KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Last year, the Chiefs showed a knack for disrupting opponents' emergency quarterbacks. They hope they do it again Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, who plan to start newly acquired Carson Palmer.
When the news of Palmer's trade to Oakland came down Tuesday, the Chiefs quickly went to the videotape. They last faced Palmer on Dec. 27, 2009, when they limited him to 139 passing yards. However, his 6-yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco with 2:03 remaining snapped a 10-10 tie and lifted the Bengals to a 17-10 victory.
This time, Palmer is working with new teammates after missing training camp and the opening six weeks of the season.
"The thing about this league is that you think you have an advantage sometimes -- less preparation from another team or another guy," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "But everybody is a professional. He's going to get ready to play. He's a smart guy, and this is a copycat league. I'm sure he'll fit right in."
The Chiefs faced two backup quarterbacks in their opening six games last season and were able to use key interception returns for touchdowns against Cleveland's Seneca Wallace and Jacksonville's Todd Bouman as springboards to victories over the Browns and Jaguars. Brandon Flowers victimized Wallace with a 33-yard TD return, and Johnson had a 15-yard scoring return against Bouman.
Asked specifically if the Chiefs would be inclined to come with additional pressure packages against a rusty quarterback like Palmer, coach Todd Haley replied: "I don't think I'd give much of that out, as much as I could help it."
Whether his team faces Palmer or Kyle Boller, Haley's overriding message is that the Chiefs can't be consumed by Oakland's change at quarterback.
"First and foremost, we have to stop one of the best running attacks in the league, one of the best backs (Darren McFadden) in the league," Haley said. "If we don't do that, it will be a long day for us. It won't matter really who's playing quarterback. We've got to stay focused on the specific strengths of their team."
Johnson agreed: "Carson Palmer is a guy who can beat you with his arm. He's a guy who's very seasoned at the quarterback position, but they run the ball. That's their bread and butter."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
