Kansas City, Mo. ? Larry Johnson finally broke 100 yards. For the season.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Pro Bowl running back has compiled just 140 yards in the first three games this season, including 42 on 24 carries in Sunday’s 13-10 victory against the Minnesota Vikings.

“It’s a tough day if Larry isn’t getting 100 yards,” tackle Damion McIntosh said. “I take that personal.”

Johnson, who didn’t speak to the media after the game, was visibly frustrated after a several plays Sunday. He was stopped for a loss seven times, a rarity for the 230-pound power back.

Kansas City guard Brian Waters said he doubted Johnson was upset with any of his teammates.

“The guy just wants to be successful,” Waters said. “When things aren’t going well, he’ll yell about anything.”

Minnesota’s rush defense ranked fourth in the league last season, and the Vikings’ enormous defensive tackles didn’t help Johnson on Sunday. Pat Williams weighs in at 317 pounds, and he teamed with 311-pound Kevin Williams to stymie Johnson and Michael Bennett all afternoon. Both Chiefs running backs averaged 1.8 yards per carry.

Receiver Eddie Drummond also had a carry on an end-around, which went for a three-yard loss.

“They’re the most physical, and they’re definitely there to stop the run,” Waters said of the Vikings’ tackles.

“We knew that going in,” Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said of Minnesota’s vaunted run defense. “But you just can’t go back and throw all day because they’re good enough to hit the quarterback. You still have to run the ball.”

Johnson – who was “receiving treatment” during postgame interviews, according to Chiefs officials – still may be shaking off rust from his training-camp holdout that preceded his signing of a team-record contract. He carried only 26 times in the Chiefs’ previous two games.

Another popular explanation for Johnson’s slow start is the Chiefs’ re-tooled offensive line, which fared well in pass protection Sunday after struggling in two losses.

John Welbourn, the Chiefs’ right tackle when Johnson averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2005, moved to right guard to replace the retired Will Shields. McIntosh, a free-agent acquisition, and Kyle Turley, who spent the last month of 2006 on the inactive list, have started every game at the tackle positions, with Will Svitek frequently spelling McIntosh.

Svitek said the line was starting to come together.

“We just need to work on our assignments,” he said. “We’ll work on it again and try to establish the run. Eventually it’ll break, eventually it’ll work. I’m fully confident.”

Whether it works next week in San Diego remains to be seen. But Johnson can count on plenty of opportunities.

“He’s going to get his carries, and teams are going to worry about it,” quarterback Damon Huard said. “They are going to put eight guys in there, and we’re going to throw the ball to the outside.”

¢ Ex-Jayhawk sighting: Former Kansas University defensive back/wide receiver/kick returner Charles Gordon, listed on the depth chart as the Vikings’ fifth cornerback, didn’t contribute any statistics Sunday.

He said returning to the K.C. area was merely a footnote to Sunday’s loss.

“It was fun to play there (at KU),” Gordon said, “but this was just another game.”

Gordon, who left KU after his junior season (2005), said he had several friends and family members at the game.