Some Quick Facts about the Kansas City Chiefs

There's no Behind Enemy Lines this week, because the two Chiefs bloggers I contacted have yet to get back to me. So instead of that, we're just going to run through a few quick facts about the 2011 edition of Kansas City.

Every team deals with injuries, and almost every team places at least a starter or two on injured reserve during a NFL season. The Chiefs' total of eight players on IR isn't particularly unusual, but the fact that four of their top eight players are there definitely is. Safety Eric Berry, tight end Tony Moeaki, running back Jamaal Charles and quarterback Matt Cassel are all on the list, and the Chiefs have suffered for it on their way to a 5-8 record.

The Chiefs still have Pro Bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and talented rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin on the active roster, but without Cassel there to throw to them and Charles to provide a running threat, their offense is a mess. In their last six games, the Chiefs have scored 3, 10, 3, 9, 10 and 10 points for a 1-5 record. They've topped 20 points four times in 2011, all of which came in a four-game winning streak that brought Kansas City to 4-3 and appeared to temporarily save coach Todd Haley's neck. That was before the 1-5 stretch, however, and Haley was fired earlier this week by frustrated Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.

The Chiefs have one of the game's best outside linebackers in Tamba Hali and a very good cover corner in Brandon Flowers, but their defense has still been middling at best. Kansas City allows 23.4 points per game (24th in the league) and 341.8 yards/game (15th). Their run defense is a lesson in terrible drafting, though. Glenn Dorsey (5th overall pick in 2008) and Tyson Jackson (3rd overall in '09) form one of the league's most ineffective pairings of 3-4 ends. They're anchored by former Raven NT Kelly Gregg, who hasn't stopped the run defense from giving up 132.5 yards a game, 26th in the league. Ryan Grant will have opportunities against this lackluster front, especially if James Starks can't play.

If you'd like a snapshot of this team back in the preseason when most of the Chiefs' ill fortunes had yet to arrive, check out from August.