, where are you with your standard of where you want your guys?

TOUB: “You’re talking about rankings? Well, we’re in the middle of the pack right now. It’s so early, it’s only three games in, there’s not enough plays really. It’s usually around Week 6 where you can start looking at it, and start saying ‘This is where we are,’ a little bit.”

Q: What are the things you guys need to do to get better?

TOUB: “We need to pop something on the return game. Our kick return is decent, but I want to get the big one, and then same thing with punt returns. We just haven’t had a lot of opportunities. I mean most of them have been in the pooch area, where we just have to make a fair catch and then play the next down, and just get the ball back for our offense. That’s one area. The kickoff coverage, I think it’s been good, we’ve had a lot of them, which is good, because our offense is scoring. We’re doing a good job there, I think. And then in the return game, we’re getting the ball out. I think we’re averaging just past the 30 now. Last week, we had a really good week, you know we’re out by the 35, and we held them to the 25-yard line. I mean that’s a big difference, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Q: Is there a deeper concern with K Harrison Butker?

TOUB: “You look at both missed field goals, within one yard of each other on the same hash, 32-yard line, left hash, 33-yard line, left hash, and (K Harrison Butker) he missed it the exact same way. So, it's just a matter of where he's starting the football because when he hits a good ball, it draws. He started at that left upright and it's drawn out. He needs to start it more to the right. Nobody is more hard on himself than Butker, trust me. I mean, so it's not like you're going to sit there and yell at him or rip him or anything like that. That's nothing, that's not going to do any good. You’ve just got to just keep going, keep going to work and keep practicing. He had a real good day yesterday, we punted, we kick again today and you just keep pounding it. In the end, he's made a lot of big field goals for us. Let's not forget that, and he hasn't missed a game winner. That one was an important one. We want to put them away, get up by three scores. I mean, it was a big deal. So, every field goal is important.”

Q: What characteristics do the Raiders have on special teams?

TOUB: “Oh man, they’ve got a lot of talent. They're experienced. Number one, they only have one rookie really playing on special teams. That's the punt returner (Raiders WR Malik Benson). The rest of them are all back from last year. They were rookies last year, now they're all experienced guys back. Then they picked up a few guys off from free agency you can see that are really, really good special teams players. And then they’ve got a new coach too, (Raiders Special Teams Coordinator) Joe DeCamillis, who's one of the few guys that's been doing this longer than me. We went at each other a long time over the years, while he was at a lot of different places and heck of a coach. He's got them flying around right now. This is a good special teams unit that we're facing this week. Now, I said like we're in the middle of the pack, they're in the top, they're four. So that gives you an indicator and after three games, they're putting up good numbers.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT: “Good to see everybody. I’m happy with 3-0. We’ve got another good challenge coming up this week, so I’ll just open it up.”

Q: On the process of constructive criticism with the defense and their performance on third-and-medium downs this season.

SPAGNUOLO: “By the time Tuesday rolls around when I first see them, they're chewing out. So, I've already chewed myself out for a whole day. So, I mean, we like to have constructive criticism. The good thing about this group is they're all pretty accountable. So even if I'm standing in there and pointing something out, I see a lot of heads shaking, ‘Yeah, you're right,’ so that part I don't even worry about. The third and mediums or the third downs, I mean, look – the third and 18 was a penalty that converted. And listen, I could have had (DB) Nohl (Williams) in a better defense, not had him up there pressed. But we talk a lot about those third and extra longs and be careful where your hands go because all of a sudden the five-yard penalty is the first down and that's not good. There was a third and nine, they ran a trap.

These all go into–I'm sure you're looking at numbers. You look at third down percentage and it looks crappy, but I kind of dissect the whole thing. That's a run play and then I did think they had–there was one third and 10 there that they had a really good design route concept that beat what we had out there. So, I'm going to give them that, but all of a sudden you take three out of there and it's a whole different ballgame. What was good was when we were able to stop them and get it to fourth down, we had the three fourth down stops that were key. Now, we don't want to always be banking on that because those are pretty difficult. But would I like to be better in third down? Yeah, and we’ll dissect it and hopefully come up with something a little bit better this week.”

Q: How are you evaluating the defensive line’s pressures vs. sacks?

SPAGNUOLO: “I think we'd all like to see it better on first and second down. That's where some of those plays got long. We've got to do better on the back end with those explosive passes, but when the down gets extended, guys have a tendency to kind of get open at some point. So, first and second down is one thing that we looked at but I was happy that we got our hands up and knocked some balls down. That play (DT) Chris (Jones) made with (DE) George (Karlaftis) again was really important. I thought we could have had five turnovers. I thought we had, like, three missed opportunities. We've got to get those. Then I think everybody feels a little bit different, but you guys are bringing up all the right points. Like the third down was something we'd like to get better at. Pass rush on first and second down. So, we've talked about all those things.”

Q: On facing Raiders QB Kirk Cousins.

SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, big challenge. I've been down this road before. (Raiders QB) Kirk's (Cousins) one of these quarterbacks I've got a tremendous amount of respect for. He's been doing it for a long time. I think he's a quality guy. Every time I see him, I tell him how much I respect his character. That part is great, but the part on the football field, he gets the ball out so quick that he makes it really difficult. I think the knocking down of passes will be really important. The sticky coverage and making him throw it into tight windows will be really big. When we do that, we need a couple of knockdowns by a corner or a safety to get him in a longer down the distance or get us off the field. We'll have to mix it up, but I think you've got to be a little bit careful with a guy that's as smart as Kirk is.”

SPAGNUOLO: “Well, we were on a course to kind of keep (DB) Chamarri (Conner) in one spot. I don't know if we're still there now or not. You know, listen, both (DB) Jaden (Hicks) and (S) Alohi (Gilman) have done an admirable job. They would have had some plays back in the Miami game, obviously, on those deep throws and the one that we could have caught. But Chamarri, listen, I think I've said this before, but it seems like every year he's been here and we've done cut-ups at the end of the season and we're looking through the film, 27 keeps showing up making plays. So hopefully we can get him back there doing that. I think he's a really good tackle and a good football player, and we'll fit him in there whether it's at safety or nickel in certain packages. I like having him on the field, and I'm hoping we get him for this game.”

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ERIC BIENIEMY

OPENING STATEMENT: “Good afternoon, feels good coming off another tough road victory. I thought our guys did a great job of managing a win. Obviously, I thought we could have played a lot better at times, but when it's all said and done with, it isn’t about the numbers. Our guys did a great job of dragging their butt across the finish line. We'll clean up the rest. So, with all that said, I'm all ears.”

Q: How do you feel about RB Kenneth Walker winning AFC Offensive Player of the Month? How do you sustain the level that Walker plays at?

BIENIEMY: “First of all, congratulations to (RB Kenneth Walker) him. Hats off. Very well deserved, obviously, but I think more importantly, everybody would be more excited if we're celebrating a different deal in the month of February. So, I'm happy for him. Kudos to him. But we’ve got a whole lot of football left. And when it's all said and done, we just got to make sure that we're showing up with the right attitude and the right mindset each and every week, working on ‘What can I do to help us to be the best team, to come out with the best outcome on game day,’ but what you do, you just make sure that you're putting your players in the best position to go out and do what they do best. And so, collectively as a staff, as an offensive coaching staff, which I love, we do a great job of doing that, not just for Kenneth. We do a great job putting our front five in position, our guys on the perimeter, and also to our guy that's sitting there taking the snaps as well but hats off to him. But we got a lot of football left.”

BIENIEMY: “Here's the thing. (T) Kahlil's (Benson) a rookie and every day is a brand-new day. You're going to have some good moments throughout the course of a game, and you're going to have some bad moments. The beauty of it is that he has an opportunity to learn from that particular situation. And the thing that you learn about your team as you continue to grow throughout the season is how do they handle those tough situations? How resilient of a person is he? Now, it may not have been a situation that he's very proud of or putting on tape, but it's one of those situations where he can learn from. How did he feel in that particular moment? What was done? Was it a lack of communication? Was it something that he didn't do? But at the end of the day, I'm proud of the kid because he keeps getting up and he's finding a way to fight. And it's not always going to be perfect, and I understand that. The only thing that we want is our guys to get up and play the next play and figure it out. And so, he's continuing to chop that wood. He's continued to grind. And he's continued to work with (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck as much as he can to continue to improve.”

Q: What are the challenges that their defense will face with you guys on Sunday?

BIENIEMY: “So, I'm going to share this with you guys. I was telling Coach (Cydney) Cyd (Glaze) this earlier, I received a text from an old buddy of mine who went to elementary school together and played against each other years ago. Not only in the league, in college, but also, too, in Pop Warner. I got a text from (DL) Neil Smith, and he didn't say Las Vegas Raiders. He said ‘It's Oakland Raider week,’ and he said, ‘Enough said.’ I said, ‘You know what? That's exactly right.’ Okay? And it is the Raider week. And so, shout out to (Raiders Head) Coach (Klint) Kubiak and his entire staff. Those guys are doing a hell of a job. Okay? They're 3-0. They're doing a hell of a job on defense. Those guys are playing fast. They're playing hard. Obviously, you see what (DE) Maxx Crosby and crew has done. These guys are leading in a number of stats. I think leading the league in fumbles, batted balls. They’ve got a high number of turnovers. They're doing a hell of a job of enjoying the game and playing fun, having a lot of fun playing. I think that's all attributed to the head coach and his defensive staff. But on top of that, too, they got one of the better defensive players in the league by the name of Maxx Crosby. And he's doing a hell of a job of leading those guys through this particular three-game success that they've had.”

Q: After the game, QB Patrick Mahomes said the offense started well and they ended well, but the middle wasn't so good. What do you attribute some of that to?

