Monday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs Offense Embarasses on National Display

One year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were champions of the AFC West.

They hosted a home playoff game, and had an explosive offense and a young and ferocious defense.

Oh, what difference a year makes.

The Chiefs have been decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, including losing starting running back Jamaal Charles, starting quarterback Matt Cassel and starting safety Eric Berry.

Going into Monday night's game against the New England Patriots, the schedule makers obviously thought this matchup would feature former Pats quarterback Matt Cassel making his return to New England.

If only the schedule makers could have seen into the future.

What we saw on Monday Night Football was a display of offense about as elementary and ugly as it can get.

Tyler Palko, a journeyman quarterback who bounced around the NFL and Canadian Football League, got his first start. On the opening drive, it was all but clear that there's a reason why Palko isn't a starting quarterback in the league: he can't throw more than 15 yards downfield.

Palko, who was ahead of Joe Flacco at the University of Pittsburgh on the QB depth chart, is terrible.

What is inexcusable is how a professional team cannot carry a legit or capable backup quarterback, example No. 1 being what's going on in Indianapolis with Curtis Painter.

You would think that an NFL team would prepare its squad with a backup quarterback who can at least throw more than 10 yards downfield and can run an NFL offense; instead what you see in Kansas City is an offense that's inept and flat-out embarrassing.

They cannot run, they cannot throw, they cannot catch and, bottom line, they cannot score.

In its last three games, Kansas City has just 16 total points and to date has scored the fourth-fewest points in the league with just 144 in 10 total games.

And if you think the schedule makers are kicking themselves in the head after this yawner of a game, next Sunday night, on national TV no less, you guessed it, the Chiefs are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Oh, schedule makers, I curse your name.