Chiefs-Panthers Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

LJ and Chiefs could find it tough to run against CarolinaCarolina is tied for first place in the NFC South, and Kansas City has new life after beating Denver at home. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson looked like his old self rushing for 198 yards, while the offense saw the return of veteran QB Damon Huard. Carolina meanwhile continues to take care of business and will be favored in this game because of their balance on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs will find it difficult to run over the Carolina defense the way they did versus Denver, but with Johnson running as he did two years ago, anything can happen.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
KAN	2-14	291	440	1-7	1-7	2-4	2-10
CAR	12-4	414	329	8-0	4-4	4-2	8-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Kansas City Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cassel 55.0 2924 16 16 Croyle 57.5 230 2 0

Carolina Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Delhom... 55.5 2015 8 18 Moore 61.6 1053 8 2

Kansas City Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Charle... 190 1120 5.9 7 Johnso... 132 377 2.9 0

Carolina Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Stewar... 221 1133 5.1 10 Willia... 216 1117 5.2 7

Kansas City Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Chambe... 36 608 16.9 4 Bowe 47 589 12.5 4

Carolina Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 65 982 15.1 7 Muhamm... 53 581 11.0 1

Full Player Stats: Kansas City | Carolina

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	KAN	309.0
	CAR	350.0
Yards Passing	KAN	195.6
	CAR	197.4
Yards Rushing	KAN	113.1
	CAR	152.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	KAN	393.2
	CAR	331.2
Pass Yds Allowed	KAN	234.3
	CAR	211.7
Rush Yds Allowed	KAN	158.9
	CAR	119.5

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Carolina leads 2-0
Sep 19, 2004	KAN 17, @CAR 28

One week ago, the Carolina Panthers had to be looking at this matchup as a favorable one. The Kansas City Chiefs' upset victory over a first-place team last week may have changed their minds.

The Panthers look to protect their share of the top spot in the NFC South on Sunday when they host the Chiefs, who are hoping to build on their first win in nearly a year.

Carolina (3-1) pulled out dramatic comeback victories in its first two games, and followed up a road loss to Minnesota on Sept. 21 with a 24-9 win over Atlanta last Sunday. The Panthers are tied with Tampa Bay at the top of the NFC South, and are in position for their best five-game start since opening 5-0 en route to their only trip to the Super Bowl in 2003.

A meeting with lowly Kansas City (1-3) may have seemed like an easy way for Carolina to continue its strong start, but the Chiefs beat previously undefeated Denver 33-19 last Sunday. They more than doubled their season point total and snapped a franchise-record 12-game losing streak that dated to a 12-10 victory over Oakland on Oct. 21, 2007.

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he had a hard time sleeping after the game.

"I kept asking my wife about 1 o'clock, 'We won, right?'" Edwards said Tuesday. "She said, 'Yeah, you won, honey.'"

As relieved as Edwards was to end the skid, he was more excited for the numerous young players on the rebuilding Chiefs' roster, many of whom he said had begun doubting they were ready for the NFL.

"I think they were questioning themselves," Edwards said. "They were questioning their talent. You can't question that. The way you overcome that, you've got to just keep playing. Just play with energy. Just keep going fast. Just keep playing hard."

That's good advice as the Chiefs head to Charlotte to meet a Panthers team that compiled a season-high 401 yards in last week's victory, including 294 in the air -- its highest since having a franchise-record 418 passing yards in a loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 10, 2006.

Jake Delhomme was 20-for-29 with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and Muhsin Muhammad caught eight passes for 147 yards and a touchdown -- his team-record 45th in two stints with the club.

Muhammad attributed part of his success last week to the presence of No. 1 receiver Steve Smith, who had six catches for 96 yards and a TD in his second game since missing the first two of the season while suspended for punching teammate Ken Lucas during training camp.

"Smitty is a heck of a talent man, and you know it's just great to be able to play with him," said Muhammad, who hadn't had more receiving yards in a game since Dec. 5, 2004. "I'm the co-host and I'm fine with that."

Carolina's passing game thrived despite the loss of both offensive tackles. Left tackle Jordan Gross left in the first quarter with a concussion, and right tackle Jeff Otah injured his right ankle with 2:26 to play in the third.

Gross' streak of 84 consecutive starts for the Panthers will end this week, while Otah is listed as doubtful.

While the Panthers relied on their passing game last week, the Chiefs did most of their damage on the ground, as Larry Johnson ran 28 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns. After totaling 96 yards and no TDs in his first two games and complaining that he was being phased out of the offense, Johnson has 319 yards and three scores in his last two.

"I think it helped everybody as far as everybody being explosive and everybody understanding that we could run the ball," Johnson said of last week's performance.

Johnson's success helped open up the field for Tony Gonzalez, who had three receptions for 47 yards and his 68th career touchdown catch -- tops all-time among tight ends. With 10,058 receiving yards, the 12-year veteran is three shy of passing Shannon Sharpe for the record at the position.

Like the Panthers, the Chiefs could be without a starting tackle Sunday. Rookie Branden Albert, one of two first-round draft picks starting for Kansas City, injured his elbow in the first half last Sunday and was wearing a brace after the game.

"I would say he's probably questionable this week," Edwards said Tuesday. "His elbow is pretty swollen. He's better than he was after the game, but his elbow is really swollen."

Carolina won its last meeting with Kansas City 28-17 on Sept. 19, 2004 behind three touchdown passes from Delhomme. The Chiefs had won the only two previous games in the series.

Peppers: Long-term deal with Panthers off table

Julius Peppers no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina, saying the Panthers have ignored him this offseason.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Chiefs' Waters receives Man of the Year award

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed Sunday that Brian Waters of the Kansas City Chiefs was this season's winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

'He runs a tight ship'

When Todd Haley was introduced as the Chiefs' new head coach in early February, he joked that he was trying to loosen up, if only for the day.

Safety alert: Mike Brown making free-agent visit to Kansas City

One safety with Chicago ties is expected to announce his retirement today. Another will look for a new place to continue his career.

Still no Waters or Vrabel at Chiefs practice, but LJ returns

The Chiefs began another week of optional team practices without two important pieces, and how Kansas City ends this week could foretell whether key players on offense and defense have a future with the team.

Chiefs adjust to new roles in new defense

Turk McBride still feels himself inching toward the defensive line, home for so long, and the comfort his old position would bring.

Clock ticking on Chiefs contract

The game of chicken between the Kansas City Chiefs and state government has yet to scare away potential builders of a summer training camp facility in St.

Panthers become big losers - of excess weight

There's much less to see when you look at the Carolina Panthers' sideline these days.

Moore making most of shot with Panthers

The Panthers' Kenny Moore, shown with students at First Ward Elementary School on March 10, is among the candidates to enter the season as the team's No.

New fullback has Hoover a bit on edge

When it comes to locker room grief, Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover gives it as well as anyone.

Brown's focus is on technique

If the Carolina Panthers were truly worried about Everette Brown's size, they wouldn't be lining him up the way they are.

Hoover doesn't plan to go without a fight

Brad Hoover was walking off the practice field Monday shortly after beating most of his Carolina Panthers teammates in a series of sprints when he told a reporter he couldn't talk until later.