"Jay Cutler will be our starting quarterback." With those words Monday afternoon, Head Coach Mike Shanahan ended a weekend of speculation that spilled over into chat rooms, talk shows, newspapers and NFL game broadcasts, announcing that the first-round pick will take over as Denver's starter under center when the Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday night. The decision -- which Shanahan termed "very tough" -- came after the Broncos lost a second straight game under Jake Plummer. However, the 19-10 loss at Kansas City was not the sole factor. "It's a process. It doesn't just happen overnight," Shanahan said. "It happens on the way Jay's handled himself through (organized team activity) days, the way he's handled himself through (training) camp and you evaluate how people practice on a day-in, day-out basis, week in and week out."

The Broncos will make it official Monday that they have switched quarterbacks from veteran Jake Plummer to rookie Jay Cutler even though they are in the midst of the playoff race. Cutler's first start will come against the Seahawks on Dec. 3. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan made the decision known to several members of the team's staff Saturday and word leaked by early Sunday.

Mike Shanahan had very little patience on Thursday night when asked if he was planning on benching Jake Plummer in favor of Jay Cutler. Plummer was much more patient with the Denver media. "I can't tell you what's going to happen," he said. "All I know is I'm getting on the plane and if I'm still behind the trigger, I'm going to play my butt off, as hard as I can." Plummer said he has not been told he's going to replaced. Cutler said he has not been told he's going in. "I'm here to support the team and support Jake as long as he's the starting quarterback and he still is," Cutler said. "I think everyone in here wants a chance and show everyone what he can do. But right now it's not my time. I'm just watching and learning."

Rushing leader Larry Johnson made the Broncos' fifth-ranked run defense look ordinary. Johnson ran for 157 yards, Lawrence Tynes kicked four field goals and Kansas City inaugurated the league's new Thanksgiving tripleheader with a 19-10 victory. The Chiefs (7-4) charged into a second-place tie with Denver in the AFC West and gave the Broncos (7-4) their first two-game losing streak since late in 2004.

A Denver TV station is reporting that Broncos safety Nick Ferguson will likely miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. According to KDVR-TV, team sources said Ferguson tore cartilage in his left knee in Sunday's home loss to the Chargers. The station said recovery from the type of injury Ferguson sustained usually takes eight to 10 weeks, meaning he is most likely out for the season.

With first-round pick Jay Cutler waiting in the wings and expected to take over as Denver's starter in 2007, JakePlummer is not expected to return to Denver. The Broncos will wind up trading or releasing him, and Philadelphia could be an ideal landing spot. Plummer is familiar with the West-Coast-type offense, as well as the NFC East division, having played in it during his time in Arizona. The market for Plummer is not expected to be active. But the Eagles could be a potential suitor.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego's remarkable running back scored four times and reached 100 touchdowns faster than any player in NFL history Sunday night, leading the Chargers past the Broncos 35-27. Tomlinson, who has scored an NFL-record 19 touchdowns in his last six games, reached 100 TDs in his 89th game, four fewer than it took Hall of Famer Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith. He now has 102 TDs and also topped 1,000 yards rushing for the sixth straight season.

Toward the end of his career, Floyd Little's name was routinely prefaced with the words "future Hall of Famer.'' The former Broncos' running back is still waiting for an induction. The only thing is, Little doesn't care anymore. He has another cause, his former team. "Forget about Floyd Little, the [Hall of Fame] has already forgotten about me,'' he said. "But how do you go to six Super Bowls and only have one representative? That's disrespectful to overlook our players. My concern today is Denver.'' The only Broncos player in the Hall is John Elway.

The Broncos must pay $220,000 to Ashley Lelie in connection with the dispute over his departure to Atlanta. Lelie's agent, Peter Schaffer, confirmed the news Friday. "We derive no enjoyment having to go down this road in the first place," Schaffer said. "We never relish having to contest anything with the Broncos." The ruling was reported Friday by The Denver Post, which said an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Lelie in his grievance against the team. Broncos officials declined to comment.

The injuries were too many to commit to memory. So Mike Shanahan pulled a piece of paper from his pocket Monday and rattled off the list of casualties from Denver's costly 31-20 victory over Pittsburgh. Nickel safety Sam Brandon was the worst, He sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Broncos' win. He's expected to have an operation later this month to repair his right anterior cruciate ligament, agent Michael Hoffman said.