"Chiefs offensive coordinator Bill Muir eased himself into a chair after his team's final practice of 2011. A season like this will take it out of you, stealing your energy and stacking pressure on your attitude.

"The two words that come to mind are 'disappointment' and 'frustration,' " Muir said of this season, which ends today in Denver. "… I'll look at it during the offseason, and there'll be a lot of introspection, but you just don't shake off a season very easily that you had such high expectations for."

Other than pride, the Chiefs don't have much to play for today. Players and coaches have insisted that they're not looking toward the future, but even though it's the final day of the season, it's the first day of a new year — time to think beyond the disappointments and consider the needs for the future."