BIENIEMY: “Well, it's all about remaining consistent. And just like I said, there was a moment where—there's extreme highs in the game. Obviously, I thought we started off fast. We hit a rut after we didn't move the chains on that short yardage situation. But the thing that I'm learning, we’ve just got to learn how to overcome that particular situation. Sometimes bad stuff happens in life, okay? And we all know that life continues to life. But when it's all said and done, we've got to find a way to get over those moments. We can't keep criticizing and can't live in that particular moment. We've got to make sure that we're doing whatever it's going to take to help us to get past that. And so, I think as a young group, and obviously we've got a young offense, we have to learn how to navigate those particularly emotional highs and lows. And that's the part of where we're at. I mean, it's Week 3. And we're learning how to grow and develop and work on that chemistry as a unit. But we'll continue to grow and we'll continue to get the best out of our players as we continue the season.”

Q: On ball security and the video where he avoids the fumble on a peanut punch.

WALKER: “With ball security, you practice it over and over again, so it becomes second nature to cover the ball up. We always talk about how we want to protect the ball, so I think that's just natural instincts when that happens.”

Q: What does it mean to be AFC Offensive Player of the Week?

WALKER: “It means a lot, but that's like a testament to the guys up front and everybody that's blocking for me, wide receivers, tight ends. That means they're doing their job and making my job and everybody in the running back's (room) job a lot easier.”

Q: How comfortable are you in a receiving role in the offense?

WALKER: “I could always catch the ball, so coming out of high school and everything, I just didn't really have opportunities to catch the ball. (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid sees that I can catch and make plays in space, so I feel like that's like credit to Coach Reid, to seeing guys that can make plays like that. Yeah, that's all I can say, really.”

Q: What has been most impressive about RB Kenneth Walker, who just won AFC Offensive Player of the Month?

JONES: “That you just said, man. His commitment, his hard work. He's a goofy guy, too, man. (RB) Kenneth's (Walker) my dog. The will to fight for every yard is tough to tackle, and I'm glad he's on our team.”

Q: Is the pass rush close to getting sacks?

JONES: “We're close, statistically-wise. You look at the numbers, the quarterback has been getting rid of the ball 2.3 seconds. I don't care how good of a pass rusher you are, when they're throwing the ball that quick, it's tough for anyone. And when they do throw it long distance, it's more so boom protection, which you got seven, eight men in there protecting. So, it's like, the opportunity is going to come. I think don't waver from what we've been doing. We've done a lot of good. We put a lot of good on film. I think we stay committed to that and just find ways to get sacks out of it so y'all can stop writing about us in the media.”

Q: What do you attribute the success on fourth down to this season?

Chiefs Coordinator QuotesOctober 1, 2026ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: At this point in the season, where are you with your standard of where you want your guys?TOUB: “You’re talking about rankings? Well, we’re in the middle of the pack right now. It’s so early, it’s only three games in, there’s not enough plays really. It’s usually around Week 6 where you can start looking at it, and start saying ‘This is where we are,’ a little bit.”Q: What are the things you guys need to do to get better?TOUB: “We need to pop something on the return game. Our kick return is decent, but I want to get the big one, and then same thing with punt returns. We just haven’t had a lot of opportunities. I mean most of them have been in the pooch area, where we just have to make a fair catch and then play the next down, and just get the ball back for our offense. That’s one area. The kickoff coverage, I think it’s been good, we’ve had a lot of them, which is good, because our offense is scoring. We’re doing a good job there, I think. And then in the return game, we’re getting the ball out. I think we’re averaging just past the 30 now. Last week, we had a really good week, you know we’re out by the 35, and we held them to the 25-yard line. I mean that’s a big difference, that’s what we’re looking for.”Q: Is there a deeper concern with K Harrison Butker?TOUB: “You look at both missed field goals, within one yard of each other on the same hash, 32-yard line, left hash, 33-yard line, left hash, and (K Harrison Butker) he missed it the exact same way. So, it's just a matter of where he's starting the football because when he hits a good ball, it draws. He started at that left upright and it's drawn out. He needs to start it more to the right. Nobody is more hard on himself than Butker, trust me. I mean, so it's not like you're going to sit there and yell at him or rip him or anything like that. That's nothing, that's not going to do any good. You’ve just got to just keep going, keep going to work and keep practicing. He had a real good day yesterday, we punted, we kick again today and you just keep pounding it. In the end, he's made a lot of big field goals for us. Let's not forget that, and he hasn't missed a game winner. That one was an important one. We want to put them away, get up by three scores. I mean, it was a big deal. So, every field goal is important.”Q: What characteristics do the Raiders have on special teams?TOUB: “Oh man, they’ve got a lot of talent. They're experienced. Number one, they only have one rookie really playing on special teams. That's the punt returner (Raiders WR Malik Benson). The rest of them are all back from last year. They were rookies last year, now they're all experienced guys back. Then they picked up a few guys off from free agency you can see that are really, really good special teams players. And then they’ve got a new coach too, (Raiders Special Teams Coordinator) Joe DeCamillis, who's one of the few guys that's been doing this longer than me. We went at each other a long time over the years, while he was at a lot of different places and heck of a coach. He's got them flying around right now. This is a good special teams unit that we're facing this week. Now, I said like we're in the middle of the pack, they're in the top, they're four. So that gives you an indicator and after three games, they're putting up good numbers.”DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT: “Good to see everybody. I’m happy with 3-0. We’ve got another good challenge coming up this week, so I’ll just open it up.”Q: On the process of constructive criticism with the defense and their performance on third-and-medium downs this season.SPAGNUOLO: “By the time Tuesday rolls around when I first see them, they're chewing out. So, I've already chewed myself out for a whole day. So, I mean, we like to have constructive criticism. The good thing about this group is they're all pretty accountable. So even if I'm standing in there and pointing something out, I see a lot of heads shaking, ‘Yeah, you're right,’ so that part I don't even worry about. The third and mediums or the third downs, I mean, look – the third and 18 was a penalty that converted. And listen, I could have had (DB) Nohl (Williams) in a better defense, not had him up there pressed. But we talk a lot about those third and extra longs and be careful where your hands go because all of a sudden the five-yard penalty is the first down and that's not good. There was a third and nine, they ran a trap.These all go into–I'm sure you're looking at numbers. You look at third down percentage and it looks crappy, but I kind of dissect the whole thing. That's a run play and then I did think they had–there was one third and 10 there that they had a really good design route concept that beat what we had out there. So, I'm going to give them that, but all of a sudden you take three out of there and it's a whole different ballgame. What was good was when we were able to stop them and get it to fourth down, we had the three fourth down stops that were key. Now, we don't want to always be banking on that because those are pretty difficult. But would I like to be better in third down? Yeah, and we’ll dissect it and hopefully come up with something a little bit better this week.”Q: How are you evaluating the defensive line’s pressures vs. sacks?SPAGNUOLO: “I think we'd all like to see it better on first and second down. That's where some of those plays got long. We've got to do better on the back end with those explosive passes, but when the down gets extended, guys have a tendency to kind of get open at some point. So, first and second down is one thing that we looked at but I was happy that we got our hands up and knocked some balls down. That play (DT) Chris (Jones) made with (DE) George (Karlaftis) again was really important. I thought we could have had five turnovers. I thought we had, like, three missed opportunities. We've got to get those. Then I think everybody feels a little bit different, but you guys are bringing up all the right points. Like the third down was something we'd like to get better at. Pass rush on first and second down. So, we've talked about all those things.”Q: On facing Raiders QB Kirk Cousins.SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, big challenge. I've been down this road before. (Raiders QB) Kirk's (Cousins) one of these quarterbacks I've got a tremendous amount of respect for. He's been doing it for a long time. I think he's a quality guy. Every time I see him, I tell him how much I respect his character. That part is great, but the part on the football field, he gets the ball out so quick that he makes it really difficult. I think the knocking down of passes will be really important. The sticky coverage and making him throw it into tight windows will be really big. When we do that, we need a couple of knockdowns by a corner or a safety to get him in a longer down the distance or get us off the field. We'll have to mix it up, but I think you've got to be a little bit careful with a guy that's as smart as Kirk is.”Q: On DB Chamarri Conner.SPAGNUOLO: “Well, we were on a course to kind of keep (DB) Chamarri (Conner) in one spot. I don't know if we're still there now or not. You know, listen, both (DB) Jaden (Hicks) and (S) Alohi (Gilman) have done an admirable job. They would have had some plays back in the Miami game, obviously, on those deep throws and the one that we could have caught. But Chamarri, listen, I think I've said this before, but it seems like every year he's been here and we've done cut-ups at the end of the season and we're looking through the film, 27 keeps showing up making plays. So hopefully we can get him back there doing that. I think he's a really good tackle and a good football player, and we'll fit him in there whether it's at safety or nickel in certain packages. I like having him on the field, and I'm hoping we get him for this game.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ERIC BIENIEMYOPENING STATEMENT: “Good afternoon, feels good coming off another tough road victory. I thought our guys did a great job of managing a win. Obviously, I thought we could have played a lot better at times, but when it's all said and done with, it isn’t about the numbers. Our guys did a great job of dragging their butt across the finish line. We'll clean up the rest. So, with all that said, I'm all ears.”Q: How do you feel about RB Kenneth Walker winning AFC Offensive Player of the Month? How do you sustain the level that Walker plays at?BIENIEMY: “First of all, congratulations to (RB Kenneth Walker) him. Hats off. Very well deserved, obviously, but I think more importantly, everybody would be more excited if we're celebrating a different deal in the month of February. So, I'm happy for him. Kudos to him. But we’ve got a whole lot of football left. And when it's all said and done, we just got to make sure that we're showing up with the right attitude and the right mindset each and every week, working on ‘What can I do to help us to be the best team, to come out with the best outcome on game day,’ but what you do, you just make sure that you're putting your players in the best position to go out and do what they do best. And so, collectively as a staff, as an offensive coaching staff, which I love, we do a great job of doing that, not just for Kenneth. We do a great job putting our front five in position, our guys on the perimeter, and also to our guy that's sitting there taking the snaps as well but hats off to him. But we got a lot of football left.”Q: On T Kahlil Benson.BIENIEMY: “Here's the thing. (T) Kahlil's (Benson) a rookie and every day is a brand-new day. You're going to have some good moments throughout the course of a game, and you're going to have some bad moments. The beauty of it is that he has an opportunity to learn from that particular situation. And the thing that you learn about your team as you continue to grow throughout the season is how do they handle those tough situations? How resilient of a person is he? Now, it may not have been a situation that he's very proud of or putting on tape, but it's one of those situations where he can learn from. How did he feel in that particular moment? What was done? Was it a lack of communication? Was it something that he didn't do? But at the end of the day, I'm proud of the kid because he keeps getting up and he's finding a way to fight. And it's not always going to be perfect, and I understand that. The only thing that we want is our guys to get up and play the next play and figure it out. And so, he's continuing to chop that wood. He's continued to grind. And he's continued to work with (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck as much as he can to continue to improve.”Q: What are the challenges that their defense will face with you guys on Sunday?BIENIEMY: “So, I'm going to share this with you guys. I was telling Coach (Cydney) Cyd (Glaze) this earlier, I received a text from an old buddy of mine who went to elementary school together and played against each other years ago. Not only in the league, in college, but also, too, in Pop Warner. I got a text from (DL) Neil Smith, and he didn't say Las Vegas Raiders. He said ‘It's Oakland Raider week,’ and he said, ‘Enough said.’ I said, ‘You know what? That's exactly right.’ Okay? And it is the Raider week. And so, shout out to (Raiders Head) Coach (Klint) Kubiak and his entire staff. Those guys are doing a hell of a job. Okay? They're 3-0. They're doing a hell of a job on defense. Those guys are playing fast. They're playing hard. Obviously, you see what (DE) Maxx Crosby and crew has done. These guys are leading in a number of stats. I think leading the league in fumbles, batted balls. They’ve got a high number of turnovers. They're doing a hell of a job of enjoying the game and playing fun, having a lot of fun playing. I think that's all attributed to the head coach and his defensive staff. But on top of that, too, they got one of the better defensive players in the league by the name of Maxx Crosby. And he's doing a hell of a job of leading those guys through this particular three-game success that they've had.”Q: After the game, QB Patrick Mahomes said the offense started well and they ended well, but the middle wasn't so good. What do you attribute some of that to?BIENIEMY: “Well, it's all about remaining consistent. And just like I said, there was a moment where—there's extreme highs in the game. Obviously, I thought we started off fast. We hit a rut after we didn't move the chains on that short yardage situation. But the thing that I'm learning, we’ve just got to learn how to overcome that particular situation. Sometimes bad stuff happens in life, okay? And we all know that life continues to life. But when it's all said and done, we've got to find a way to get over those moments. We can't keep criticizing and can't live in that particular moment. We've got to make sure that we're doing whatever it's going to take to help us to get past that. And so, I think as a young group, and obviously we've got a young offense, we have to learn how to navigate those particularly emotional highs and lows. And that's the part of where we're at. I mean, it's Week 3. And we're learning how to grow and develop and work on that chemistry as a unit. But we'll continue to grow and we'll continue to get the best out of our players as we continue the season.”Chiefs Player QuotesOctober 1, 2026RB KENNETH WALKERQ: On ball security and the video where he avoids the fumble on a peanut punch.WALKER: “With ball security, you practice it over and over again, so it becomes second nature to cover the ball up. We always talk about how we want to protect the ball, so I think that's just natural instincts when that happens.”Q: What does it mean to be AFC Offensive Player of the Week?WALKER: “It means a lot, but that's like a testament to the guys up front and everybody that's blocking for me, wide receivers, tight ends. That means they're doing their job and making my job and everybody in the running back's (room) job a lot easier.”Q: How comfortable are you in a receiving role in the offense?WALKER: “I could always catch the ball, so coming out of high school and everything, I just didn't really have opportunities to catch the ball. (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid sees that I can catch and make plays in space, so I feel like that's like credit to Coach Reid, to seeing guys that can make plays like that. Yeah, that's all I can say, really.”DT CHRIS JONESQ: What has been most impressive about RB Kenneth Walker, who just won AFC Offensive Player of the Month?JONES: “That you just said, man. His commitment, his hard work. He's a goofy guy, too, man. (RB) Kenneth's (Walker) my dog. The will to fight for every yard is tough to tackle, and I'm glad he's on our team.”Q: Is the pass rush close to getting sacks?JONES: “We're close, statistically-wise. You look at the numbers, the quarterback has been getting rid of the ball 2.3 seconds. I don't care how good of a pass rusher you are, when they're throwing the ball that quick, it's tough for anyone. And when they do throw it long distance, it's more so boom protection, which you got seven, eight men in there protecting. So, it's like, the opportunity is going to come. I think don't waver from what we've been doing. We've done a lot of good. We put a lot of good on film. I think we stay committed to that and just find ways to get sacks out of it so y'all can stop writing about us in the media.”Q: What do you attribute the success on fourth down to this season?

