People who think the Chiefs running attack can finally get on track this week base that hope on the No. 26 ranking of the Jacksonville run defense.

What a misleading stat that is.

But Larry Johnson, the frustrated Chiefs back who has yet to see the end zone this year, remembers a New Year's Eve party last December when the Jags had the league's fourth-best rush defense, one that didn't give ground nearly as easily.

"I played against them when they were all healthy and had the whole boatload in there,'' LJ said of last year's meeting at Arrowhead. "It was tough going against that big front four when they're hitting you and laying on you.

"This is one of the best fronts we'll face this year, and hopefully the last. Because, man, I'm waiting for a game where I can do my thing.''

Johnson's thing, you may recall, is having games of, say, 138 yards rushing and three touchdowns — the very numbers he posted in the Chiefs hard-fought 35-30 victory last December that sank the Jags' playoffs hopes and kept the Chiefs' alive. Full story