The bye week that followed their 34-0 blanking in Carolina produced only a Tony Gonzalez trade controversy and a yet another Larry Johnson off-field brush with the law.

And when Kansas City finally did get back on the field, the Chiefs took a 34-10 beating at the hands of Tennessee before a disgruntled and shrinking crowd at Arrowhead Stadium. In doing so, they lost quarterback Brodie Croyle (knee injury) for the season, saw backup Damon Huard leave the game with an injury to his throwing hand and gave up a team record 332 rushing yards -- 146 of them on two long touchdown runs in mop-up time.

After the game, it was revealed that Johnson, who was deactivated for the Titans game as a disciplinary measure -- allegedly for being late to meetings and missing other team obligations -- is now being investigated by the league for a bye week incident involving a woman in a Kansas City bar. This incident is different from the one last February for which Johnson faces a December municipal court date to answer charges that he shoved another woman in a bar.

If it weren't for bad news, the 1-5 Chiefs would generate no news at all. Which right now might be a blessing.

The hits just keep coming. Croyle, in his first game following a four-game absence with a separated throwing shoulder, sprained a knee when caught in a quarterback sandwich between Albert Haynesworth and Jacob Ford in the second quarter. The Chiefs were down 10-0 at the time, meaning Croyle's career mark as a starter is now 0-8.

Huard, his replacement, hit his hand on a helmet or shoulder pad later that same period. He played through the third quarter before yielding to Tyler Thigpen, who snapped a 7 1/2-period scoring drought by leading the Chiefs to 10 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes after the Titans had a 27-0 edge.

The Chiefs saved the worst for last. With Tennessee content to rush the ball as a means of mercifully running out the clock in the final eight minutes, Kansas City gave up an 80-yard touchdown run to LenDale White and a 66-yard run by Chris Johnson, who celebrated his run by playing a bongo solo with the Chiefs' end-zone pep band.

Embarrassing? No question. But, as bad as it can get? Probably not.

"To give up the (rushing) yardage we did today, especially on those last two runs, that's almost like giving up. It looks like it anyway," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said.