So for lack of realistic options — Orton has the injury, and the Chiefs clearly don’t feel Stanzi is ready to play — the Chiefs are becoming Palko’s team. Though the victory in Chicago wasn’t a work of offensive art, it’s still a win, and that can go a long way in advancing the process.

“It’s tough to play quarterback in this league,” Haley said. “It’s tough when your first couple games are what his have been, his first three, really. What he’s done is he’s gotten better every game and he was playing quarterback when we won a big game and made a couple big plays for us within that game.”

Linebackers Steal the Show

On a day where malaise and mediocrity was in vogue, the one unit that really upped their game was the Chiefs’ linebackers. All four of their starters contributed in extremely positive ways and fueled the Chiefs’ stifling defensive display. The play of Derrick Johnson (+4.5) has been well documented in our game reviews here at PFF this season, but he once again put a dominant display. His work in run defense was as strong as ever – his tackle that dealt Matt Forte his injury was a particularly impressive defensive play; going under the block of Matt Spaeth to get to the Bears’ runner at the line. Johnson was not alone this week as Tamba Hali (+3.2) was his usual explosive self and rookie Justin Houston (+3.7) recorded his strongest showing as a pass rusher with three sacks, a pressure and a batted pass.

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.

“Like I said Monday, Tyler [Palko] is our starter; we are getting Kyle [Orton] ready to play. He’s not like a guy that’s been here for a couple of years. It’s a different situation that way so we are getting him ready to play. He might have to play and he might not but we’ve got to get ready to win a big game. We’ve got to do it by whatever means possible and if it takes playing three quarterbacks and going wildcat 20 plays, we’ve got to do that and then the week after this it’ll be a similar deal.”

“We’re getting some big-time plays from a couple of those young guys, specifically Justin and Allen Bailey,” Haley said.

Bailey has been mixing into the Chiefs sub-package rotation at defensive end throughout the season. Bailey and veteran defensive lineman Amon Gordon have each played pivotal roles in the defense re-finding its pass rush over the past two games.

Houston has aided in the rush as well, but has helped the defense improve on a down-to-down basis as well.

“I would venture to say we’d as much as anything else get Kyle an opportunity to get acclimated into the offense, and the only way to do that is to get legitimate (snaps),” Haley said. “The guy that we feel gives us the best chance to win will always play.

“Tyler’s the starter. If we feel Kyle or Ricky gives us a better chance to win, then we surely would make that change.”

Haley said much of Orton’s participation would be determined by how quickly the Chiefs can familiarize him with the team’s offense and its way of going about its business.

Orton wasn’t seen in the locker room when reporters were allowed inside, and the team didn’t make him available for interviews. He didn’t arrive at the facility until Friday afternoon, and Haley said Orton had spent much of his day with team doctors, taking a physical and being evaluated.

After he joined the team, football work could begin.

“We’ve got to get Kyle assimilated into how we’re doing things,” Haley said, “and make decisions as we get closer to the game.”

“It was kind of a no-brainer for us with the situation we were in, first and foremost from a depth standpoint,” coach Todd Haley said. “Once the decision was made that Matt (Cassel) was going to be lost for the season, there was no other option as far as we could see.”

Orton didn’t arrive in Kansas City in time to practice with his teammates Thursday. Haley, who said he had spoken with Orton over the phone, indicated Orton would join the Chiefs today.

“He had a couple of personal things he had to attend to,” Haley said.

Imagine you are Tyler Palko. You are getting your first start of your NFL career on Monday Night Football against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Before the game, you’re anxious, you’re prepared, you’re nervous, and you’re excited. You just want to get out on the field and play because somewhere in your psyche there is a little voice that says, “Tyler, what if, man? What if you beat the Patriots tonight? Here in Foxborough on Monday Night Football, wouldn’t that be cool?” Then the game starts. At the end of the first quarter you are 6-for-7 and you have a 3-0 lead. That little voice in your head starts to get louder, “Tyler, this is your time, dude. This is your night. You’re outplaying Tom Brady, you’re outplaying Tom Brady on Monday night, and you’re looking pretty good doing it.”

