The offense that’s gobbled up the most yardage in the NFL this season will face off against the defense that’s given up the most.

In this corner are the New Orleans Saints (4-5), with Drew Brees on pace to smash Dan Marino’s NFL record of 5,084 yards passing.

In the other corner, on wobbly legs, stand the injury-wrecked Kansas City Chiefs (1-8). Their defense, which could have four starters out and maybe more, has been allowing 406.2 yards. The Saints have been averaging 416.2.

So what exactly is the Saints’ team record for most points in a game? Fifty-one, against St. Louis in 1976. And the Chiefs record for most points given up? Fifty-one, to Seattle in 1983.

Might history be made? The KC defense, when it was a lot healthier than it is now, already gave up Tennessee’s biggest lead overcome (21 points) and Tampa Bay’s most yards rushing (352).

So why are the Saints favored by only 5 1/2 points? An 0-4 road record, for one thing.

For another, the Chiefs behind the emerging Tyler Thigpen at quarterback have not exactly been getting blown out the last three weeks. Losses to Tampa, San Diego and the New York Jets were by a combined eight points. In every instance, the energetic young Chiefs lost a second-half lead.

“They very well could have won these last three games, and when you flip on the film they don’t look like a 1-8 team,” said Brees, who is averaging more than 325 yards through the air.

“We know we have our work cut out for us playing at Arrowhead. When I played for the Chargers, they were an AFC opponent and we’d go there once a year and it was always an extremely difficult place to play.”

Late in the week, the Chiefs were expecting linebackers Derrick Johnson and Pat Thomas, defensive end Tamba Hali, and right guard Adrian Jones to be inactive.

Limited in practice and iffy at best were running back Jamaal Charles, cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Jarrad Page.

But surprising everyone by the way he’s rebounded from a shoulder injury that shelved him the week before was defensive lineman Turk McBride.

“It’s like a family,” he said. “Someone goes down, you have to help the other in the family.”

Nevertheless, the Chiefs have made an incredible 34 player transactions the past three weeks, signing guys off the street, releasing others back onto the street, putting players on the practice squad, taking players off the practice squad. Players wound up taking part in last week’s 20-19 loss last week to San Diego who’d been in Kansas City only a few days.

“That’s what you’ve got distant cousins for,” said McBride.

The Saints, coming off a 34-20 loss at Atlanta, have injury problems of their own, also on defense. Defensive back Mike McKenzie went on injured reserve this week. But they hoped to have running back Reggie Bush back after a two-game absence with a knee injury. In spite of missing so much time, he’s third in the NFC with eight touchdowns.

All week long, the Saints were trying to piece together different game plans not knowing for sure whether the slippery 2005 Heisman winner would be on hand.

“We have to plan accordingly and put our base plan together,” coach Sean Payton said. “That’s really one in which it’s geared to him playing or not playing. We’ll be flexible enough and we have to be.”

A noted running back is also returning to the Chiefs. Larry Johnson, benched by the team for three games and suspended by the league for one, will no doubt have plenty of carries, especially if Charles is still hobbled by an ankle injury. But it’s a different offense from the one Kansas City was running a month ago. Thigpen, thrown into action when the top two quarterbacks went out with season-ending injuries, has thrown 124 passes the past three starts without an interception, though one was called back because of a penalty.

So the Chiefs have reconfigured their offense to suit the former third-team quarterback, using more shotgun formations and other things Johnson is not accustomed to.

“We have another weapon on offense. That helps the run game,” said Thigpen. “But the biggest thing, having Larry back that’s just one more thing the defense has to prepare for. Larry really has had a great attitude at work this week. You can see the team is excited to have him back.”

But Bush didn’t practice on Thursday, and we’re told that Bush is not expected to play on Sunday at Kansas City.

Bush injured the knee on October 19, during a loss to the Panthers. He had arthroscopic the next day to repair a torn meniscus.

After undergoing a procedure on his left knee on October 20, Bush had been targeting Sunday as the game he would return. However, he was ruled out by coach Sean Payton after not practicing Friday.

It will mark the fourth game Bush has missed since he suffered the injury against Carolina on October 19.

The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner out of Southern California, Bush was off to a flying start before being injured. The speedster has rushed 294 yards and two touchdowns, caught 42 passes for 366 yards and three TDs and also brought back three punts for scores.

Payton also said four other players would miss Sunday’s game: cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle), fullback Mike Karney (knee), center Jonathan Goodwin (knee) and defensive tackle Brian Young (knee).

2006 season:

• 16 games
• 155 carries
• 565 yards
• 35.3 yards per game
• 6 touchdowns
• 88 catches
• 742 yards
• 46.4 yards per game
• 32 first downs
• 2 touchdowns
• 2 fumbles
• 2 fumbles lost

2007 season:

• 12 games
• 157 carries
• 581 rushing yards
• 48.4 yards per carry
• 4 rushing touchdowns
• 73 catches
• 417 yards
• 34.8 yards per catch
• 24 first downs
• 2 touchdowns
• 7 fumbles
• 3 fumbles lost

Our 2008-09 predictions:

• 15 games(we think Reggie will have to sit just one game for some injury)
• 164 carries(career high)
• 645 yards(career high)
• 9 touchdowns(career high)
• 94 catches(career high)
• 834 yards(career high)
• 4 catches(career high)

Basically, what we are saying is, Reggie Bush is going to have a career year. Break out year for the Saints! 11-5 for New Orleans and a shot in the playoffs. Let us know what you think. Are we off?

Last year, quite the opposite was true. Reggie spent most of last offseason going and doing various commercials around the country.

Nice decision Reg! We are excited to see you dominate in 2008!

Great news for Reggie and the Saints. Ms. Kim must be giving plenty of good rehab advice.

Good luck Reg!