Livin' on a Prayer: Chiefs vs. Bears

KC - 10                 CHI - 3

The game wasn't pretty, it wasn't fun to watch, it was even a bit painful at times, but it was one in which the Chiefs walked away victorious.

Matt Forte was knocked out early by a Derrick Johnson helmet to the knee, which made the match up of back up quarterbacks and running backs one that made offensive coordinators grimace. Defenses became very important at that point, and today, the Chiefs defense was better.

The Chiefs aren't going to win many games with the template they demonstrated Sunday, but it was good enough for one.

What the Chiefs Did Right

• Once again, the Chiefs defense kept this team in the game. They shut down the Chicago offense, much like they did the Steelers on Sunday Night. Granted, they were playing against Caleb Hanie and Marion Barber, but still, they did what was asked and they did it well. They held the Bears offense to 181 total yards, and forced three Hanie turnovers, one of which was in the endzone. The defense also went on to record seven sacks, several of which helped knock Chicago out of field goal range. 
• Speaking of the defense, the Chiefs linebacking corps has been dominate. Derrick Johnson continued his Pro Bowl pace with 8 tackles and a sack, and Justin Houston continued his improved rookie season with 7 tackles and 3 sacks. Tyson Jackson got his first sack of the season, Jon McGraw got one, and so did Tamba Hali. 
• The Chiefs offense did the least amount they could to win the game. Luckily for the Chiefs, they scored on a Hail Mary conversion before the end of the half that was deflected into the waiting hands of Dexter McCluster. This was the Chiefs first touchdown since the Broncos game, but it couldn't have come at a better time. 
• The Chiefs running game finished with 113 rushing yards, and Tyler Palko had a decent game as a game manager, finishing 17/30 for 157 yards, 1 TD and NO INTs! That surprises me as well.

What the Chiefs Could Have Done Better

• The Kyle Orton era in Kansas City was a short lived one. It lasted exactly one play, a flea flicker, and resulted in an incomplete pass and a dislocated finger. Orton didn't come in the rest of the game, and who knows if he will again this season. 
• The Chiefs 3rd down conversion rate, especially in the second half was anemic. They would end the game 7-20. A lot of this stemmed from having long third down conversion attempts due to penalties. The Chiefs had eight penalties for 60 yards. 
• Barry Richardson looked as awful as he had all year. He was called for a couple of those holding penalties, and he was getting beat by the Bears defenders often. I defended Richardson earlier this week after Jared Gaither's release on here and on Twitter, and he did his best to make me look like an idiot. 

At the end of the day, the Chiefs win. I have mixed feelings about the victory because of the upcoming draft, but that is a conversation (blog post) for another day.