Chiefs at Bears
THE STORY: It's doesn’t look as if Kyle Orton will start this week for the Kansas City Chiefs in his return to Chicago. This much is known: Both teams could certainly use him. Trying to stay afloat in the NFC playoff race, Chicago hopes to see improvement from Caleb Hanie at home Sunday against the Chiefs, who may wait until game-day to decide between Orton and a struggling Tyler Palko, who on Wednesday was announced as the starter. Chicago had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 25-20 loss to Oakland last week. Hanie threw three interceptions in his first career start in place of the injured Jay Cutler. Palko, filling in for Matt Cassel, also threw three interceptions in 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh – the Chiefs’ fourth straight defeat.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Bears -7.5, O/U 37.5
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (4-7): The loss of Cassel to a broken hand has crippled the Chiefs' offense. Kansas City averaged 25.3 points during a four-game winning streak last month, but has scored a combined 25 points over the last four games. The Chiefs haven’t scored a touchdown in 27 possessions. Palko has six interceptions in two starts. Coach Todd Haley said Palko will start but added that the team is getting Orton ready to play. Palko’s poor performance overshadowed a tremendous effort from the defense, which held Pittsburgh to 290 total yards – 93 fewer than its season average.
ABOUT THE BEARS (7-4): The Bears inexplicably stopped giving the ball to Matt Forte despite having the inexperienced Hanie in for Cutler, who had thumb surgery last week. Forte had just 59 yards on 12 carries – his lightest workload since receiving nine carries in a Week 3 loss to Green Bay. Backup Marion Barber had his best game of the season with 10 carries for 63 yards. Hanie, meanwhile, finished 18 of 36 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He put more pressure on Chicago’s defense, which played well. The Bears held the Raiders to six field goals and a touchdown, but managed just one turnover after forcing 15 during the winning streak.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Kansas City claimed Orton off waivers from Denver last week. He threw for 979 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in five games with the Broncos before being benched for Tim Tebow.
2. Orton, who spent his first four seasons with the Bears and helped lead them to the playoffs as a rookie in 2005, was traded to Denver along with two first-round picks and a third-round pick for Cutler in 2009.
3. Chicago, which also put in a waiver claim for Orton, would be wise to test a Chiefs’ run defense that ranks 26th in the league (133.7 ypg).