Chiefs at Dolphins - Week 10 - Record: 5-4

I can't say that I didn't think this was going to happen. I actually thought the Dolphins, not a particularly good team who'd last week beaten the Bears at their place, would play even better.

The Dolphins were just as mediocre as they'd been most of the year. We just sucked, and the 13-10 score wasn't as close as that. It kind of reminded me of last year's Buffalo game, one of those contests we had no business losing and was especially painful to watch. Some items of note that showed exactly how pathetic we were: We got our first first down with three minutes left in the first half. The only touchdown we got was right after a gift turnover deep in their territory. We couldn't even take advantage of a bonked-off-the-upright FG miss by their kicker, when a bit later our guy couldn't hit a 48-yarder.

What was the problem? Easy.

Our offensive line is in tatters.

All Chiefs fans should know the litany by now. Willie Roaf retires, John Welbourne is suspended, Tony Richardson signs with another team... Now Brian Waters is injured. There is just no way you can pluck All-Pro OL-men from trees. If you lose your go-to back, it hurts and everyone knows it. It isn't any different when you lose your extraordinarily talented linemen.

You could see it in the whole game. Damon Huard had a horrible game, which by the way should move Herm's hand in finally putting Trent Green back in. He not only couldn't connect for beans, but he was sacked a number of times, a couple in that most critical last minute drive to get a game-tying FG. Needless to say Larry Johnson couldn't get anywhere.

That's all O-line stuff.

I don't know what we're going to do. Maybe Herm can be a magician. Maybe Green being back in will mean something-- except that I just think about that first game against the Bengals when he was running all over the field and eventually got clocked.

Our defense sure is holding up its end, and this without Derrick Johnson. The only TD they gave up was set up by their only big pass play. Other than that they did pretty well shutting Miami down. Can the defense carry us when our Achilles heel is so pronounced?

How ironic is that. Our bread and butter, that O-line, one that saw Priest Holmes to such renown...

That line could be our undoing.