KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here is this week’s edition of the Kansas City Chiefs' mailbag. To ask a question for a future edition, send it to me via Twitter (@adamteicher) and tag it #ChiefsMail.

@adamteicher whats the deal w/ @KCChiefs run defense? Weakness being exploited. Is that the loss of DJ or something else? #ChiefsMail

— Jeremiah J. Johnston (@JeremyJohnstonJ) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: The run defense has been disappointing all season, though it didn't cost the Chiefs a game until Thursday night. Remember that the Chiefs have played virtually the entire season without three of the players they were counting on to be run-stuffers -- end Mike DeVito and linebackers Derrick Johnson and Joe Mays. Another one of those players, Eric Berry, is back, but he missed five games with an injury. Still, the Chiefs should be better than this against the run. The Chiefs made great improvement from last season with their pass defense, but it happened at the expense of their run defense.

@adamteicher Based on last night, looked to me like Wilson should play ahead of Frankie "The Invisible Man" Hammond. Agree? #ChiefsMail

— Thomas Hall (@tbwhall) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: The Chiefs have been getting next to nothing all season from the starting wide receivers other than Dwayne Bowe. First Donnie Avery, then A.J. Jenkins and now Frankie Hammond is practically zero. Albert Wilson is an undrafted rookie who has some potential, but he is not ready for a full role yet. Wilson also is better suited to playing as a slot receiver than on the outside.

@adamteicher did you think that was offensive PI instead of defensive on Parker? That was the game right there #chiefsmail

— Brian Bailey (@wake2wake73) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: This is in reference to the pass interference call on Chiefs cornerback Ron Parker in the fourth quarter Thursday night. I do think it was a bad call. Parker was grabbed and thrown from position by the Oakland receiver.

@adamteicher Why is Alex Smith so reluctant, even in critical situations like last night, to throw the ball down field? #ChiefsMail #Chiefs

— Kevin Mark (@Coachbulldog) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: Alex Smith is doing what he's coached to do. As far as the final drive Thursday night, the coverage Oakland played dictated that Smith try to take the underneath stuff instead. The Raiders were ahead by four points and therefore not defending field-goal range, but instead taking away the deeper routes.

@adamteicher are we ever going to see Alex smith take us to a last minute victory?

— kiA ebadat (@KEbadat) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: You saw it earlier in the season out in San Diego against the Chargers. But it certainly hasn't happened often.

@adamteicher where's Dee Ford? #ChiefsMail

— Steven Wood (@swood40) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: Dee Ford has disappeared. Didn't play on defense against Oakland for the second straight game. Because he plays the same position as Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, it was obvious he wasn't going to play a lot this season. But it's very disappointing the Chiefs can't get their first-round draft pick involved even as a situational pass-rusher.

@adamteicher What happened to Marcus Cooper? He isn't even playing. Injury? Doghouse? #ChiefsMail #Chiefs

— Brent Ross (@Brent102Fire) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: Marcus Cooper wasn't playing well early in the season and was benched. I can't say I blame the Chiefs for that. He was hurting them. Cornerback play improved when they used Jamell Fleming, Phillip Gaines and Parker in that spot.

@adamteicher not quite a chiefs q, but do you think Thursday night games really need to exist?

— Jon (@obeyyourbrain2) November 21, 2014

@adamteicher: The NFL is in the entertainment business. The league is catering to its customers with a Thursday night TV package. I enjoy watching those games, and I know I'm not alone.

@adamteicher Any chance the game vs. Pitt gets moved out of 1pm time slot? #chiefsmail

— Roger Burns (@RevDrRoger12) November 18, 2014

@adamteicher: It's possible the Dec. 21 game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh is flexed, but only if the Chiefs and Steelers win most of their games between now and then.

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