CHICAGO — Tyler Palko shook off two miserable starts and threw for 157 yards and a touchdown even though he was briefly lifted for Kyle Orton, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat Chicago 10-3 Sunday to snap their four-game losing streak.
“No one likes to get taken out, but at the end of the day, it’s the coach’s decision and you’ve got to roll with the punches,” Palko said.
Palko might get some more time, considering Orton took just one snap at the start of the second quarter and left the game after injuring his right index finger.
Coach Todd Haley said he doesn’t “really have much to give you” when asked about Orton’s injury.
Palko gave him enough, though. He connected with Dexter McCluster on a wild 38-yard pass to end the first half on a ball that got deflected by Brian Urlacher and Chris Conte, giving the Chiefs a 7-3 lead and their first touchdown in three games.
Kansas City (5-7) got a 21-yard field goal from Ryan Succop in the third quarter to make it a seven-point game, and Jon McGraw intercepted struggling backup Caleb Hanie in the end zone in the fourth.
The Chiefs also recorded seven sacks — three by Justin Houston — and intercepted Hanie three times.
