KANSAS CITY — Saddled with a 12-game losing streak, the rebuilding Kansas City Chiefs may decide they need a win more than a long look at a young quarterback.

Without coming right out and saying so, coach Herm Edwards strongly hinted Tuesday that veteran Damon Huard would probably get the nod on Sunday against Denver and that second-year man Tyler Thigpen would return to the bench after one start.

“I’ll decide on that tomorrow. Sleep on it a little bit more,” Edwards said. “I’m leaning that way. I’ve got to address the team, exactly what we’re going to do.”

Most of the players probably feel that Huard gives them the best chance of upsetting the unbeaten Broncos and snapping the longest losing skid in franchise history. After Brodie Croyle was injured in the season opener at New England, Huard came in and nearly pulled off an improbable victory before losing 17-10.

In eight starts for an injured Trent Green in 2006, Huard was 5-3.

But making the switch also means the Chiefs (0-3) will not have had the same man start at quarterback two games in a row all year, a confusing lack of continuity for what is already the youngest team in the NFL.

“When you lose your starting quarterback, it’s tough,” Edwards said. “Then you have to move on, and that’s what we’ve done.”

In his first NFL start last week at Atlanta, Thigpen was 14-for-36 for 128 yards and a touchdown in a 38-14 loss. He played much better after a rough beginning. But he also threw three interceptions, including one that was returned 10 yards for the Falcons’ final touchdown.

“You anticipated that the first time the guy starts, that he’s going to be a little high-strung. And he was,” Edwards said. “He threw a lot of high balls. He threw some balls that you wish you could take back.”

Huard hit 10 of 16 passes for 135 yards against Oakland on Sept. 14 before hurting his neck and leaving the game. Although much more experienced, he’s also less mobile than Thigpen or Croyle, who is expected to be out until Oct. 19 against Tennessee.

In giving Thigpen the start last week, Edwards pointed to the top-to-bottom rebuilding process the Chiefs began this year and said he wanted to get a look at the former seventh-round pick from Coastal Carolina.

Presumably, the same argument could be made this week. In the meantime, fans are restless and showing little patience with what the Chiefs are trying to do.

“I’m patient with this whole process, and it is a process,” he said.

“This whole situation that we’re in right now is a process. Sometimes, if you don’t realize that, you won’t be patient. You’ll panic. And I’m not a panic kind of guy. When you panic, you make wrong decisions.”