“We have to do better,” LB Derrick Johnson said. “The Patriots are a team that leaves you with little room for error. You can play a good game and then just the little mistakes – they don’t even have to be big mistakes – they capitalize on them. That’s what type of team they are and we knew that coming into this.”

The Chiefs showed several new wrinkles Monday night that helped stall the Patriots in the early-goings of the game.

“Looking at that team in 2008, Carr was a rookie, Flowers was a rookie – I mean, there were a lot of young people there that have developed and grown into amongst the best players in the league,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said earlier this week.

Most of the names listed above currently makeup Kansas City’s core group of players, but by all accounts the Chiefs overachieved against the Patriots in 2008.

Holley, who had written previous books on Belichick and former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, began a new project involving Belichick, Dimitroff and Pioli. In the new book, “War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team,” Holley examines the player evaluation and drafting skills of all three, as well as their personal stories.

“I wanted to do something on these three guys,” said Holley. “I knew the depth of their relationship, especially between Dimitroff and Pioli, who considered themselves brothers after Thomas’ dad died.”

Though Cassel’s right hand remained heavily bandaged, Chiefs head coach Todd Haley offered tempered optimism regarding the quarterback’s ability to return this season.

“Everything went really well,” Haley said. “We’re just giving it as much time as we can to see exactly where he is.”

Young defenders provide silver lining

After losing their starting quarterback as well as the game, there isn’t much for the Chiefs to take away from this one in a positive context. One thing they can be happy about though is the encouraging play of two of their young defenders, OLB Justin Houston (+2.8) and FS Kendrick Lewis (+2.3). The rookie Houston played the most snaps in any single game he’s played yet, and took advantage of the opportunity by turning in his first game graded in the green. He made four defensive stops, beating Broncos tight ends with ease to close on the ball carrier. Three of the four players that saw at least one snap at tight end for the Broncos were graded negatively on at least one play thanks to Houston. Second-year safety Lewis had his best game of the season with a missed tackle being his only negative play in the game. He broke up two of the eight passes Tebow attempted, including a deep attempt to Eric Decker and also made a defensive stop in the run game.

Cassel injured his right hand late in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Denver at Arrowhead Stadium. Haley wasn’t optimistic Cassel would return this season.

“That’s a possibility,” said Haley, who also indicated Cassel would probably need surgery. “I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute.

“There’s some optimism, but with each person that varies. Being a quarterback and being the hand he throws with, that’s a difficulty.”

The Broncos held on for a 17-10 victory Sunday, but they’ll have a quick turnaround with a game against the New York Jets scheduled for Thursday night.

“We’ll find out, maybe not until Tuesday. That’s when we form up for practice,” Fox said, when asked if either running back will be ready for the Jets.

Last year’s victory over Denver was critical in Kansas City’s AFC West title run.

The 10-6 win at Arrowhead ended Josh McDaniels’ coaching tenure in Denver and helped the Chiefs hold strong atop the AFC West despite San Diego’s late push for the division. It was the Chiefs third win in a row after being blown out in Denver, and falling to 5-4, just three weeks prior.

A victory against Denver this weekend could end up being another significant moment for the Chiefs.

Johnson and the Chiefs can expect to see a lot of the option on Sunday when the Broncos play at Arrowhead Stadium in the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Broncos changed much of what they do on offense since replacing former starting quarterback Kyle Orton with Tim Tebow three weeks ago.

“He may not have the traditional way (of) standing in the pocket and delivering certain (passes),” Johnson said. “But as long as you win, it doesn’t really matter.”

“You never know what is going to happen,” San Diego defensive lineman Tommie Harris said after the Chargers lost 45-38 to Green Bay on Sunday. “That’s why we just have to bounce back quickly.”

The Chiefs – who came into Week 9 on a four-game win streak — were dismantled 31-3 by the Dolphins. Oakland, in the first start of the Carson Palmer era, was run over 38-24 by the Broncos.

“He came up with the name ‘Tamba-Hawk’ and he started calling me ‘Tamba-Hawk,’” Hali explained. “One game he was like, ‘go ahead and do it’ after I got a sack.”

