KC Chiefs to Go with Kyle Orton Against Packers: Fan Reaction

Kansas City Chiefs' interim head coach Romeo Crennel is already acting like he wants the job on a permanent basis. His first press conference as the head coach was fairly straightforward. He said Kyle Orton would start against the Green Bay Packers Dec. 18.

What was more interesting was that he moved rookie Ricky Stanzi into the number two slot should Orton need to be pulled from the game. Both moves are good ones for a few reasons.

Putting Orton in at starting quarterback lets the team know who the coach is right now. If the offense does something respectable against the undefeated Packers at Arrowhead Stadium, Crennel will make his case for the permanent job right away. Orton is clearly more experienced than previous starter Tyler Palko. He will also bring a certain stability to the offense.

Something needs to be done to turn the ship around. Having a new quarterback under center may do just that. Orton's no panacea for the season but it's better than what happened against the New York Jets Dec. 11 when the Chiefs had four yards of offense in the first half.

Orton can also bring consistency to the field, something the Chiefs have lacked for several games. Instead of getting better after the four-game winning streak, Kansas City tanked. Orton is one step on the way back.

Having Stanzi, not Palko, as the backup is also a good thing. The Chiefs' season is likely done. One more loss and they are out of contention for an AFC West title. A loss, coupled with a win by the Cincinnati Bengals or Tennessee Titans will knock the Chiefs out of a wild card spot.

The only way for Stanzi to improve is to play. Should Orton need to be taken out for any reason, having a rookie get experience deep into the NFL season can only foster his improvement even quicker.

Palko already got some valuable experience with four straight starts under center. His season is likely done barring another round of injuries. He will take the snaps under center, process them in his brain and improve upon his performance in training camp next year. It wasn't a lost season for Palko, just one with a lot of pressure on him.

For now, Crennel is making the right moves. Whether they create wins is another matter. We'll see Dec. 18 against the Packers. It would be poetic justice if Orton can defeat his old team Jan. 1 when Kansas City plays the Denver Broncos.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

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