Kansas City, Mo. ? For Kansas City, this one comes about as close to a must-win as the third game of any season can be.

It’s not just that the Chiefs are 0-2. Counting a wild-card playoff loss last January and four preseason setbacks, they’re 0-7 – or, if you prefer, 0-for-’07. They haven’t beaten anybody since last New Year’s Eve.

That’s a lot of failure and frustration for a team in transition in coach Herm Edwards’ second season, and could threaten to take a psychological toll.

Plus, after playing host to the quarterback-challenged Minnesota Vikings today in their home opener, they’ll head for San Diego to face what may be the most talented team they’ll see all year.

“Every week is important,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson. “But we need a win.”

Edwards was quick to point out to his players that 18 0-2 teams since 1990 got their act together in time to make the playoffs, and two won the Super Bowl. But a loss to the Vikings (1-1) would mean just their second 0-3 start in 27 years, and put them on track for their worst season since Carl Peterson became president and general manager in 1989.

“No doubt. This is one we need to win for a lot of reasons,” Edwards said.

“We haven’t played well. We’ve turned the ball over. We turned the ball over in the last game of the (2006) season, in the playoffs. We turned the ball over and didn’t score a lot of points. We’re kind of still on that track right now. When the calendar switched, we didn’t get off that track. We need to win a game.”

This will also be the first meaningful game the Chiefs have played at home since they beat Jacksonville way back last Dec. 31 in loud and raucous Arrowhead Stadium, where they own a league-best .750 winning percentage since 1990.

“A very difficult place to play,” said Vikings center Matt Birk. “Very loud. By looking at it, you don’t think so, because it’s an outdoor stadium and it bowls out. But they put a lot of people in there and they have fantastic fans. Very tough place to play on the road.”

The Vikings are coming off a disappointing 20-17 overtime loss to Detroit that included four interceptions by Tarvaris Jackson, their young quarterback who sustained a groin injury in overtime. That sent Brooks Bollinger running into the game, only to fumble a center exchange and set up the Lions’ winning field goal.

Heading to Kansas City, the Vikings still were not certain whether Jackson would be ready today. Kelly Holcomb, an 11-year veteran listed as No. 3, was being boosted by many fans and media as the man who ought to start.

“You really have to have the ability to put a game behind you, and this is a forward-focused business,” said Vikings coach Brad Childress. “You have to be that way, and so it’s onto the Kansas City Chiefs in a hostile environment, on the road. We know it’s their first home game. They are an 0-2 football team, and I think Herman does a great job of pointing out that there are 10 0-2 football teams and five of them are playoff teams last year, and they are one of them. So obviously they have the tools to be able to compete.”

Their main tool has been a bit rusty. Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, who held out for 25 days, has only 36 touches for 174 yards in the first two games – roughly what he normally would get in one. But the Vikings and everyone else know that is almost certain to change. Johnson went to Edwards and passionately argued that he wanted 40 carries this week.

“I said, ‘In one game?’ I went, OK, sounds like a good number to me. So, if we run it 40 then we only have to pass it 20 times,” Edwards said. “That’s probably right. He won’t carry it 40, I don’t think.”

Edwards refuses to speculate that another loss could do serious damage to his players’ confidence, especially their 14 first- and second-year players.

“No, I just think they need some success like anybody else,” he said. “It’s like anybody in life. If you’re not having something good happen to you, before you know it you think the dark cloud is hanging over your head. It’s always raining on me. We just need to make some plays. We have enough players. I anticipate we’ll have to make some this week.”