Despite Allen’s encouragement, it took a while for Hali to get comfortable performing his own celebration in front of a crowd.

“I was a little nervous because I wasn’t used to celebrating– you know at Penn State we don’t celebrate, we just get amped up,” Hali remembered. “Jared had ‘The Bull’ so I had to come up with something. Being able to flap my wings after a sack is the hawk, like you just got hawked.”

“He’s dangerous, especially one on one,” fullback Le’Ron McClain said. “I think he could make that guy miss probably 10 out of 10 times; he’s so quick. That one-on-one thing, just get him out in space, and he can do what he wants to do.”

“All it does is help everybody get open,” Breaston said. “It helps me, it helps Dwayne, it helps the backs out of the backfield. The more weapons, especially with the losses we had earlier, this is going to be great.

“It’s another target for Matt (Cassel). It helps the running game. They can’t afford to put everybody in the box.”

Haley’s Chiefs have the Chargers again this week. Last time, there was some question as to whether or not he’d make it out of September, given the horrific opening to 2011 and the simmering tumult between he and GM Scott Pioli. Back then, Haley didn’t see the sense in caring about all that. That should explain why when I asked him, late Wednesday night, if he felt the organization had his back when things looked worse, he took the question and went another way with it.

“I’ve said it plenty of times — when you’re losing, there’s going to be tension anywhere you go,” Haley responded. “Tell me about a place where there’s not that, and I’ll bet that’s a place where you have no chance of winning. That stuff’s not something I’d ever focus on. Wherever I’ve been, I’ve tried to stay above the fray and focused on my job.

Haley next season will be in the final year of the contract he signed upon joining the Chiefs. Hunt declined to say whether the Chiefs would offer him an extension.

“I don’t think it serves a purpose for me to publicly discuss anybody’s contract situation,” Hunt said. “I do think Todd has done a very good job since he’s been the head coach of the Chiefs. We were obviously delighted to make the playoffs last year, and he has the team playing well again. Those types of things tend to take care of themselves at the right time.”

Hunt said Haley has done “an outstanding job of changing the culture at Arrowhead.”

This play illustrates the ultimate punishment for a quarterback who misreads coverage and stares down one route. On the prior play the Raiders had lost a first down conversion due to the rookie enthusiasm of Terrelle Pryor, snapping the ball before being set under center for a full second. Now in 3rd-and-6, the Raiders turn to Kyle Boller to get the conversion and he commits a familiar cardinal sin, locking on to his primary receiver prior to the throw. Free safety Kendrick Lewis reads Boller’s eyes, leading him to the throw and undercutting Jacoby Ford’s route to make the interception. Lewis is just able to stay in bounds and score the Chiefs first pick-six of the game.

The six interceptions ties for the second-most in team history. It marked the seventh time in Chiefs annals that KC recorded six interceptions off opposing quarterbacks. The last time the Chiefs had six interceptions was vs. Seattle (12/9/84). CB Brandon Flowers registered two interceptions of his own, returning one 58 yards for a touchdown. S Kendrick Lewis also returned one 59 yards for a touchdown.

“I just know this is going to be a real fight on my hands, our hands, especially inside,” Asamoah said this week. “Those two guys inside (defensive tackles Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly) are some of the best we’ve played this year.

“They’re coming. You know what they’re bringing, too. It’s going to be an all-day thing.”

Desperate for help under center, Oakland pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade that sent Carson Palmer from Cincinnati just before the NFL trade deadline.

“We wouldn’t have had to pursue a trade if our starting quarterback was healthy and going,” Raiders head coach Hue Jackson told the Kansas City media in a conference call Wednesday afternoon. “There’s no question that we would not have pursued this trade.”

With a bye keeping the team idle over the weekend, Kansas City received three additional days of preparation for Sunday’s showdown. In addition to putting in a full day of work on Monday, Coach Todd Haley held two outdoor practices last week before breaking for a league-mandated four-day rest period.

