"Sunday felt familiar. The Chiefs were blown out in a division game, against a team that, at least according to the standings, was an inferior opponent. This time it was Oakland who forced the Chiefs into another period of doubt and desperation.

Regardless, it had happened before. The last time they were beaten like that, with all their key players in the lineup, was seven weeks earlier in Denver. You thought Sunday was a setback? The Chiefs' 49-29 loss to the Broncos was ugly enough that it could have turned the whole season sour.

Coach Todd Haley was so discouraged that he gave his starters the option of calling it a night. Head to the sideline if they wanted to; this one was lost. Quarterback Matt Cassel responded a certain way, and his teammates haven't forgotten.

On Sunday, Chiefs guard Brian Waters, still in the shadow of the most recent disappointment, remembered how Cassel reacted to his coach's invitation to give in. Here's what Waters said about it:

"You know he wants to win," Waters said. "You trust a guy like that.""