AFC West Kansas City Chiefs
Finished 2004 season 7-9, 3rd place in the AFC West behind the San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos
Key returning starters:
Trent Green - QB
Priest Holmes - RB
Eddie Kennison - WR
Tony Gonzalez - TE
Dante Hall - WR/Return Specialist
The Chiefs are coming off a very disappointing season, after having won the AFC West and clinching a first round bye just a year earlier to missing the playoffs in 2004. The Chiefs had the best rated offense in the league last season and the 2nd worst defense in the league. With their offseason moves to improve their defense, do the Chiefs have reason to be optimistic?
2004 Stats:
Ranked 1th overall in offense, #1 ranked in AFC
Ranked 31st overall in defense, #16 ranked in AFC
Your thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs this upcoming 2005 season...strengths/weaknesses and your prediction on where they will finish in the division.
posted by Steve at 9:13 AM
6 Comments:
Well as much as I don't care about the Chiefs, I think it's their division to lose this year and quite frankly, I am going to say it here and now - Chiefs will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this season.
Here's the bottom line - the Chiefs had the best offense in the league last season, which is saying a hell of a lot considering what Peyton Manning did on the field. This year they return all those offensive weapons with the exception of Johnnie Morton, who wasn't a huge piece in that puzzle to begin with. But a healthy Priest Holmes who had 14 TD, almost 900 yards in 8 games last season, plenty of defensive talent who will start when the Chiefs take the field in week #1...here's a list of their defensive help:
CB Ashley Ambrose
CB Patrick Surtain
S Sammy Knight
LB Kendrell Bell
DE Carlos Hall
LB Derrick Johnson (rookie from Texas who tore it up in the Big 12)
All those players will start. The biggest concern of course is they still have to prove themselves. Gunther Cunningham finally has players of his caliber on the field and he has been a successful defensive coordinator in the past with personnel he likes. He is at that stage again with the Chiefs.
As I've said before, the Chiefs just need to improve their defense enough to be a top 20 defense to be solid...if they end up being a top 15 defense, Super Bowl Champs...which I think these players will give them.
Chiefs will unfortunately win the AFC West this season and represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLX
The Chiefs could win anywhere between 7-13 games and we would not be surprised. Will there players thet added on D immprove them enough? The offense is getting older but if, a big if, everyone stays healthy this is probably their last window of opportunity with the present cast. If they win enough regular season games toget one of the Bye's thenthey could indeed go to the SB. The receiver corp other than tight end is only average but Trent Green is so good he makes them all better.I predict injuries do the Chief in by playoff time but they finish first in the division.
Steve-
First of all, I'd like to commend you on this comprehensive, unbiased, and surprisingly informative preseason review of each respective NFL team. Very nice work. I haven't had a chance to acknowledge the work you've put in on this, and I really haven't had the time to even post.
But, you are now talking about my team. And of course, I must push aside my schedule for a few minutes to post something in response to my favorite team in the NFL.
I'm quite suprised to hear you selected KC to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. As much as I agree with a lot of the points you presented, I will go out on the limb and say they have as good a chance as a handful of teams to win the AFC. I'm not ready to pick them to be Super Bowl contenders until I see some cohension in that newly upgraded defensive unit of theirs.
We all know, adding a bunch of free agents doesn't always work. Sometimes, having too many free agents will create conflicts of structure and attitude, but more importantly- fails to build a cohesive unit working together 'cause quite frankly, and as New England very well proves- defenses are not always successful 'cause of individual achievements, but rather as a team working collectively together.
KC beefed up their defense 'cause they HAD to. They didn't do anything specifically to improve themselves other than adding a few veterans into the mix. Their first round draft of Derrick Johnson seems to be an absolute steal for them at this point, and both Kawika Mitchell and Ryan Sims both seemed to have finally grown up and accepted their responsibilites and have shined in the preseason games thus far. This is all good for KC.
But, look at what Denver did- they beefed up their defensive line. Why? 'cause they know that in four of their 16 games, they will be facing Priest Holmes/Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson. Arguably two of the best backs in the NFL. What Denver did was smart. Will it work? That remains to be seen.
San Diego is simply improving with age and experience. They will still contend for the division.
And the Raiders, well they just became the Chiefs of Black and Silver by adding a potent offense to an otherwise mediocre defense. They'll remain where they belong- in the sewer of the AFC West.
Anything can happen in the NFL. I still think San Diego is the team to beat. A tough, tough schedule however could bring them back to reality.
Denver made the right improvements, and if they play smart, agressive football- they can easily be sitting atop the AFC West.
And KC did all the right things to improve their defense, but it all those ingredients must gel together- and if they do- wow! They really would have potential to be a monster of a team.
But, then you've got New England, Pittsburgh, Buffalo on the rise, the Jets, Jacksonville on the rise, Cincinnati on the rise, and of course- Indy. Still a lot of damn good teams in the AFC. Whew.
I wanted to add something:
I think the winner out of the AFC West will have beat Oakland twice. I see SD, KC, and Denver each splitting their games with each other. That's three losses for each team right there. If anyone one of those three teams loses a regular season game to Oakland, they pretty much hurt themselves right there, and the only way to make up for it- will be to beat one of the three teams both home and away.
Whatever team beats Oakland twice, and any other the big three twice, will run away with the division.
Chiefs Shmeefs, last place.
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