Kansas City, Mo. ? Wearing a Denver uniform will be a troubled, apologetic quarterback with a quick trigger finger.

Opposing him will be the sorriest defense in the National Football League, a bunch of guys who admit they’ve been an embarrassment to themselves, their team and their town.

Further on the subject of embarrassment, how about the starting running backs?

Second-year man Larry Johnson will be making his first start for Kansas City after publicly sparring much of the year with coach Dick Vermeil, who told him at one point it was time “to take off the diapers.”

Starting for the Broncos will be Reuben Droughns, who was benched last week against Miami after losing one fumble and taking the blame for another. His replacement, rookie Tatum Bell, ran for 123 yards, but then separated his shoulder, clearing the way for Droughns to re-enter the picture.

Throw in the tradition of a long and colorful rivalry that goes back to the founding of the AFL.

Spice it up with the fact the Broncos (8-5) are very much in the playoff hunt while the defensively deficient Chiefs (5-8) are thirsting to be spoilers, and today’s noon kickoff in Arrowhead Stadium shapes up as a pretty interesting affair.

The Arrowhead crowd, known as one of the loudest and most raucous in the NFL, will have extra incentive. Might they go into overdrive to get after Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who made an obscene gesture to a fan Sunday and spent the week saying he was sorry?

“They’ll be working him, which is great,” Chiefs left guard Brian Waters said. “After what happened last week, I think he’ll be more conscious of where his hands go. But I think our fans will do a great job.”

Plummer’s problems have not been confined to the bench. In the past two weeks he’s thrown six interceptions and no touchdowns, and his 17 interceptions for the year are second in the league.

Oddly, the sheer volume of noise in Kansas City might work to his advantage.

“They’re loud. It’s almost so loud you can’t hear individuals,” he said. “You just hear the roar and everyone is yelling.”

The obscene gesture is certain to follow Plummer wherever he goes. Kansas City just happens to be the first stop.

“I’ve just got to go out and play,” he said. “I don’t think I’m going to sit out here and analyze what’s happened. What happened last week, I think I’ve addressed … and I’m apologetic. That will never happen again.”

Denver coach Mike Shanahan would love to bury the entire incident.

“Fans know it wasn’t a gesture made to the fans in general,” said Shanahan, whose Broncos trail San Diego by two games in the AFC West. “He apologized for what he did and that was it. What else can he do?”

Waters hopes there still is much to be done — by the crowd.

“There might be enough pressure in the fourth quarter that he decides to throw one behind his back or something,” Waters said. “He’s known to do some tricks with the football, and they don’t always go well for him. Hopefully, the pressure will add up and he might make a mistake.”

Given Kansas City’s defense, Plummer might need to make a lot of mistakes for the Chiefs to have a chance. In a wild 49-38 victory Monday night at Tennessee, the K.C. defense gave up more than 500 yards, including a 426-yard, four-touchdown passing effort by second-teamer Billy Volek.

Statistically, the defense Plummer will be facing is giving up 383.2 yards per game. That’s 31st among the 32 NFL teams.

If anyone feels like making any obscene gestures, it might be the Chiefs fans. This is the fourth straight year Kansas City has ranked at or near the bottom in defense.

“We need to play some defense,” linebacker Monty Beisel said. “Any time you’re ranked No. 32 in the league, it is absolutely embarrassing. I think more than anything, it has to do with attitude.”

Attitude? Vermeil admitted his defensive backs simply were not physically capable of playing the aggressive bump-and-run tactics preferred by coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Cornerbacks William Bartee, Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon consistently have been toasted.

“I think our defense will get better, but I thought it would last year and it didn’t,” Vermeil said. “So, I’m not sure I know what I’m talking about right now.”