🏈 Chiefs Quotes: 10-1-26

Unveiling a symphonic stew of delectable musical works from a rich cream of classical composers, the Salina Symphony is preparing a 2026-2027 season menu of concerts and special programs to satisfy every listener’s taste.

Under the collective banner “Music for All,” the upcoming season promises to be just that, said Yaniv Segal, the Salina Symphony’s conductor and music director.

“There’s something for everybody,” he said. “It’s so fun to get to craft a season with intent and then see how all the puzzle pieces fit together, much like a menu in a restaurant.”

Segal said all six mainstage concerts have been given a two-word title, providing concertgoers with a brief description of what to expect from this season’s “menu.”

The opening concert, “Rhythm &amp; Soul,” will feature works by acclaimed 20th century jazz-influenced composers Duke Ellington and George Gershwin, as well as a fiery, Latin-inspired violin concerto, “Fandango,” by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez.

The concert will be performed by the Salina Symphony at 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe.

Segal hopes both new and returning concertgoers will not only enjoy the artistry of Salina Symphony musicians and special guests but appreciate how each program was designed to give listeners a unique and diverse experience.

“You don’t want to give audiences too many potatoes or too many desserts,” Segal said, continuing the musical menu metaphor. “I think all the concerts this season will speak for themselves.”

The season opener, “Rhythm &amp; Soul” (Oct. 11), will feature violinist Risa Hokamura, a member of the Young Concert Artists (YCA), one of the world’s preeminent career-launching organizations for exceptional emerging musicians, based in New York City. Hokamura will perform “Fandango,” a three-movement piece, each movement paying

tribute to a different Latin dance while incorporating elements of the driving rhythms of the fandango. The concert will open with the piece “Jubilee” from “Symphonic Sketches” by G.W. Chadwick, an emblematic piece combining American aesthetics and the Germanic musical tradition.

The second half of the program will feature Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown and Beige” and close with Gershwin’s masterpiece “An American in Paris.”

“Ellington and Gershwin are synonymous for expanding the reach and scale of what jazz means,” Segal said. “Ellington’s ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ is one of the masterpieces of jazz that debuted at Carnegie Hall. Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’ was so good they created a musical around it. It’s quite challenging for the orchestra.”

The second concert of the season, “Rach and Rhapsody” (Nov. 8), will feature piano virtuoso Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera, who thrilled Salina audiences in October 2023 with his Latin-infused rendition of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Herrera will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” which the pianist first performed at age 12 and was the first piece he played with a live orchestra.

Additionally, Herrera will perform contemporary composer Michael Schachter’s “Being and Becoming, Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra,” which Schachter was commissioned to write for the 100th anniversary of “Rhapsody in Blue.” The concert opens with the Salina Symphony’s performance of Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.”

“With Nachito coming back, we wanted to make this concert very much piano-centered,” Segal said. “He wanted to come back to Salina to perform the Rachmaninoff, so I asked him while he was here, could he do the Schachter as well.”

The first half of the season will conclude with two performances of “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 12-13), which has become a tradition on the Salina Symphony’s schedule every other year. The production, presented in partnership with Ballet Salina, will feature professional lead dancers and more than 80 dancers from the community.

“This is a show that consistently sells out, so people should get their tickets early,” Segal said.

The Salina Symphony will begin 2027 with “Nature &amp; Grandeur” (Jan. 17), which features two epic symphonic pieces: Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No.6,” also known as the “Pastoral” symphony, and Camille Saint-Saen’s “Symphony No. 3” or the “Organ Symphony.” The Beethoven piece is a serene, heartfelt tribute to nature that captures birdsong, flowing streams and the quiet joy of the countryside. The “Organ Symphony,” featuring organist Audrey Pickering, pairs lush orchestral color with the awe-inspiring sound of the organ, building to a soaring, majestic finale.

“The Saint-Saens has a larger-than-life quality with a huge part for the organ,” Segal

said. “We rented an organ for this concert. It’s not a pipe organ, but it’s an electric organ that has the incredible sound of a pipe organ. It’s a piece you won’t forget when you hear it.”

In March, “Film &amp; Fantasy: A Night at the Movies” (March 7) will showcase the memorable music behind some of the most epic films ever produced. The program will feature music from “The Dark Knight,” “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future,” “Star Wars,” “Game of Thrones,” “Spider-Man,” “Harry Potter” and of course, “The Wizard of Oz.” Also featured will be the Kansas Wesleyan University Philharmonic Choir and select ensembles from area high schools.

