Kansas City, Mo. ? Big plays are killing the Kansas City Chiefs, and Dick Vermeil is determined to do something about it.

The defense, ranked 32nd among the 32 NFL teams, has yielded 14 plays of 20 yards or more.

The only thing keeping the 1-2 Chiefs from 0-3 is an ill-timed helmet toss by Cleveland’s Dwayne Rudd that put Kansas City in position for a game-winning field goal after time had expired.

“We have critically evaluated everything we’ve done from a coaching standpoint and a personnel standpoint,” Vermeil said Tuesday. “There’s no magic wand or any drastic move we can make by upgrading personnel or changing schemes or things like that.

“We try to just keep coaching what we’re coaching better and defining things better and adjust things that we think were breaking down.”

The offense, ironically, has been the most productive in the first three games since 1966. With Priest Holmes scoring seven touchdowns and rushing for 386 yards, the offense has scored 94 points, the most since the 1966 club scored 117 in their first three.

But time after time, huge holes have opened on the defensive line, leading to such things as a 63-yard run by New England’s Fred Taylor. And the secondary, not given much help by a line that has failed to pressure the quarterback, has yielded a rash of big passing plays.

“We’ve had three running plays of 10 yards or more in three games,” Vermeil said. “That ain’t too bad. That’s probably as good as anybody in the National Football League. The trouble is, they gave up 118 yards in those three snaps. So, it totally distracts the value of your run defense, of all those other great quality snaps.”

The secondary, weakened by the loss of safety Jerome Woods when he sustained a season-ending leg injury in the exhibition season, has been bad.

Making matters worse this week are injuries to cornerback Eric Warfield and backup Ray Crockett, who may not be at kickoff against the unbeaten Miami Dolphins.

“In pass (defense), we’ve had 12 passes of 20 yards or more. Twelve passes,” Vermeil said.

“So, is it scheme? Is it players out of position? Is it something we have to coach better? It’s probably a combination of a lot of things. Is it not enough quickness in this position? These are all things that are being evaluated and confronted and attacked.”

Vermeil said he seems progress in the defensive line. It was hampered by injuries during training camp and the holdout of first-round draft pick Ryan Sims. But the 315-pound Sims has been seeing more and more action.

“He was a factor in the (New England) game,” Vermeil said. “I think in three or four weeks, hopefully sooner, the line will come together.”

For the time being, Vermeil said, the defense will just have to keep working.

“You don’t jump ship on people. You keep trying to make them better as they grow,” he said. “You expect to have a few more problems when you’re playing with a younger secondary.

“You expect to have a few more problems when you’re playing without your best safety. Gradually, I think we can resolve it. If we can’t, it’s going to be tough. Miami’s not going to feel sorry for us.”