The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 8. Today, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last year’s record: 11-5
Head coach: Andy Reid
Core players: Jamaal Charles (RB), Jeremy Maclin (WR), Alex Smith (QB), Travis Kelce (TE), Dontari Poe (DT), Justin Houston (LB), Tamba Hali (LB), Derrick Johnson (LB), Eric Berry (S), Marcus Peters (CB)
2016 is about… surpassing the Broncos as AFC West champions. The Chiefs, who haven’t topped their division since 2010, went on an incredible run last season, winning 11 straight games after a 1-5 start and the loss of their best player, Charles, to a torn ACL. Andy Reid’s squad kept pressure on their division rivals all season long only to fall to the Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Kansas City boasts one of the league’s deeper rosters, and despite dealing with some key injuries and a holdout, should be able to keep pace with, or leapfrog, the now Manning-less Broncos.
But they lost… Sean Smith and Husain Abdullah, who along with Eric Berry (now holding out for a long-term contract) and rookie corner Marcus Peters made up one of the league’s more dangerous pass defences. The Chiefs ranked fifth in that category in 2015, according to Football Outsiders, in large part thanks to this Fab Foursome. Now with both Smith and Abdullah’s spots up for grabs, plus Berry away from the team with his sights set on a new contract, K.C.’s defence has some serious questions to answer as the season approaches. All of that is compounded by the fact Justin Houston, the unit’s most important player, is out for at least a couple of regular season games as he recovers from knee surgery.
The Chiefs also lost favoured backup Chase Daniel, who followed offensive coordinator Doug Pederson (and the dollars) to Philadelphia, along with Jeff Allen, arguably the team’s best offensive lineman in 2015.
Yeah, but they got… one of the league’s best right tackles, Mitchell Schwartz, who will take over in place of the departed Allen. Schwartz has proven to be a stud both in the running game and against some of the league’s top pass rushers, and will be a godsend for both Alex Smith and Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs’ No. 1 reason for bringing in the six-foot-five tackle is to line up across from Von Miller twice a year, something Schwartz had success with when the Browns and Broncos clashed last season.
The Chiefs also brought in Nick Foles to compete for the backup job behind Alex Smith.
Growing from within… Marcus Peters was a beast at cornerback last season, tying for the league lead with eight interceptions (returning two for TDs) and earning defensive rookie of the year honours in the process. In the second half of his first season in particular, Peters was one of the league’s best at the position.
Now with Sean Smith out of the picture, Peters is the No. 1 pass defender in the Chiefs defence and all indications are that the 22-year-old is up for the challenge.
If the Chiefs have one glaring weakness, it’s in the passing game. Outside of Jeremy Maclin — who hauled in eight of the 11 TDs caught by K.C. receivers last season — Andy Reid’s team has a serious lack of talent at wideout. Enter Demarcus Robinson, a six-foot-one, 200-pound receiver with first- or second-round talent who fell to the Chiefs in the fourth round due to off-the-field issues. While his past will stick to Robinson as he looks to prove himself in the NFL, he and fellow 2016 draft pick Tyreek Hill have been catching the attention of many during training camp and pre-season.
Finally, the Chiefs are also reportedly excited about second-round pick Chris Jones after the defensive tackle impressed in camp and showed plenty of potential in his pre-season debut against the Seahawks.
Why this team? This could be the year the Chiefs overtake the Broncos. Denver has won five straight division titles, but with uncertainty at quarterback are no lock to win the AFC West in 2016. Kansas City is talented on both sides of the ball, is well-coached (outside of Andy Reid’s incredibly frustrating clock management issues), and proved in 2015 they can hang with the AFC’s elite.
Why not this team? Alex Smith and the passing game will always be a wild card in Kansas City. At best, the Chiefs have a middle-of-the-wrung passing game, ranked 14th by Football Outsiders last season, while finishing 30th and 26th in yards and touchdowns for, respectively.
How much hope? 8/10. The Chiefs were the NFL’s hottest team entering the post-season last year and obliterated the Texans in the wild-card game. With the Broncos and Patriots both vulnerable this season, Kansas City could be the team that takes advantage and makes a deep run.