The mainstage season concludes with “Mist &amp; Mystery” (May 2), featuring five compositions: J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3,” Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides Overture: Fingal’s Cave,” Pable Sarasate’s “Navarra,” Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” and Segal’s own original piece, “Madhouse Rondo.”

The concert will feature violinists Will Haapaniemi and Heidi Han, as well as imagery by renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, a Lindsborg resident and long-time photographer with National Geographic whose photos will be projected during the Mendelssohn piece.

Haapaniemi and Han will be performing a duo violin piece written for them by Segal and joining the Salina Symphony to play other pieces.

“This particular program developed when I knew Will and Heidi would be joining us,” he said. “I’ve known them for years. They are fantastic musicians who have been part of the Detroit Symphony for 15 years.”

Additional Salina Symphony season events will be a chamber concert, “Salute to America.” Part of the Encore Performances series, the concert will feature the Salina Symphony Brass Quintet and McPherson College Jazz Band. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Brown Grand Theatre, 310 W. Sixth, Concordia; and at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Homewood Suites Courtyard, 115 E. Mulberry. Tickets are $40 for the Salina performance.

In April, a Silent Film Night will showcase Buster Keaton’s epic Civil War comedy “The General” with live musical accompaniment by Salina Symphony musicians. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the McPherson Opera House, 219 S. Main, McPherson; and at 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Theatre Salina, 303 E. Iron. Tickets are $40.

Season tickets are now available for the entire mainstage season, which includes the beloved holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” starting at $240 for adults and $135 for students. New subscribers are being offered a buy-one, get-one deal that includes two season tickets for the price of one.

Both season and BOGO tickets are available at the Salina Symphony office at the Stiefel Theatre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or by calling (785) 823-8309.

Single tickets also may be purchased for each mainstage concert. Adult tickets start $45, and student tickets are $25. Ticket may be purchased at the Stiefel box office, by calling (785) 827-1998 or online at www.salinasymphony.org

For more information, contact Salina Symphony executive director Adrienne Allen at (785) 823-8309.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/9/1790699495968.png" alt="Salina smyphony" />
 <figcaption>Salina smyphony</figcaption>
 </figure>By GARY DEMUTHUnveiling a symphonic stew of delectable musical works from a rich cream of classical composers, the Salina Symphony is preparing a 2026-2027 season menu of concerts and special programs to satisfy every listener’s taste.Under the collective banner “Music for All,” the upcoming season promises to be just that, said Yaniv Segal, the Salina Symphony’s conductor and music director.“There’s something for everybody,” he said. “It’s so fun to get to craft a season with intent and then see how all the puzzle pieces fit together, much like a menu in a restaurant.”Segal said all six mainstage concerts have been given a two-word title, providing concertgoers with a brief description of what to expect from this season’s “menu.”The opening concert, “Rhythm &amp; Soul,” will feature works by acclaimed 20th century jazz-influenced composers Duke Ellington and George Gershwin, as well as a fiery, Latin-inspired violin concerto, “Fandango,” by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez.The concert will be performed by the Salina Symphony at 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe.Segal hopes both new and returning concertgoers will not only enjoy the artistry of Salina Symphony musicians and special guests but appreciate how each program was designed to give listeners a unique and diverse experience.“You don’t want to give audiences too many potatoes or too many desserts,” Segal said, continuing the musical menu metaphor. “I think all the concerts this season will speak for themselves.”Season openerThe season opener, “Rhythm &amp; Soul” (Oct. 11), will feature violinist Risa Hokamura, a member of the Young Concert Artists (YCA), one of the world’s preeminent career-launching organizations for exceptional emerging musicians, based in New York City. Hokamura will perform “Fandango,” a three-movement piece, each movement payingtribute to a different Latin dance while incorporating elements of the driving rhythms of the fandango. The concert will open with the piece “Jubilee” from “Symphonic Sketches” by G.W. Chadwick, an emblematic piece combining American aesthetics and the Germanic musical tradition.The second half of the program will feature Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown and Beige” and close with Gershwin’s masterpiece “An American in Paris.”“Ellington and Gershwin are synonymous for expanding the reach and scale of what jazz means,” Segal said. “Ellington’s ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ is one of the masterpieces of jazz that debuted at Carnegie Hall. Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’ was so good they created a musical around it. It’s quite challenging for the orchestra.”The second concert of the season, “Rach and Rhapsody” (Nov. 8), will feature piano virtuoso Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera, who thrilled Salina audiences in October 2023 with his Latin-infused rendition of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Herrera will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” which the pianist first performed at age 12 and was the first piece he played with a live orchestra.Additionally, Herrera will perform contemporary composer Michael Schachter’s “Being and Becoming, Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra,” which Schachter was commissioned to write for the 100th anniversary of “Rhapsody in Blue.” The concert opens with the Salina Symphony’s performance of Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.”“With Nachito coming back, we wanted to make this concert very much piano-centered,” Segal said. “He wanted to come back to Salina to perform the Rachmaninoff, so I asked him while he was here, could he do the Schachter as well.”The first half of the season will conclude with two performances of “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 12-13), which has become a tradition on the Salina Symphony’s schedule every other year. The production, presented in partnership with Ballet Salina, will feature professional lead dancers and more than 80 dancers from the community.“This is a show that consistently sells out, so people should get their tickets early,” Segal said.Second half of seasonThe Salina Symphony will begin 2027 with “Nature &amp; Grandeur” (Jan. 17), which features two epic symphonic pieces: Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No.6,” also known as the “Pastoral” symphony, and Camille Saint-Saen’s “Symphony No. 3” or the “Organ Symphony.” The Beethoven piece is a serene, heartfelt tribute to nature that captures birdsong, flowing streams and the quiet joy of the countryside. The “Organ Symphony,” featuring organist Audrey Pickering, pairs lush orchestral color with the awe-inspiring sound of the organ, building to a soaring, majestic finale.“The Saint-Saens has a larger-than-life quality with a huge part for the organ,” Segalsaid. “We rented an organ for this concert. It’s not a pipe organ, but it’s an electric organ that has the incredible sound of a pipe organ. It’s a piece you won’t forget when you hear it.”In March, “Film &amp; Fantasy: A Night at the Movies” (March 7) will showcase the memorable music behind some of the most epic films ever produced. The program will feature music from “The Dark Knight,” “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future,” “Star Wars,” “Game of Thrones,” “Spider-Man,” “Harry Potter” and of course, “The Wizard of Oz.” Also featured will be the Kansas Wesleyan University Philharmonic Choir and select ensembles from area high schools.The mainstage season concludes with “Mist &amp; Mystery” (May 2), featuring five compositions: J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3,” Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides Overture: Fingal’s Cave,” Pable Sarasate’s “Navarra,” Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” and Segal’s own original piece, “Madhouse Rondo.”The concert will feature violinists Will Haapaniemi and Heidi Han, as well as imagery by renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, a Lindsborg resident and long-time photographer with National Geographic whose photos will be projected during the Mendelssohn piece.Haapaniemi and Han will be performing a duo violin piece written for them by Segal and joining the Salina Symphony to play other pieces.“This particular program developed when I knew Will and Heidi would be joining us,” he said. “I’ve known them for years. They are fantastic musicians who have been part of the Detroit Symphony for 15 years.”Additional eventsAdditional Salina Symphony season events will be a chamber concert, “Salute to America.” Part of the Encore Performances series, the concert will feature the Salina Symphony Brass Quintet and McPherson College Jazz Band. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Brown Grand Theatre, 310 W. Sixth, Concordia; and at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Homewood Suites Courtyard, 115 E. Mulberry. Tickets are $40 for the Salina performance.In April, a Silent Film Night will showcase Buster Keaton’s epic Civil War comedy “The General” with live musical accompaniment by Salina Symphony musicians. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the McPherson Opera House, 219 S. Main, McPherson; and at 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Theatre Salina, 303 E. Iron. Tickets are $40.Season and single ticketsSeason tickets are now available for the entire mainstage season, which includes the beloved holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” starting at $240 for adults and $135 for students. New subscribers are being offered a buy-one, get-one deal that includes two season tickets for the price of one.Both season and BOGO tickets are available at the Salina Symphony office at the Stiefel Theatre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or by calling (785) 823-8309.Single tickets also may be purchased for each mainstage concert. Adult tickets start $45, and student tickets are $25. Ticket may be purchased at the Stiefel box office, by calling (785) 827-1998 or online at www.salinasymphony.orgFor more information, contact Salina Symphony executive director Adrienne Allen at (785) 823-8309.

 "A feast for the ears" - Salina Symphony serves up music for all

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT: “So it was good to obviously get the win. Miami's done a nice job, new staff, a lot of young guys on their team, and they play hard and aggressive and it was a good experience for our guys to go down there and have an opportunity to play against them. And there are some things that we can work on, obviously, coming out of the game. But wins are very hard to get in this league, as you guys saw throughout the day yesterday, and we'll take that and keep working to improve ourselves in a few different areas. As far as the injury part goes, I think we came out pretty clean. So that's also a positive. With that, time's yours.”

Q: Did the team have a routine reaction to the win over the full appreciation?

REID: “Yeah, so I stress that to the guys. You’ve got to appreciate every one you get. At the same time, whether it's a win or a loss, there are things you can learn from it, and you never want to go blind to that.&nbsp;&nbsp; So, I think it's important that we keep that in mind when you go forward. There's some good things we can learn from this and there's some good things we did do. So, it balances itself out. Again, they're tough to come by.”

Q: On the reaction in the locker room after the game.

