Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/18

Game Day!! New coach, new QB, and hopefully a new look on the field. Chiefs host the Packers this afternoon, and I'm really hoping enough Chiefs fans go to the game that it's not the other way around. Looks like it will be a good day for football. Enjoy today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Go Chiefs!!

The Kyle Orton era begins Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium with a rare second chance for a non-division quarterback to take down the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

Orton previously started against the defending Super Bowl Champions in early October, throwing for three touchdowns and three interceptions in Denver's 49-23 loss at Lambeau Field...

...Is the second time a charm?

Take Five: Green Bay from The Mothership

While it's an incredible challenge for the Chiefs in their first game of the post-Todd Haley era, it's also an awesome opportunity. A lot of people, and not just Crennel, have a lot to gain if the Chiefs can somehow pull an improbable upset. That's a huge motivating factor, so look for the Chiefs to play better today. But they're going to need a lot of points to win this game, and they'll find that a change at coach and at quarterback won't be enough to immediately fix that problem. Prediction: Packers 34, Chiefs 17

Scouting Report: Packers at Chiefs from KC Star

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. South southwest wind between 6 and 13 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind between 10 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Game Day Weather Forecast from The National Weather Service

The mania began again last Monday, at least officially. The whispers had already been circling.

By the time Todd Haley was fired last week as the Chiefs' coach, social-networking sites already had been buzzing with the team's next set of dream candidates. Fans posted to their Twitter pages that former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher or former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden should be the only logical choices to lead the Chiefs. Hours after Haley's firing was announced, a Facebook page went live in hopes of luring Cowher to Kansas City.

Gruden, Cowher Are At Top OF Chiefs Fan's Wish List from KC Star

"I like the idea and concept of trying to get a quarterback every year. It's something that I know (longtime Packers GM) Ron Wolf did, and talking with Ron over the years, it's something he firmly believes in. A number of us in this league learn from him."

Those were the words of Chiefs GM Scott Pioli last spring after Kansas City selected QB Ricky Stanzi with the first of two fifth-round draft picks.

Chiefs Want To Draft Quarterbacks The Ron Wolf Wayfrom The Mothership

Whatever happens today, the Chiefs will still hold the all-time series edge over Green Bay. They lead the Packers 6-2-1 in regular-season matchups (6-3-1 overall) and had beaten the Pack in five straight meetings before being picked apart by Brett Favre (24 of 34, 360 yards, two TDs) in a 33-22 loss at Arrowhead on Nov. 4, 2007.

Five Things About The Packers from KC Star

This week, we catch up with Kent Babb of The Kansas City Star to get the lowdown on Kyle Orton, Todd Haley's downfall and if the Chiefs have a chance to pull the upset.

Q: How healthy is Kyle Orton? Do you think he'll be effective as the starter Sunday?

Babb: He's not healthy, but for the Chiefs, he's healthy enough. A banged-up Kyle Orton is far better than a healthy Tyler Palko, and it's the right move by Romeo Crennel to start the veteran. It won't be enough to upset the Packers, but at least the Chiefs will know what Orton is made of.

The Other Side: Babb On Orton, Chiefs' Transition from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Packers frequently get a boost on the road that not many NFL teams do, from the number of Green Bay fans who populate other stadiums. There were so many Packers fans in San Diego last month, for instance, that the home Chargers had to employ a silent count on offense while trying to put together a last-minute drive.

Sometimes, the presence of visiting fans can backfire on the road team, because it fires up the home fans even more and they become determined to drown the enemy out. That hasn't happened this season

One Last Look: Firsts At Stake In Kansas City from Packers.com

McCarthy today returns to Kansas City, where his undefeated Packers are heavy favorites over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Some of McCarthy's fondest memories will be rekindled...

...But what sticks with McCarthy more than anything are the principles he learned from Schottenheimer.

McCarthy Points To Time In KC As Foundation For His Success from The Green Bay Press Gazette

On Sunday, the Packers' secondary faces Kyle Orton, who dislocated his index finger on his first snap with the Kansas City Chiefs. It's the same Orton who passed for 273 yards on 22-of-32 passing with three touchdowns and three picks against Green Bay Oct. 2 with Denver.

So, which is it? Does Orton have a grasp of what the Packers do defensively or is his lack of experience with Kansas City's receivers a kiss of death against an opportunistic secondary? Sunday, we'll see.

In Chiefs' Orton, A Familiar Foe from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel