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Sunday, November 18, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Kansas City and Buffalo, two dominant teams in the AFC in the 1990s, have found the new century inhospitable, especially at home.

The Chiefs and the Bills were nearly invincible at home in the '90s. Kansas City lost only 15 times at Arrowhead Stadium during that decade, and the Bills were losers 20 times in Buffalo.

Today, the two last-place teams are each 0-4 at home. The Bills are 1-7 overall and the Chiefs 2-7.

"I'm stunned," Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. "We've never been 0-4. I don't know the reason. Our crowds have been sensational. We fill the stadium, they stay to the end, cheer their hearts out and give as much support as they can."

Maybe that stuff is overrated.

No quit in Broncos

The Broncos are still angry that wide receiver Eddie Kennison quit the team the night before their game against San Diego last week.

Denver won, 26-16.

"What can you say?" Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said. "There's not many things you could do in sports worse than that."

The Broncos are hurting at wide receiver but Coach Mike Shanahan rejected Kennison's offer to return. They are not sure who will play the position today against Washington, but quarterback Brian Griese said he will throw to whomever's out there.

"It's not like I'm going to quit the night before a game."

Ravens getting their kicks

Kris Brown isn't the only kicker who has had problems making field goals against Baltimore. Kickers have made only 47 percent (9 of 19) attempts against the Ravens this season, and that does not include one by Tennessee Monday night when the ball was snapped too high and the kick was never tried.

"I don't know if we do anything schematically any different than anybody else," Coach Brian Billick said. "We have a couple of guys coming off the edge in [Chris McAlister] and Rod Woodson ... they have been pretty nifty at it. Even if we don't tip [the ball], there is a presence there that the kicker has to think about."

Said tight end Shannon Sharpe: "I don't really know what it is. I'm just glad it's happened."

Van Pelt in control

Alex Van Pelt, 31, has been in the NFL for seven seasons, but he'll start only his fourth game today when he takes over for injured quarterback Rob Johnson in Buffalo.

Last week, Matt Lytle, another former Pitt quarterback, made his first NFL start, for Carolina.

Van Pelt, an eighth-round pick of the Steelers in 1994, hasn't started since the last game of the 1997 season.

Many in Buffalo, however, believe he might be more successful than Johnson.

"You get the feeling he's in control when he's in there," said receiver Peerless Price. "He knows the offense. He knows the timing everybody has."

Van Pelt has trimmed down to 6-1, 218 pounds from the former pudgy physique that earned him the nickname "The Pill" as in Pillsbury Doughboy.

Quick slants

WR Hines Ward is on pace to become the first wide receiver in NFL history to have 100 catches and not reach 1,000 yards. He has 50 for 483. The only player to catch 100 and not get 1,000 yards was FB Larry Centers of Arizona in 1995 -- he had 101 for 962.

Jacksonville once had great special teams, but no more. They scored 11 touchdowns on special teams in their first five years in the league, none in the past two.

Oakland ranked No. 4 on defense against the rush before they played Seattle, which gouged them for 319. Now the Raiders rank No. 20.

The Steelers are choirboys compared to the Denver Broncos when it comes to fines. Hines Ward is the only known Steeler to be fined this season after being set back $5,000 Wednesday. The Broncos have been fined more than $130,000.

People are starting to alter the spelling of Trent Green's name to TrINT because he leads the NFL with 16 interceptions. The Chiefs quarterback ranks last in the NFL with a 62.6 passer rating.