REID: “Yeah, they were good to get the win. I think the guys know that these things aren't easy to get. We lived that last year. You take each one, and then you go through and you dissect it.&nbsp; And by the time you get to where I'm at, you've already kind of moved on to the next team. But the players, they'll come in tomorrow, and they'll go back through the game and make sure they learn from whatever mistakes they made, and they'll see the rest of the good stuff.”

Q: What did you see from the offense in response to the Miami Dolphins playing to primarily stop RB Kenneth Walker?

REID: “Yeah, I thought we handled the pass game pretty good. We didn't have a ton of plays, Matt (Derrick), so we were in the 40s on that and normally you're up a little higher in the 60, 70 area. But I thought the way it balanced out, (RB Kenneth Walker) K9 was still able to have a productive day in the run game and pass game. But it opened up some things in the pass game that we were able to take advantage of with some bigger plays.”

Q: How important is it to get WR Rashee Rice going for the long-term success of the offense?

REID: “Yeah, it was good to see (WR Rashee Rice) him get a couple catches in there that were physical, good, strong catches. He's so good with the ball after he gets it and so physical that he adds another dimension to that. He's almost like having a running back at a wide receiver spot where when he gets it, he's going to bring it and that's always good.”

Q: Do you think there's any chance that we see T Josh Simmons this week at practice?&nbsp;

REID: “I'll tell you what, I will let you guys know when (T) Josh (Simmons) is coming back. I'll be the first to tell you. We'll just see how all that works.”

REID: “Yeah, so (DB Chamarri Conner) he practiced last week, and he'll get going this week, too. So, there's a good chance he'll be out there. We'll just see how the week goes, but it looks like it'll be a pretty decent chance.”

Q: How do you think the pass rush performed against the Miami Dolphins?

REID: “(Miami Dolphins) They really went to the quick game the majority of the time where they had the bigger plays, play action and quick game. We're always striving to get to the quarterback, and we'll tighten things up a little bit on the back end, and it gives you a little bit better chance, too.”

Q: Do you think there is still a breakout for WR Xavier Worthy where we can see his speed getting deep on people?

REID: “Yeah, so (WR Xavier) X (Worthy) had one that was kind of an intermediate throw there, did a nice job with it and we'll just see. We'll see how it all works out for him as we go forward. He's busting his tail, and I think every week he's feeling better with the shoulder issue and doing a good job there.”

Q: What did you think when you saw the replay with QB Patrick Mahomes on his roughing the passer call, and is the league doing the right thing on how they're trying to call it?

REID: “Yeah, when they call them for us, I'm okay with it. Listen, the thing with the quarterbacks is it’s a very vulnerable position. It's also a position that everybody wants to see that quarterback play in the game. So, it attracts attention to the game, and attention is good for everybody as it works its way through there for you guys, for the coaches, for the fans, for the players, the different teams. So, you want to try to keep these guys as upright as you possibly can. I get how things work there. And we all get it. Listen, it goes both ways. When it all equals out, you're going to get a few, they're going to get a few. That's just how it goes.”

Q: What did you see on those when you went back and watched the 3rd-and-short and the 4th-and-short calls near the goal line?&nbsp;&nbsp;

REID: “Yeah, they had an out charge going, and we kind of missed on a couple shots there, but we'll make the majority of those. We just, yeah, mishap. I probably could have gone to something different there too&nbsp;&nbsp; for the out charge.”

Q: Does it add any sort of luster or any element to it to have both teams (Las Vegas Raiders) be 3-0, and be about as visible as both have been for a while?&nbsp;&nbsp;

REID: Yeah, I think it'll be a great atmosphere for a football game. I think (Las Vegas Raiders) they've done a nice job of improving their football team. This is what it's all about, and I think it'll be great for the fans. It's a heck of a rivalry over the years, and the better the two teams are, the better the rivalry. So, this is what it's all about.”

Q: Did you see any commonalities in the third and mediums that you guys gave up on defense? Anything in particular stand out to you about what's going on in those plays?&nbsp;

REID: “We can do better in that area. Soren (Petro) mentioned about the pass rush. We can do that, but it all ties together. It all works together, and we just tighten things up a little bit there. I thought we did a little better the second half of getting ourselves off the field. I mentioned that after the game. In general, we did better in the second half, and so we've got to tighten a few things up. It's both sides of the ball, so it's not just the one side.”

Q: How is QB Patrick Mahomes feeling today after the hit where roughing the passer was called?

REID: “Yeah, I think it was more than a chiropractor could do, so I think every bone in (QB Patrick Mahomes) his body cracked on that one, but he got back up and kept firing.”

Q: Can you just give me a glimpse of how the first play rollout to TE Travis Kelce unfolded?&nbsp;

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesSeptember 28, 2026OPENING STATEMENT: “So it was good to obviously get the win. Miami's done a nice job, new staff, a lot of young guys on their team, and they play hard and aggressive and it was a good experience for our guys to go down there and have an opportunity to play against them. And there are some things that we can work on, obviously, coming out of the game. But wins are very hard to get in this league, as you guys saw throughout the day yesterday, and we'll take that and keep working to improve ourselves in a few different areas. As far as the injury part goes, I think we came out pretty clean. So that's also a positive. With that, time's yours.”Q: Did the team have a routine reaction to the win over the full appreciation?REID: “Yeah, so I stress that to the guys. You’ve got to appreciate every one you get. At the same time, whether it's a win or a loss, there are things you can learn from it, and you never want to go blind to that.&nbsp;&nbsp; So, I think it's important that we keep that in mind when you go forward. There's some good things we can learn from this and there's some good things we did do. So, it balances itself out. Again, they're tough to come by.”Q: On the reaction in the locker room after the game.REID: “Yeah, they were good to get the win. I think the guys know that these things aren't easy to get. We lived that last year. You take each one, and then you go through and you dissect it.&nbsp; And by the time you get to where I'm at, you've already kind of moved on to the next team. But the players, they'll come in tomorrow, and they'll go back through the game and make sure they learn from whatever mistakes they made, and they'll see the rest of the good stuff.”Q: What did you see from the offense in response to the Miami Dolphins playing to primarily stop RB Kenneth Walker?REID: “Yeah, I thought we handled the pass game pretty good. We didn't have a ton of plays, Matt (Derrick), so we were in the 40s on that and normally you're up a little higher in the 60, 70 area. But I thought the way it balanced out, (RB Kenneth Walker) K9 was still able to have a productive day in the run game and pass game. But it opened up some things in the pass game that we were able to take advantage of with some bigger plays.”Q: How important is it to get WR Rashee Rice going for the long-term success of the offense?REID: “Yeah, it was good to see (WR Rashee Rice) him get a couple catches in there that were physical, good, strong catches. He's so good with the ball after he gets it and so physical that he adds another dimension to that. He's almost like having a running back at a wide receiver spot where when he gets it, he's going to bring it and that's always good.”Q: Do you think there's any chance that we see T Josh Simmons this week at practice?&nbsp;REID: “I'll tell you what, I will let you guys know when (T) Josh (Simmons) is coming back. I'll be the first to tell you. We'll just see how all that works.”Q: On DB Chamarri Conner.REID: “Yeah, so (DB Chamarri Conner) he practiced last week, and he'll get going this week, too. So, there's a good chance he'll be out there. We'll just see how the week goes, but it looks like it'll be a pretty decent chance.”Q: How do you think the pass rush performed against the Miami Dolphins?REID: “(Miami Dolphins) They really went to the quick game the majority of the time where they had the bigger plays, play action and quick game. We're always striving to get to the quarterback, and we'll tighten things up a little bit on the back end, and it gives you a little bit better chance, too.”Q: Do you think there is still a breakout for WR Xavier Worthy where we can see his speed getting deep on people?REID: “Yeah, so (WR Xavier) X (Worthy) had one that was kind of an intermediate throw there, did a nice job with it and we'll just see. We'll see how it all works out for him as we go forward. He's busting his tail, and I think every week he's feeling better with the shoulder issue and doing a good job there.”Q: What did you think when you saw the replay with QB Patrick Mahomes on his roughing the passer call, and is the league doing the right thing on how they're trying to call it?REID: “Yeah, when they call them for us, I'm okay with it. Listen, the thing with the quarterbacks is it’s a very vulnerable position. It's also a position that everybody wants to see that quarterback play in the game. So, it attracts attention to the game, and attention is good for everybody as it works its way through there for you guys, for the coaches, for the fans, for the players, the different teams. So, you want to try to keep these guys as upright as you possibly can. I get how things work there. And we all get it. Listen, it goes both ways. When it all equals out, you're going to get a few, they're going to get a few. That's just how it goes.”Q: What did you see on those when you went back and watched the 3rd-and-short and the 4th-and-short calls near the goal line?&nbsp;&nbsp;REID: “Yeah, they had an out charge going, and we kind of missed on a couple shots there, but we'll make the majority of those. We just, yeah, mishap. I probably could have gone to something different there too&nbsp;&nbsp; for the out charge.”Q: Does it add any sort of luster or any element to it to have both teams (Las Vegas Raiders) be 3-0, and be about as visible as both have been for a while?&nbsp;&nbsp;REID: Yeah, I think it'll be a great atmosphere for a football game. I think (Las Vegas Raiders) they've done a nice job of improving their football team. This is what it's all about, and I think it'll be great for the fans. It's a heck of a rivalry over the years, and the better the two teams are, the better the rivalry. So, this is what it's all about.”Q: Did you see any commonalities in the third and mediums that you guys gave up on defense? Anything in particular stand out to you about what's going on in those plays?&nbsp;REID: “We can do better in that area. Soren (Petro) mentioned about the pass rush. We can do that, but it all ties together. It all works together, and we just tighten things up a little bit there. I thought we did a little better the second half of getting ourselves off the field. I mentioned that after the game. In general, we did better in the second half, and so we've got to tighten a few things up. It's both sides of the ball, so it's not just the one side.”Q: How is QB Patrick Mahomes feeling today after the hit where roughing the passer was called?REID: “Yeah, I think it was more than a chiropractor could do, so I think every bone in (QB Patrick Mahomes) his body cracked on that one, but he got back up and kept firing.”Q: Can you just give me a glimpse of how the first play rollout to TE Travis Kelce unfolded?&nbsp;

Chiefs Quotes: 9-28-26

Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County

&nbsp;Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, with offices in Abilene and Herington, has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) with the 2025 Home Health Patient Experience Award. The agency earned a Superior Performer designation for achieving an overall patient and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible&nbsp;SHP clients for the 2025 calendar year.

