http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...as-city-chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't just lose a battle with the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, but with star running back Jamaal Charles suffering what appears to be a season-ending knee injury, the Chiefs might also have lost the war.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team announced following the heartbreaking 18-17 loss that initial reports indicate Charles tore his right ACL in the third quarter, which would almost certainly spell an early end to the perennial Pro Bowler's eighth NFL season.
And considering Charles is by far the most electric player on an offense that lacks electricity, that would also spoil any hope the Chiefs might be able to fight back from a 1-4 start in the tough AFC West.
Charles wasn't just the best thing the Chiefs had going on offense, but he was pretty close to the only thing they had going for them on that side of the ball.
Checkdown-happy quarterback Alex Smith, who completed just 16-of-30 passes for 181 yards in Sunday's loss, has clear limitations, and top receiving options Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce are supposed to be key cogs but aren't the types of players who can carry an offense.
And while these types of situations can sometimes give life to backup running backs who shock the world, the Chiefs might not want to get their hopes up on Charcandrick West and Knile Davis, who had just 33 yards on nine carries in relief of the star on Sunday. West was undrafted out of Abilene Christian last year, while Davis has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry three years into his career.
Meanwhile, Charles entered Sunday's game averaging 5.2 yards per rushing attempt, which ranked second in football among 21 backs with at least 50 carries in the first four weeks.