Print edition: 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —They tried to find the words, to put their finger on something that looked like progress. That has been the Chiefs' main pursuit this season: If wins wouldn't happen, then at least Kansas City could somehow get a little better each week.
After another blowout loss Sunday, the chances of progress seem to be fading — even for the men on the inside.
"It didn't get better today," wide receiver Bobby Wade said. "Overall, I don't know."
The Chiefs' 44-13 loss to Denver at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time in 26 years the team has allowed 40 points in consecutive games, hid any progress that Kansas City seemed to have made as of last month, when the team inexplicably defeated Pittsburgh for its second win a row.
The locker room is a bleak place after days like this. Players shower, pack and depart without saying much. Another loss. Not many fresh ways to describe it. But there was a question that needed to be asked Sunday: Do players see progress?
"I'm not the one who can judge that," Wade said.
A few lockers down, Chris Chambers had his chance, too. What is one thing — one position group, one side of the ball, heck, one player — that has improved in the last month?
"I've only been here four or five weeks," Chambers said. "I can't sit up here and say one thing."
On the other side of the locker room, second-year defensive end Glenn Dorsey was heading toward the door.
"I see progress, man," he said.
Finally. Someone sees something. Perhaps the Chiefs are onto something, after all. So what is it, Glenn? Where has the team shown improvement? Just one thing. That's all.
"We've got to watch film," he said. "I don't even know."
The locker room emptied, and the player at the center of Kansas City's progress movement made his way toward a lectern. Matt Cassel had perhaps his worst day as the Chiefs' starting quarterback, throwing two interceptions and being benched not long after he amassed a 3.2 quarterback rating. He completed 10 of 29 passes for 84 yards before Brodie Croyle relieved him.
Sunday was Cassel's 10th game as the Chiefs' starter, and other than a few dramatic throws late in games, it's not easy to see that he has made much progress, either. The man identified, and paid, as Kansas City's quarterback of the future, seems to mirror the slide of his team — a slide in the wrong direction.
So how about it, Matt? Where's the improvement?
"It's sometimes hard to see," he said, "especially after today when there's so many mishaps and so many things that we have to fix."
For now, the starting job still belongs to Cassel. Coach Todd Haley said he remained confident in Cassel and that he would start next week against Buffalo. Cassel was not good Sunday, but then nothing really was. Other than outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who had three sacks, few players departed Arrowhead on Sunday with the look of a man who'd accomplished much.
Haley's decision-making again was questionable, underscored by a series of trick plays and an attempt to convert a fourth-down when Croyle lined up as the Chiefs' punter, took the snap and, under pressure by the clearly unsurprised Broncos, threw the ball into the turf.
Earlier, Cassel missed Wade on a deep route, and after Haley chastised Wade for relaxed effort, the wide receiver exploded on the sideline, screamed toward Haley and paced in front of the bench.
"Just frustration from not making a play I should've made. Simple as that," Wade said. "I've been fed up with it. This is new for me. But it'll change."
DenKC
First downs2414
Total Net Yards413222
Rushes-yards45-24526-94
Passing168128
Punt Returns6-832-18
Kickoff Returns4-809-188
Interceptions Ret. 2-81-0
Comp-Att-Int15-25-116-43-2
Sacked-Yards Lost3-122-6
Punts3-51.77-53.7
Fumbles-Lost2-22-1
Penalties-Yards3-203-25
Time of Possession35:5524:05
Denver772010—44 Kansas City060 7—13
First Quarter
Den—Graham 7 pass from Orton (Prater kick), 7:20.
Second Quarter
KC—FG Succop 22, 14:22.
Den—Moreno 2 run (Prater kick), 7:03.
KC—FG Succop 47, :23.
Third Quarter
Den—FG Prater 44, 13:16.
Den—Marshall 7 pass from Orton (Prater kick), 10:31.
Den—FG Prater 38, 5:53.
Den—Goodman 30 fumble return (Prater kick), 2:41.
Fourth Quarter
KC—Charles 4 run (Succop kick), 14:57.
Den—Moreno 18 run (Prater kick), 12:05.
Den—FG Prater 37, 8:49.
A—68,912.
Individual Statistics
Rushing—Denver, Buckhalter 12-113, Moreno 21-86, Hillis 7-47, Marshall 1-2, Royal 1-1, Simms 3-(minus 4). Kansas City, Charles 18-56, Castille 3-26, Cassel 3-17, J.Williams 2-(minus 5).
Passing—Denver, Orton 15-25-1-180. Kansas City, Cassel 10-29-2-84, Croyle 6-14-0-50.
Receiving—Denver, Marshall 7-94, Buckhalter 3-15, Royal 2-32, Graham 2-20, Scheffler 1-19. Kansas City, Wade 4-36, Cottam 3-21, Long 2-28, Pope 2-18, Chambers 2-11, Lawrence 1-9, Castille 1-8, Charles 1-3.
Missed Field Goals—None.
