Have Chiefs fans already blacked out the Browns game in their minds?

After three consecutive ugly losses, the Chiefs get some good news this week with the return of Dwayne Bowe to the roster.  Bowe has been missing in action the past four weeks thanks to an NFL mandated suspension for use of an illegal substance.

His absence has been felt.  Just when he was finally playing at his best this season he disappeared as a part of the Chiefs offense, which he’d become a major part of.  In the meantime, Jamaal Charles has stepped up and taken on a load from the running back spot, but no one has done anything to help Matt Cassel as far as receiving goes.

The Chiefs continue to lead the league in dropped balls and the passing game in general is a mess.  It’s unlikely that the return of Bowe will dramatically change that.  Coach Todd Haley isn’t even certain what type of player he’ll have back this week against the Browns and how much he’ll be able to do after a month’s absence although Haley says he looks like he kept himself in good shape.

As bad as the Chiefs passing attack has been, Haley doesn’t really have the option to go more to a ground based attack, despite Charles fine play.  The second year player from Texas has taken a beating.  Last week he touched the ball 27 times and accounted for 181 yards, that’s more than Haley wants him to have because he knows Charles can’t take the pounding week in and week out.

The problem is there’s no one else to help take some of the rushing burden off of Charles shoulders despite the teams ability to move the ball on the ground.  Therefore it’s to the air, where as Woody Hayes once said, “Three things can happen when you pass and two of them ain’t good.” 

Make that three of them when you consider the Chiefs have allowed 44 sacks this season.  Interceptions and dropped passes have plagued the Chiefs and the failure to produce touchdowns even when the offense has moved the ball effectively is particularly frustrating to Haley and the team. 

The Browns come to town Sunday and it would appear this will be the first game blacked out in KC since 1990.  Who can blame the fans?  As bad as the Chiefs offense has been this season, the Browns is worst.  Doesn’t this sound like a fun game?  Well maybe it ends up a 38-37 shootout like Cleveland and Detroit  a few weeks back. One can only hope.