The annual SHPBestTM award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high-quality service to their patients. With the largest Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient experience a priority. Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County is one of only four agencies in Kansas to receive this award, and this is its second Superior Performer award within the last three years.

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition because it reflects what matters most to us – providing compassionate, high-quality care, and making sure our patients and their families feel supported throughout their healthcare journey,” said Melissa Peterson, RN, clinical manager for Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County. “This award is a direct reflection of the dedication and commitment of our entire team. To be recognized among the top 20% of SHP clients nationally, and to be one of only four agencies in Kansas to receive this honor, is something our staff can be very proud of. Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to listening to our patients and families and continually striving to provide the exceptional care they deserve.”

Read more about the SHPBestTM awards program, including methodology and award recipient lists at <a href="https://www.shpdata.com/home-health/shpbest-hhcahps" target="_blank">&nbsp;shpdata.com/home-health/shpbest-hhcahps</a>&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/9/1790096907826.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County&nbsp;Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, with offices in Abilene and Herington, has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) with the 2025 Home Health Patient Experience Award. The agency earned a Superior Performer designation for achieving an overall patient and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible&nbsp;SHP clients for the 2025 calendar year.The annual SHPBestTM award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high-quality service to their patients. With the largest Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient experience a priority. Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County is one of only four agencies in Kansas to receive this award, and this is its second Superior Performer award within the last three years.“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition because it reflects what matters most to us – providing compassionate, high-quality care, and making sure our patients and their families feel supported throughout their healthcare journey,” said Melissa Peterson, RN, clinical manager for Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County. “This award is a direct reflection of the dedication and commitment of our entire team. To be recognized among the top 20% of SHP clients nationally, and to be one of only four agencies in Kansas to receive this honor, is something our staff can be very proud of. Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to listening to our patients and families and continually striving to provide the exceptional care they deserve.”Read more about the SHPBestTM awards program, including methodology and award recipient lists at <a href="https://www.shpdata.com/home-health/shpbest-hhcahps" target="_blank">&nbsp;shpdata.com/home-health/shpbest-hhcahps</a>&nbsp;

Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County honored

Q: What do you think went wrong against the Colts?

SPAGNUOLO: “Well, I was telling somebody, we're probably not as good as we were in the first week and hopefully not as bad as we were in the second. Yeah, well, no. No, it was the other way. We didn't reaffirm. No, we didn't do a good job there. Listen, we were happy we won, and I was really, I will say this, I was really proud of the way they responded after the big play. That was huge. I mean, that said a lot about this group, you know, certainly (LB) Nick (Bolton) and (LB) Drue (Tranquill) on the inside. But it was hard not to think about all the other stuff, and the reason that we were in overtime, and we were in that situation because we kind of let the team down in certain areas. But thank God we got away with a win, and we can learn from it, and hopefully it'll ignite us to play a little bit better this week.”

Q: How much did you feel like you missed CB Mansoor Delane in this game?

SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, listen, we didn't know right up until the beginning, and then (CB Mansoor Delane) he couldn't go. But I'll tell you what, I will credit (CB) Kristian Fulton for the way he stepped in there in these two games and played. During the week, I can't remember as much about last week, but let's say both of these weeks, Mansoor has gotten a lot of the reps. So, Kristian doesn't get as many, and yet he's stepping in in the game and playing almost all the downs. That's a credit to him, and he made a great play on that interception. We needed that. The opening drive, they come down and scored, so you've got to kind of get things back right, and he did a nice job doing that. So, I would credit Kristian on that. Look, again, there's been moving pieces there in the back end for a while. (DB) Chamarri (Conner), we still don't have. (DB) Jaden's (Hicks) filled in and done a great job, so kudos to those guys that have stepped up.”

Q: If you lose, you've got this great teaching point, but when you come away with a win, is it harder to teach the guys?

SPAGNUOLO: “I don't think it's lost on our guys in the defensive room that we didn't play well. I don't think we're going to get clouded by the fact that we ended up winning. Now, listen, it's hard to win in this league, so I said to them in the locker room, it wasn't pretty as a defense, but enjoy it because they're really hard to come by. I think that when we got together on Tuesday, I think there was a feeling in there that, ‘No, that's not what we're looking for,’ yeah, we won the game, but there was a big ‘but’ there. It was a good win, ‘but,’ for us anyway.”

Q: On the process of having more than 12 guys in the huddle then going out of the game.

SPAGNUOLO: “We did a little bit of that in this past game. That's just a matter of when they hold people and don't have anybody in their huddle, we don't know what they're in. If we're going to match on that particular down, rather than running guys, we just keep them out there until we know. Sometimes they hang in there and come out late. Sometimes they come out a little bit early. Game within the game. Hopefully they don’t, I don't know, they'll come back and set a rule I can't do it anymore. I'm waiting for that.”

OPENING STATEMENT: “Good afternoon. Good seeing everybody. Coming off a tremendous overtime win, I thought our guys battled for 60-plus minutes. It was fun to watch. I thought we took some necessary steps forward, but when it's all said and done, we’ve still got some things that we need to continue to address just to continue helping us to play up to the level that we would love them to play. With that said, I'm all ears.”

Q: WR Rashee Rice has a different role this year. He’s in the box, he's blocking. How does he embrace something different?

BIENIEMY: “(WR) Rashee (Rice) is a football player, so he's done a great job of just embracing whatever role that you want him to assume. We communicate in our own form of way every single day. I mean, it's good, sometimes it's competitive, sometimes it's interactive, sometimes I just want him to go out there and do the right damn thing. But I will say this, he's done a hell of a job. He's doing a great job of blocking; he's doing a great job of working to get open. But the thing that I love more than anything, it's his attitude and his approach. He's consistent, he does a great job of taking notes in the meeting room, in the classroom, and he asks the right questions. So, these guys are doing a heck of a job, and that's a part of all the chemistry that we've been discussing. That goes a very long way because when we're interacting as coaches, but more importantly, when the players are interacting together, that's when this thing starts to click.”

Q: How impressive was TE Travis Kelce’s game? How does it compare to his games three years ago with you?

BIENIEMY: “(TE) Trav (Travis Kelce) has always been Trav to me. Even when I was away, I was watching everything that they were doing. He's always put the consistent behavior on tape. I love his attitude. I love his approach. He's just Trav, and I know he's become this big-time megastar. Well, I think he married up, but he's always remained the same. And he's providing leadership to our guys. He's providing the necessary energy to help them to get through certain times, but it was fun to watch, and it's always good just to see players enjoying themselves but when they have a good, productive day, it's great to see.”

Q: As the season goes on, how will you balance RB Kenneth Walker and RB Emmett Johnson’s workload?

BIENIEMY: “It's always a balance and the thing is, we just want to continue to make sure we're bringing our players along the right way. (RB) Emmett (Johnson) has done an outstanding job when given that opportunity to go out there and provide (RB) Kenneth (Walker) the rest. (Running Backs Coach) DeMarco's (Murray) doing a great job with him. I think Emmett’s role will continue to grow as the season progresses. The thing that you don't want to do, regardless of when you're raising some of these young players, you don't want to put them in a situation where it could be detrimental to them. You want them feeling free and confident. But also, too, yes, they've got to go out there and learn the lessons of understanding what it takes to win in this league. But I think more than anything, we just want to continue bringing them along the correct way and I think that growth process is heading in the right direction. So, we'll make sure that we're utilizing the time, as far as what Kenneth is playing and what Emmett is playing as we continue to progress throughout the season.”

Q: How is it preparing for Miami given that they are playing so many rookies, how is it unique in a sense?&nbsp;

BIENIEMY: “It doesn't change the process at all. Their (Dolphins Head Coach Jeff Hafley) Head Coach was a tremendous defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, who we played three times last year (as Chicago Bears Running Backs Coach). He did an outstanding job with that defense. I think the scheme that he does is very unique. He does a great job putting those guys in position to go out there and execute and play. And they're young, and they're taking their lumps right now, but when it's all said and done, it's not about what they're doing or what they're not accomplishing. It's about what we do. Hats off to them. I know one thing. This is their home opener. This is the NFL. They're going to come out there and give us everything that they have. Our concern is not to be concerned about what is taking place with Miami. Our job is to make sure that we go out there and play against the NFL team that we're expecting to see on Sunday, and that's a hard-playing team that's going to give us everything that they have.”

Q: Is the first time you saw T Kahlil Benson in rookie minicamp, what were you first thoughts seeing him?

HECK: “Yeah. It was rookie minicamp, and we had a really good group of guys come in for that camp and it's happening fast for coaches because we haven't had a chance to grade all these guys, and our scouts do a great job of getting these guys in here. And so right off, I could see (T Kahlil Benson) he's a big, strong man. We had a couple of other guys that were big, strong, very capable guys, and I was like, ‘Wow, we've got a really good group here. I hope we can get them enough reps that we can get a feel for who these guys are.’ And I would say what jumped out at me about Kahlil was I was able to plug him in left, right, guard, multiple positions, and he seemed to handle it pretty well in addition to being big and strong and athletic.”

