"Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, in a rare interview, said the Chiefs' slow start was to be expected. He didn't mention the way training camp and the preseason were slow developing for the Chiefs.

He did blame the absence of offseason practices. None of the NFL teams had them because of the lockout.

"We're definitely improving," Bowe said. "Without having (offseason practices), we've got to somewhat expect a slow start. Now we're just putting the pieces together, and that's going to help us win this game. We're just waiting for Sunday to come.

"I'm not saying it's a big factor, but timing is key. Not having that, you can kind of expect a slow start."

While the Chiefs' passing game was awful through 2 1/2 games before it came alive in the second half of last week's game in San Diego, Bowe is ahead of his three-game pace of last season.

Bowe has 11 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown. Last year after three games: seven catches, 116 yards and a touchdown."