Game Day!!! Chiefs at Bears this afternoon, and this one is important. Read up on all of the latest news, analysis, and predictions right here. Go Chiefs!!!
What Orton is, or has shown himself to be during his seven NFL seasons and a high-profile career at Purdue, is complicated. He has at times been a leader and a pouter, a man of fortitude and a kid showing that youth isn't so easy to shake. The quarterback who won over a Chicago Bears locker room with a 15-2 home record and a rare way of rallying teammates is the same man who raised eyebrows during his rookie season after photographs of Orton at a bar circulated on the Internet.
Chiefs' Kyle Orton Is One Complicated QB from KC Star
Haley stuck by his guns this week, declaring Palko as the Chiefs starting quarterback following a full week of practices. With that said, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Orton make his Chiefs debut at Soldier Field.
Don't discount the Chiefs designing separate packages for each quarterback either. Doing so might keep Palko from pressing and looking over his shoulder following each poor pass, read or turnover.
Chicago Take Five from The Mothership
NFL.com Video: Playbook: Chiefs vs. Bears
Today: A 30 percent chance of rain before noon. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 39 by 5pm. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west northwest. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Game Day Forecast from The National Weather Service
Though the Bears will probably wind up in the playoffs, they don't have the look of being a serious threat to make some noise once they're in. That said, the Bears generally make quick work of bottom-feeding opponents like the Chiefs. They are 5-0 against teams that, like the Chiefs, are out of realistic playoff contention. The Chiefs may hang in with the Bears for awhile but they don't do enough things well to go on the road and beat a well-rounded opponent. Prediction: Bears 27, Chiefs 13
Scouting Report: Chiefs at Bears from KC Star
Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie said he felt "antsy" heading into his first NFL start.
One week later, in front of about 60,000 Bears fans, "excited" would be a better description.
"Being at home is always great, especially at Soldier Field," said Hanie, who was promoted to a starting role after Jay Cutler broke his right thumb.
Bears Confident As Kansas City Arrives from The Northwest Herald
The Chiefs need to make evaluations about who and what will be back for 2012, and that's important in a vague and forward-thinking way, but for now the biggest question around (and inside) the team is the future of coach Todd Haley and why he is apparently unaware that Tyler Palko is an awful NFL quarterback.
This is one of the more secretive franchises in professional sports, and even private conversations often come with hidden agendas, so in this case it's important to keep in mind that everything you hear is only a theory.
Chiefs' Biggest Question Concerns Haley's Future from KC Star
So many factors are in Hanie's favor against the Chiefs on Sunday, there is almost too much anticipation of an improved effort by the fourth-year quarterback from Colorado State. He's playing at home; He had a 97.0 passer rating in the second half against the Raiders last week; the Chiefs have only 13 sacks in 11 games -- barely more than the Raiders had in two games prior to facing the Bears.
''I feel lot more confident now watching the film,'' Hanie said this week. ''Being that it was my first game, I needed to just breathe, let everything hang out, especially at the beginning. I feel like I did that after the first quarter."
Bears-Chiefs: The Week In Preview from The Chicago Sun-Times
He can jump, high point the ball and make contested catches. He is dangerous in the red zone and best on crossing routes, slants and one-cut routes. Bowe is very good at gaining yards after the catch. He bounces off tacklers and refuses to go down easily.
Chicago Scouting Report: Chiefs Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe from The Chicago Tribune
In an Insider piece, Mel Kiper looks at the teams that he thinks are the most likely destinations for Manning if he becomes available. The Chiefs are fourth on his list. I could see the reason why, but I'd be surprised if it happened. Still, Kiper correctly, in my opinion, argues the Chiefs would be the team to beat in the West with Manning as their quarterback.
To say Kansas City has had a streaky season would be an understatement. The Chiefs lost all of their September games, were unbeaten in October and then went winless in November.
So how will December go? It probably depends how quickly the Chiefs can get new quarterback Kyle Orton up to speed.
Sympathy For The Long Snapper from Cincinnati.com