“Through a lot of discussions with the coaches we decided that this is the way that we thought would best serve us and our team – really spend a strong mental day on the Oakland Raiders,” Haley said. “Then, we’ll get more physical as we get into the week and get back into our regular routine.”

Haley said the Chiefs had 92 yards after the catch or after contact at San Diego, but 120 against Minnesota. And last week, at Indianapolis, the Chiefs picked up 250 combined yards after contact and catch.

“The run-after-the-catch has been a difference-maker for us,” Haley said. “Jackie Battle averaged close to 5 yards after contact on Sunday, which is out of this world for a running back.”

Bowe averaged 10 yards after the catch on his seven receptions, compared to zero yards after five catches at San Diego.

“That’s 70 yards,” Haley said. “Yards equal points, and there’s never been more evidence than last Sunday. … It changes the game dramatically, if all other things are equal.

Facing third and 8 on what turned out to be the game-winning drive Sunday against the Colts, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel dumped a pass over the middle to Keary Colbert for a 15-yard gain.

Three plays later, Cassel connected with Steve Breaston for a touchdown that sent the Chiefs into the bye week on a two-game winning streak.

For the uninitiated, cornhole is a yard game with two wooden ramps, each with a hole cut out, and teams of two players each attempt to toss beanbags through the hole, to land on the ramp or knock the opposition’s bags off the ramp. My Ohio-bred brother-in-law introduced my family to the game a couple of years ago. Although I admit to lacking coordination, it’s not as easy it sounds or looks. But it’s pretty freaking entertaining. Especially with beer.

For now Cassel deserves all the credit in the world. With his back against the wall and the Kansas City fans ready to punch his ticket out of town, it would have been easy for him to pack it in. But he stepped up his game and has the Chiefs in position to get right back into the thick of the AFC West race going into the bye.

‘I thought I was going to be drafted, but I didn’t know by whom or in what round. You hear a lot of things going into the draft from different teams and watching television, but you never know. No one knows. I was just sitting there watching the draft, and the Kansas City GM calls me and all of sudden I’m a Kansas City Chief. I was so happy, I couldn’t tell you what we talked about. It was a blur.’

What should be noted from looking at which guys are pressured the least, is that the bottom three have a combined record of 9-3. So teams that are keeping their quarterback pressure-free are winning. Of course, this isn’t always the case, with both Andy Dalton and Matt Cassel (as well as Mark Sanchez) fairing well in this regard. We’ll get to why that might be ever so shorty, but before we do, how about we look at which quarterbacks are letting the highest amount of pressure turn to sacks.

“We consider him both (a receiver and a tight end),” CB Brandon Carr added. “He runs good routes, can find the holes in any zone defense and he has great hands. We’re going to treat him like a receiver and try to get a body on him.”

Clark is to the 2011 Colts as Gonzalez was to the 2006-07 Chiefs. Actually, with WRs Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, Clark has a far superior supporting cast than Gonzalez did.

He didn’t want me just to stand pat,” Warner said. “… He continued to push me weekly, continued to put things on me and tell me, ‘Hey, you can be better than you’ve already been. You can do this better, you can help our team win by doing these kinds of things.’ ”

In 2008, Warner passed for 4,583 yards, the second-highest total of his career — more yards, even, than when Warner led the St. Rams to a Super Bowl win and Warner was chosen MVP for the first time. Under Haley’s guidance in 2008, Warner again led his team to the Super Bowl, and years after being relegated to backup duty with the New York Giants, Warner’s rebirth almost certainly will earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Matt is the leader of this team and everybody follows him,” FB Le’Ron McClain said. “He came in and gave us a good speech. He said to finish, have your brother’s back, finish and play ball.”

“He was fired up,” WR Dwayne Bowe added. “He was screaming and was like come on guys, and it (pumped us up).”

Cassel’s halftime speech followed a sideline interaction with head coach Todd Haley late in the second quarter.

The Kansas City Chiefs month-long support of October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month will kick off with several activities and events planned for the Oct. 2 game vs. the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s efforts, which coincide with NFL and NFL Players Association initiatives surrounding this cause, are being presented by Hy-Vee and will benefit breast cancer patient care at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.