Q: What's been most impressive about T Kahlil Benson’s ascent here the last few months?

HECK: “Well, what jumps out for me and I think for (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid in giving us confidence that, hey, let's get this guy in here, is (T Kahlil Benson) he loves football. He's a competitor, and so it jumps out that he may not be perfect. We've all got stuff to work on. He's got his things to work on. But, man, he's competing, and he's fighting his tail off. And so, you love to see that at any position, but especially in your offensive line.”

Q: What impact did you have on the “Heisman” play? How did the play come to you?

HECK: “Well, yeah, I would first say (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid is the one who uncovered that thing some years ago, and we had a great time watching the old grainy footage of this play being run. We've run it before, and so it's always kind of been in our hip pocket, ‘Hey, do we want to dust this thing off?’ And so that would have been my only involvement in that.&nbsp; I mean, it's Coach Reid's play invented by I think it was the University of Pennsylvania that we took the concept from, and I was just like, ‘Hey, what about Heisman? What do you think about that,’ see if it fits and see if our guys can walk through it and embrace it. Sometimes these plays take a little extra time. You're like, oh, we'll work on it. It's not quite ready because there's a lot going on with that play.”

Q: What do you see from OL Joshua Ezeudu?

HECK: “Yeah, so I was familiar with (OL) Joshua (Ezeudu). He was a teammate of one of my sons, Charlie, at North Carolina, and so got a chance to grade him as he was coming out for the draft. And then when (General Manager) Brett (Veach) came to me and said, hey, we're thinking about Ezeudu, I was like, ‘Great, I love how he competes. He's very versatile, guard, tackle. I think he'll fit in our room nicely,’ and we've already had him in some role play for us. So, he's doing a nice job.”

OPENING STATEMENT: “We're excited. A great opportunity, going on the road for the first time down to Miami and (Dolphins Head) Coach (Jeff) Hafley's building that program and they’ve got some really skilled athletes on offense. (Dolphins RB De’Von Achane) D.A., number 28 is as good a back as there is. He’s had 5.7 (yards) to carry last year. We played (Dolphins QB) Malik Willis when he was at Tennessee in the game here. So great athletes and we'll have our hands full, but we're excited and looking forward to the challenge with that will open it up.”

Q: What do you see from your young guys?

CULLEN: “Well, they're all contributing in different ways, but they're all working hard. And you look at (DL) Peter (Woods), he's been able to give us some really good snaps inside, not only at the three technique, but at the nose. One thing we're going to keep working with him is consistency. But when he does it right, I mean, he's powerful, he's explosive, and he's had some really good plays on tape, and he plays hard. And then with (DE) R Mason (Thomas), he has a burst off the edge. He's done well in both games. He was about a step away from a sack the other day, had the quarterback hit. And then in the the first game, you had a really good rush (Broncos QB Bo) Nix there so. We're excited about where they're going and just got to keep getting better every day.”

Q: What have you learned about your run defense up front in these first two games?

CULLEN: “Well, I tell you, we're stout, we're physical and we grind, and that's the thing that's been really good. The first run of the Denver game, (DT) Chris (Jones) knocked the guard back about three yards and (DE) Felix (Anudike-Uzomah) came down the line of scrimmage, no gain. And one squirted out in that game. Then last week, it's as good a back as there is. I wish we had a couple back, that one right before the half. But we really had to nail it down, all 11 it takes to stop the run. But the guys keep grinding and they're getting better with the technique.”

Q: What made the Colts offensive line tough in terms of pass rush?

CULLEN: “Well, they're a physical offensive line. They've always had a good offensive line. And one of the things we stressed is we got to get them in those down and distances like we had a 3rd-and-16. (DE) George (Karlaftis) made a great play on the screen. So, they were in the screen. We had a 3rd-and-11, and George jumped the gun, went offside. So now you're down to 3rd-and-6 and the ball gets out a little quicker. But they've always had a decent offensive line. And I think we saved the best rush for the last one when George put him on his back but they're a good offensive line.”

Q: What have you felt that you guys have done well on 3rd-and-long plays?

CULLEN: “Well, we've had some consistent pressure, and it's not always going to be a sack, but we've put pressure on the quarterback in a lot of different ways. But the coverage in the back end and the rush go hand in hand. Those are the things that when they're tied in together, you’ve got to get home at the quarterback's patting that ball for over three seconds. You’ve got to get home. Ball gets out quick. You may have to change your rush and get your hand up to knock a slant down. The slant's getting out in 2.2 seconds. When you make the quarterback clutch it, you got to get home, and when he doesn’t, and he's getting it out quick, we got to get our hands up and helping the slant game.”

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH CHAD O’SHEA

Q: At the NFL level, how do you get guys to buy in and really embrace your run blocking?

O’SHEA: “It's something that's very important to us, as we say, competing in the run game. That's what we say. We say in all areas, we need to do what's best for the team, and what a great area to do that in the run game. I think it kind of shows the unselfishness that we have in our room right now, guys that are willing to do everything that they can to help the team win. I take a lot of pride in it, and I know our group does. It's something that's stressed daily, will continue to be stressed, but I hope that those guys really understand how important it is, and I think that they do.”

Q: Did you see any commonalties on the drops on Sunday night?

O’SHEA: “I think that during the course of the game, there's things, it could be dropped passes, it could be other things, it could be maybe better detail with assignments or better angles in the run game, but as far as the fundamentals of catching the football, it's something we work on daily. We'll continue to work on it. I don't overcoach it when a drop happens. We try to move on as quickly as we can and not allow that negative play to affect the next play. So, I think that we'll continue to work on our fundamentals, but it's something that I'm not going to overdo with the guys, because then I think it becomes a negative. We're going to try to move on as quickly as we can and move on to the next play.”

Q: What have you seen since WR Jalen Royals scored his touchdown?

O’SHEA: “Or one haircut, right? So, I mean, (WR Jalen Royals) he goes and gets his hair cut, and he comes back, he gets his first touchdown. He comes with great energy. He's always been a lot of fun to be around. He's a tremendous person, Jalen is, that works extremely hard. He puts the team first in everything we do. We've asked him to be in some different roles for the team that he's embraced, but how fun was it to see him catch his first touchdown pass, get a great looking haircut, and come really with a lot of energy. It's been a lot of fun to be around, and I know it's really energized our guys. It's contagious. I really believe that, and (WR) Rashee (Rice) and the guys have really had fun with him in the room as far as, hey, you get your first touchdown, you get a haircut, and now you've got some energy and juice about yourself. So, I think it's been great.”

Q: How easy is it to get buy-in for run blocking when RB Kenneth Walker and RB Emmett Johnson are the running backs and generate explosive runs?

O’SHEA: “Yeah, I'll tell you what it reminds me a lot. When I was here the first time in 2003-05, we had (WR) Dante Hall, and I was coaching with the special teams. And it's contagious when guys understand that they have guys that are as explosive and talented with the football in their hands as we have, that we had with Dante Hall years back. The blocking, it becomes even—there's more of an incentive because they know how important that is. And it's interesting because we say, stay alive down field. You might be on the back side of a run, but you're at the front side of a run real quickly. And what I mean by that is these guys have done a great job of cutting the football back and getting to level three. So, we've really put an emphasis of level three blocking and how important that is. We're so fortunate to have the runners that we do and to have the other players at the skill position with (TE) Travis (Kelce) doing such a great job with run after catch and our other players. It really brings a lot of energy to the guys that are blocking and brings more incentive for them.”

RUNNING BACKS COACH DEMARCO MURRAY

Q: What have you seen and maybe what else is there for RB Kenneth Walker?

MURRAY: Yeah, I like the start that (RB Kenneth Walker) he's started with the first two games as far as running the ball, catching the ball out of the backfield. I think he's prepared the right way, obviously through spring, through training camp, and obviously you see it throughout the course of the early season. But he comes to work every single day with the right mindset, and we're lucky to have him. I'm lucky to have him in our room. But, again, just a great leader for us, vocal when he needs to be. But, again, he leads by example, which I love. And, again, he's done a great job for us.”

Q: What's the conversation when it comes to just managing RB Kenneth Walker’s load of carries?

MURRAY: “I know (RB Kenneth Walker) he probably wants to be in every play but just making sure you manage that load but then at the same time knowing that (RB) Emmett's (Johnson) there and he can come in as well. Yeah, I think that all comes back to his work ethic. He's prepared himself for this, since spring and since camp. And (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid puts a great camp together and the long drive drills have been legendary around here. But, again, Kenneth has done a great job at getting himself in shape and, again, knowing that, hey, obviously we need you in the first quarter, first half and whatnot, but we're going to need you in the third and fourth as well. So, we pride ourselves on obviously finishing strong just as much as we start the game. So, again, he's put himself in a great position with his work ethic to carry the load. And, again, he's a running back, so he likes the ball a lot and I like giving it to him.”

Q: Did you sense an eagerness from RB Kenneth Walker pretty early on to play all three downs?

MURRAY: “Yeah, I mean, just the kind of player that (RB Kenneth Walker) he is, the kind of person that he is. Again, he's a team-first guy. He's a guy that, again, just like (RB) Emmett (Johnson), just like the rest of the guys, they want to be out there and contribute as much as they can for the team. He knew coming into this year that, hey, he knew what he wanted to do as far as, he wanted to become a better blocker. Obviously, he had great hands and really great route-running ability. And just a couple things we needed to clean up. And I think he's really looked himself in the mirror, and he's tried to challenge himself in all aspects of his game. I think you see the young guys kind of following him and things of that nature. But he has a lot of goals in hand that he doesn't want to be off the field. He wants to contribute as much as he can. So, he'll continue to do those things.”

