"The man who will lead the Chiefs into their most important and most difficult game of the year looks a little bit like the guy behind the register at your local convenience store.

You would not pick this man out of a line at a movie theater as being an NFL quarterback. He looks more like the guy you'll watch today's game with, not like the guy you'll actually be watching.

All of which means Brodie Croyle is perfectly qualified to quarterback this Chiefs team against the defending AFC West champion Chargers.

Look, there is plenty for Chiefs fans to be skeptical about. This would be a difficult game even with Matt Cassel: the Chiefs on the road against a more talented team playing for its season.

But let's at least consider the possibility that the Chiefs are as well-positioned as any team in the league to make do with a backup quarterback. Even as well as Cassel has played — and he has been outstanding — the Chiefs' offense is built around schemes and play-calls and running backs and receivers. Not the quarterback."