Tyler Palko's initiation to the NFL doesn't get any easier this week, as he makes his second career start in the league against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a +10.5 home underdog.
After a 34-3 drubbing on Monday Night Football, the 4-7 Chiefs face a 7-3 Steelers team looking to a make a statement on national television Sunday night.
Even with starting QB Matt Cassel on the field, Kansas City has averaged only 184.9 yards a game passing this season, 28th in the NFL. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has been nearly impregnable through the air, giving up only 183.2 yards a game, 3rd in the league.
Kyle Orton, whom the Chiefs claimed off waivers this week from Denver, could be a savior, but it's unlikely he'll be ready to step in and play right away without any familiarity with Kansas City's offensive playbook.
The Chiefs defense will have their hands full as well against a talented Pittsburgh attack, which features two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger at the helms and averages 273.2 yards a game in the air, 6th best in the NFL.
The odds makers clearly don't have much faith in Kansas City's offense, setting the over/under for the game Sunday night at only 39.