clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/5

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Getty Images

Victory Monday (it's been awhile)! We've gathered all of your Kansas City Chiefs news from across the internet. Keep reading for recaps, analysis and videos of yesterday's win over the Bears. Next up? The Jets.

To the rest of the world, Tyler Palko's first victory as a starting quarterback in the NFL was hardly a work of art. The Chiefs' 10-3 win over the Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field owed more to a gritty defense than any offensive wizardry.

To Palko, though - and by extension, his team - the game was something to be cherished. With the victory, the Chiefs moved to 5-7 and, combined with Oakland's loss to Miami, climbed back within two games of the AFC West lead.

Chiefs Beat Bears 10-3 For Palko's First Win from KC Star

Though McCluster's improbable catch ended up putting enough points on the scoreboard to claim victory, it took another battled ball to seal the Chiefs win...

...Hanie's fifth pass in as many plays should have resulted in a game-tying touchdown reception. Instead, the pass hit WR Roy Williams square in the chest before it was batted into the air by S Kendrick Lewis and ricocheted again by LB Derrick Johnson.

McGraw followed the ping pong flow of the football before diving and scooping up the interception just before it touched the ground. Chicago wouldn't threaten again.

The Morning After: Chicago from The Mothership

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs 10, Bears 3

Chicago Daily Herald Photo Gallery: Bears vs. Chiefs

NFL.com Video: Gameday: Chiefs vs Bears Highlights

NFL.com Video: Chiefs Postgame Press Conference

NFL.com Video: WK 13 Can't-Miss Play: McGraw Tip Drill

NFL.com Video: WK 13 Can't-Miss Play: Palko Hail Mary Touchdown

NFL.com Video: Let's Go Primetime

When the Chiefs lose, coach Todd Haley talks a lot about not attaching every evaluation and feeling to the result, so it's only fair to take that same approach now and recognize that the Chiefs stunk in a lot of ways.

Finally matched against another bad quarterback and backup running back, the Chiefs still needed a lot of luck. They scored their only touchdown on a deflected Hail Mary, and the Bears flubbed two chances near the goal line - one a dropped pass that turned into an interception and the other a penalty that turned a touchdown into a field goal.

Houston's Play Is Most Encouraging Thing For Chiefs from KC Star

But more importantly, Houston's overall body of work has had him consistently grading out as one of the Chiefs top defenders since the Broncos visited Arrowhead Stadium four weeks ago. Houston was thrust into a more extensive role midway through the first half of that game with the Chiefs struggling to defend Denver's exterior run game.

He came in and immediately made a nice stop on a Tim Tebow option play. Since then, Houston has rarely left the field.

Increased Confidence Has Justin Houston Playing Big from The Mothership

Dexter McCluster might have been the only person at Soldier Field who could believe what happened. It was the first half's final play, a desperate throw by Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko toward the end zone, and anyway, those plays never work.

Right?

Instead, McCluster was there, the smallest player on the field making the biggest play of the day as he calmly watched the ball bounce off Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's hands and into McCluster's arms for a touchdown.

McCluster In The Right Place At The Right Time from KC Star

Orton's entry was scripted and not a reaction to Palko's play.

"We had a little plan, in addition to having him ready to play, if needed," head coach Todd Haley said. "We weren't making a quarterback change, so to speak. I want to strategically be careful about what I say. But I felt good about both guys being prepared to play and get the job done."

Orton's Entry Was Scripted; Undergoing Further Evaluation On Injured Finger from The Mothership

The Chiefs planned so many ways to stop Chicago return specialist Devin Hester that they began the process before the previous week's game.

"We watched film for two weeks on this guy," punter Dustin Colquitt said.

The Chiefs limited the damage inflicted by Hester on Sunday, and that was one key to their 10-3 victory. Hester had a punt return of 44 yards in the second quarter that set up Chicago's field goal but otherwise wasn't a factor.

Chiefs Keep Bears' Hester From Doing Much Damage from KC Star

How do you keep 60,000 people quiet on a Sunday afternoon? Put the Kansas Chief Chiefs and Chicago Bears' offenses in Soldier Field without their first-string quarterbacks.

Tyler Palko's desperation Hail Mary pass on the last play of the first half produced the game's only touchdown as the Chiefs stunned the offensively inept Bears, 10-3.

Backups Bore As Chiefs Take Down Bears from USA Today

In 2001, Haley was a young assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, and needing a touchdown to tie the score at 21-21 and force overtime, quarterback Shane Matthews fired a deep pass toward running back James Allen in the end zone. Allen hauled in the 34-yard reception, and the Bears went on and beat the Cleveland Browns 27-21 in overtime.

"It was the exact same corner; same everything," Haley said. "I always talk about that play."

Chiefs Buzz: Haley's Seen It Before from KC Star

Both Urlacher and safety Chris Conte went up to bat the ball down, but instead knocked it right to McCluster.

"The guy just happened to catch that one. We've done it a hundred times and it's the first time anyone has caught one," Urlacher said.

"We knocked it down. Chris and I, we both hit it. I don't know if it went straight down or it went backward. I guess I should have caught it or tried to, but it's just not what we do. I've never done that. So I just try to knock it down."

Bad Day For Bears All Around In Loss To Chiefs from The San Francisco Chronicle

For the last three games, the defense has played like the talented and explosive group that it had the potential to be before the season began. Sunday was one of its strongest showings of the season, and if the group can continue playing this way, this might not be the Chiefs' last win of 2011. The defense will at least give the team a chance to win.

A Look At The Good, The Bad And The Ugly From The Bears Game from KC Star

The panic meter for the Chiefs' offensive line just went from "On Watch," to "Run to the Hills" Sunday as we saw the Chiefs line get dominated by the Bears' front seven. Quarterback Tyler Palko was on the run most of the afternoon and Kyle Orton, on his first play, was knocked out of the game. The Chiefs' offensive line is regressing at a staggering rate and the shuffling has already begun.

With the release of Jared Gaither last week, and the promotion of David Mims, the Chiefs are signaling the desire for improvement up front.

Five to Remember: Chiefs vs. Bears from Warpaint Illustrated

Chicago Bears receiver Roy Williams seemed to have nearly as much trouble affixing blame for Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as he did trying to handle the potential touchdown pass that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter.

Williams Takes Blame -- Sort Of -- For Loss from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Saturday that the team has added WR Jamar Newsome to the practice squad. The club also announced it has released WR Zeke Markshausen from the practice squad.

Chiefs Add WR Jamar Newsome To Practice Squad from The Mothership

Arrowhead Pride Premier

Sign up now for a 7-day free trial of Arrowhead Pride Premier, with exclusive updates from Pete Sweeney on the ground at Arrowhead, instant reactions after each game, and in-depth Chiefs analysis from film expert Jon Ledyard.