Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Players Who Have Not Lived Up to Expectations This Year

The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously in hot water after two embarrassing losses. After helping the Chiefs win the AFC West, it was expected that several players who made big contributions in 2010 would improve and have a better 2011 season. The Chiefs have also recruited a couple of players during the offseason, hoping they would make an immediate impact.

Instead, it has been the exact opposite.

As everyone has heard, the Chiefs have lost their first two games on a combined score of 89-10 against two teams who they were expected to beat.

Outside of Tony Moeaki, Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles, who are all out for the season, each with a torn ACL, there are five key players who were foreseen to have a better year, but have not stepped up and have been a disappointment so far this season.

Read on to find out who the five players are.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know.

RB Dexter McCluster

In the last three games, going back to Week 1 of the postseason, Dexter McCluster has fumbled three times in just as many games. The fumbles have all been scooped up by opposing defensive players.

Throughout this three-game stretch, McCluster has had 38 touches and has fumbled every 12 touches on average.

While McCluster has the speed and agility to pick up a lot of yards for the Chiefs, his inability to secure the football overshadows his electric play.

With Charles out for the season, McCluster's touch total will go up, but will his turnover stats go up as well?

WR Dwayne Bowe

Although Dwayne Bowe had a 100-yard game against the Detroit Lions, he was unable to contain two passes, in which he got a hand on one of them as one Detroit defender came away with an interception on the tipped pass.

Since the Chiefs have lost their last four games, dating back to Week 17 against the Oakland Raiders, Matt Cassel has not been able to connect with Bowe in the end zone.

Cassel also struggled with finding Bowe in the postseason loss to the Ravens.

This is not a good start for Bowe, but he was in the same spot last season after catching only one touchdown pass in the first four games of the season. By Week 6, he turned things around and had five multi-game touchdowns.

Can he bounce back and help get the offense move forward this year?

WR Steve Breaston

It was expected that Steve Breaston would get off to a fast start after reuniting with his old offensive coordinator in Arizona.

But Cassel is not in sync with his new receiver. Breaston has only three catches for 33 yards this year.

Without Charles on the roster, the Chiefs' passing game must step up. Cassel has to spend a lot of time with Bowe and Breaston during practice this week to make sure they have an active and steady offense this season if they want to stay competitive in the AFC West.

Will Breaston be able to shake off the slow start, or is he the next Chris Chambers?

NT Kelly Gregg

Ever since the new regime came to Kansas City, the Chiefs made the switch to the 3-4 defensive scheme and have not had the best luck with nose tackles.

Following the end of the lockout, the Chiefs reached out to Kelly Gregg to replace Ron Edwards as the new nose tackle. So far, the Wichita native has not had a lot of success playing with the Chiefs.

Along with first-round defensive ends Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson struggling, the Chiefs have the weakest defensive line in the league.

Can Gregg turn his season around and help anchor the defensive line?

CB Brandon Flowers

No Chiefs player has had a more disappointing start to the season than Brandon Flowers.

Flowers has been torched this season by Bills wide receivers Steve Johnson, Donald Jones, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Lions tight end Tony Scheffler.

Flowers gave up two touchdown passes against the Bills and earned an aimless interception in the fourth quarter.

Despite the poor performance, the Chiefs granted Flowers a five-year contract extension worth $50 million.

Just days after signing a new contract, Flowers becomes responsible for giving up three touchdowns against the Lions on Sunday.

Can Flowers prove he is worth the money?