Q: How do you feel like the team has responded in the room this week?

JONES: “I think the most important thing that matters is the wins and losses. We were able to pull through it, but we were also able to learn a lot about this team – the resiliency of the team and the core strength of the team but there are still areas of improvement.”

Q: What do you enjoy about watching DL Peter Woods on tape?

JONES: “Just the progression from week one and week two, and continue to see those young guys excel. I think that's the biggest thing, continue to progress throughout the year. We keep on that trajectory of going upwards.”

Q: What are your thoughts about Dolphins RB De’Von Achane and how Miami is going to try to attack you guys?

Chiefs Quotes: 9-24-26

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it, who sat where and what was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fast-food-chains-china-kfc-tea-trump-9bd3cf5e539f51791d346b97432293ba">on the menu</a> marked the softer — often and glitzier — details of diplomacy as <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> threw a Thursday night state dinner honoring China’s leader <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xi-jinping">Xi Jinping</a>.

Here’s what was on the state dinner menu

First lady Melania Trump ordered a three-course meal that will be served on the red china dishes from Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

The meal opened with a starter of yellow squash velouté and wild mushroom fricassee with crispy pancetta beneath a drizzle of scallion oil.

It was followed by an entrée of sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted eggplant and herb sauce.

The meal was capped by a vanilla crémeux with a sour cherry confit center on top of a walnut frangipane and a serving of ice cream made using honey from bee houses at the White House.

Who was invited to China state dinner: White House releases guest list for celebration

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/9/1790298415482.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it, who sat where and what was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fast-food-chains-china-kfc-tea-trump-9bd3cf5e539f51791d346b97432293ba">on the menu</a> marked the softer — often and glitzier — details of diplomacy as <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> threw a Thursday night state dinner honoring China’s leader <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xi-jinping">Xi Jinping</a>.<h2>Here’s what was on the state dinner menu</h2>First lady Melania Trump ordered a three-course meal that will be served on the red china dishes from Ronald Reagan’s presidency.The meal opened with a starter of yellow squash velouté and wild mushroom fricassee with crispy pancetta beneath a drizzle of scallion oil.It was followed by an entrée of sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted eggplant and herb sauce.The meal was capped by a vanilla crémeux with a sour cherry confit center on top of a walnut frangipane and a serving of ice cream made using honey from bee houses at the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Behind the scenes at the <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/StateDinner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StateDinner</a> with President <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, First Lady <a href="https://x.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelaniaTrump</a>, President Xi, and Madame Peng—With guests in the beautiful East Room… <a href="https://t.co/kDhBrIWajI">pic.twitter.com/kDhBrIWajI</a>&mdash; Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) <a href="https://x.com/DanScavino/status/2103354239208861760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> welcome President Xi and Madame Peng back to the White House for tonight’s official state dinner <a href="https://t.co/u0A8Lc2ilA">pic.twitter.com/u0A8Lc2ilA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2103260990406001099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> presents President Xi with a custom-made statue of a bald eagle 🦅 <a href="https://t.co/CweqKmOI4U">pic.twitter.com/CweqKmOI4U</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2103274357904871629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> proposes a toast to President Xi and Madame Peng at the official state dinner: &quot;May all of our people know a future of harmony, peace, and success.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0P2SdyYcYO">pic.twitter.com/0P2SdyYcYO</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2103274867705679978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> welcome President Xi and Madame Peng back to the White House for tonight’s official state dinner <a href="https://t.co/u0A8Lc2ilA">pic.twitter.com/u0A8Lc2ilA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2103260990406001099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Who was invited to China state dinner: White House releases guest list for celebration</h2>Guests at the White House dinner hosted Thursday by President Donald Trump and Melania Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as released by the White House:President Donald Trump and first lady Melania TrumpPresident Xi Jinping and Madame Peng LiyuanVice President JD Vance and second lady Usha VanceSecretary of State Marco Rubio and his spouse, Jeanette RubioChief of Staff Susie WilesU.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue and his spouse, Bonnie PerdueTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his spouse, John FreemanDefense Secretary Pete HegsethJamieson Greer, United States trade representative, and his spouse, Marlo GreerCai Qi, chief of staff to XiWang Yi, CPC Political Bureau Central Committee memberHe Lifeng, China’s vice premier of State CouncilZheng Shanjie, chairman of China’s National Development and Reform CommissionWang Wentao, China’s minister of commerceMa Zhaoxu, China’s executive vice foreign ministerXie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the United States, and his spouse, Wang DanIvanka Trump and her daughter, Arabella KushnerEric Trump and his spouse, Lara TrumpTiffany Trump and her spouse, Michael BoulosViktor Knavs, father of Melania TrumpJensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, and his spouse, Lori HuangMark Zuckerberg, CEO of MetaLisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, and her spouse, Daniel LinTim Cook, executive chairman of the board of AppleJohn F.W. Rogers, executive vice president of Goldman SachsLynn Martin, president of the New York Stock ExchangeLinda Mills, president of New York UniversityEric Yuan, CEO of ZoomTang Fangyu, director of the Central Policy Research Office of the CPC Central CommitteeMr. Lan Fo’an, China’s Minister of FinanceZhou Hongxu, deputy director of the General Office of the CPC Central CommitteeLyu Luhua, secretary to XiHong Lei, Chinese assistant foreign ministerCai Wei, Chinese assistant foreign ministerMao Ning, director general of China’s Department of Press, Communication and Public DiplomacyZhang Quan, secretary to PengZhang Yongchao, deputy director general of China’s Department of North American and Oceanian AffairsKelly Ortberg, CEO of BoeingLarry Fink, CEO of BlackrockStephen Schwarzman, CEO of BlackstoneSam Altman, CEO of OpenAIGreg Brockman, president and co-founder of OpenAI, and his wife, Anna BrockmanDr. Miriam Adelson, controlling shareholder of Las Vegas SandsSergey Brin, co-founder of Google/Alphabet, and his partner, Gerelyn Gilbert-SotoSatya Nadella, chairman and CEO of MicrosoftJim Taiclet, president and CEO of Lockheed MartinSundar Pichai, CEO of GoogleLarry Culp, CEO of GE AerospaceSanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, and his spouse, Sangeeta MehrotaCristiano Amon, CEO of QualcommJeff Bezos, chairman of Amazon, and his spouse, Lauren Sanchez-BezosJeff Yass, co-founder of Susquehanna International GroupJamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan ChaseMichael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, and his spouse, Susan DellMary Barra, CEO of General Motors, and her spouse, Anthony BarraDavid Solomon, CEO of Goldman SachsJane Fraser, CEO of CitigroupElon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and TeslaDarren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, and his spouse, Kathy WoodsChief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court, and his spouse, Jane Sullivan RobertsJustice Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Supreme Court, and her spouse, Jesse BarrettJustice Brett Kavanaugh of the U.S. Supreme Court, and his spouse, Ashley EstesSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and his spouse, Kelly JohnsonBret Baier, Fox News host, and his spouse, Amy BaierLaura Ingraham, Fox News hostRep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga.Jesse Watters, Fox News host, and his spouse, Emma WattersDavid Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, and his spouse, Sandra Lynn EllisonKevin Warsh, chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his spouse, Jane LauderCommerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and his spouse, Allison LutnickJohn Ratcliffe, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and his spouse, Michelle RatcliffeSteve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to Middle EastStephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, and his spouse, Katie MillerDan Scavino, White House deputy chief of staff, and his spouse, Erin ScavinoTodd Blanche, attorney general of the United States, and his spouse, Kristine BlancheMeredith O’Rourke, national finance director for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaignEnergy Secretary Chris WrightHealth Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and his spouse, Cheryl HinesEducation Secretary Linda McMahonInterior Secretary Doug Burgum and his spouse, Kathryn BurgumTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his spouse, Rachel Campos-DuffyRussell Vought, director of the Office of Management and BudgetLee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyActing Labor Secretary Keith SonderlingBrad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter, and his fiancé, Katie SimpsonAlbert Bourla, CEO of PfizerDavid Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and TechnologySmall Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler and her spouse, Jeff SprecherRep. Jason Smith, R-Mo.Sen. Steven Daines, R-Mont.General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJay Clayton, director of the Office of the Director of National IntelligenceBernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, and his son, Alexandre ArnaultRyan McInerey, CEO of VisaMichael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> and Madame Peng listen to a children&#39;s choir during the cultural visit <a href="https://t.co/xZpS69faxu">https://t.co/xZpS69faxu</a> <a href="https://t.co/XcIjCHDmfG">pic.twitter.com/XcIjCHDmfG</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2103157164713951367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The President’s Own Marine Band performs for <a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, <a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, President Xi, and Madame Peng 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/jSkCnKYuzt">pic.twitter.com/jSkCnKYuzt</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103262527849406684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> shows President Xi the Biden Autopen photo 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/L0PbjQe2Aj">pic.twitter.com/L0PbjQe2Aj</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103182829383458873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Who is that? I don’t recognize him!” 🤣 <a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> shows President Xi their photo hanging in the West Wing <a href="https://t.co/BluS5vm1vu">pic.twitter.com/BluS5vm1vu</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103179491308683448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and President Xi tour the new White House helipad 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Zsq2vQ0dWy">pic.twitter.com/Zsq2vQ0dWy</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103172741906268467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump welcomes President Xi to the Oval Office 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/OVszPAPg9I">pic.twitter.com/OVszPAPg9I</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103149165308264938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and President Xi watch the Silent Drill Platoon in the White House Rose Garden 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4K170OdMpf">pic.twitter.com/4K170OdMpf</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2103149978717687813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>