Dear, Kansas City Chiefs, This Isn't the Preseason Anymore

As I watched the Chargers rout the Chiefs to the tune of 43-14, I couldn't help but think "this is stuff that a young team has trouble with...in preseason." The Chiefs looked like a team still stuck in training camp mode, looking for a breath of air, just full of desperation.

Good teams don't turn the ball over four different times, including a pass that was thrown with a low release from QB Matt Cassel that tipped off defensive end Ogemdi Nwagbuo's helmet that landed in cornerback Quinten Jammer's lap.

Good teams also don't allow wild snaps twice in one game from their center, in this case, Rudy Niswanger. The only thing the Chiefs proved with this game is that they are an overwhelmingly immature team.

They are a team that shows promise at times and are able to pull off incredible upsets like last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet they also are a team that will get blown out after making too many mistakes.

Kansas City was able to contain San Diego while they were inside their own 20 yard line, yet once they had a little breathing room and the ball was placed at the 39 yard line after a Cassel interception, the domination began. The Chargers easily marched downfield and followed up with a 19-yard touchdown pass to TE Antonio Gates who was left wide open all game long.

San Diego looked like a team that could make a deep playoff push and possibly go to the Superbowl.

The play calling of Chiefs coach Todd Haley was far from his worst performance, but the game plan from defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast could not have been much worse.

Yes, we can put this on the coaches all we want but that fact is that the Chiefs lack serious talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Going into the 2010 offseason they need to look for ways to upgrade at nearly ever position on defense other than cornerback. They have two back-up safeties in McGraw and Brown. At linebacker, Demorrio Williams has played decent but they lack any kind of pass rush or coverage from their linebackers.

Tamba Hali has been a somewhat bright light as a pass rusher but in coverage has been less than spectacular. Last but not least on defense, they need the most important part of a 3-4 team: a dominant nose tackle.

Throwing Ron Edwards in as a fill-in guy for the most important aspect of the 3-4 was not a good idea from the beginning.

Players like Vincent Wilfork, Shaun Rodgers, Casey Hampton, and Haloti Ngata control the front of a 3-4 defense and allow the other linebackers to make plays.

At safety, Jon McGraw and Mike Brown are too slow and untalented to ever be consistent in coverage. Drafting a possible superstar like USC's Taylor Mays or Tennessee's Eric Berry would be a huge boost to the Chiefs' defense.

The Chargers have managed to score 59 points more than the Chiefs over the last two games between the two opponents. Not only did San Diego force 4 turnovers from the Chiefs' offense, they went downfield and scored a touchdown on each of them.

Allowing arguably the best tight end in the NFL, Antonio Gates to get open each and every play was not only a sign of their immaturity but also a lack of talent and knowledge. Games like this are what growing pains are all about.

There were a few bright spots in this disaster of a game.

Jamaal Charles managed to put up 93 yards off 14 carries and touchdown, while former Charger Chris Chambers had seven catches for 70 yards and TD. The coverage from Cornerback Brandon Flowers was outstanding as he defended two deep pass plays perfectly and only allowed a small handful of catches the rest of the game.

The Chiefs play at home against the Denver Broncos and could possibly play as an upset team and spoil Denver's chances of making the playoffs, as San Diego crawls their way to the AFC West title again.

Which team will we see this coming Sunday? The high motor, relentless Chiefs that can put up 25+ points? Or will it be the team that cowers into a corner, can't pressure Kyle Orton, and allows big plays from receiver Brandon Marshall?