Kansas City will Surprise Many this Season

Last season is one to forget for the AFC West Kansas City Chiefs. Ownership attempted to do that by firing the General Manager and the Head Coach.

With those big changes, one would think the Chiefs were entering a period of rebuilding. However, this season the team should surprise a number of teams. Some long shot bettors are taking the Chiefs to win the division and go from worst to first.

Kansas City is now coached by Andy Reid and has key players returning, along with a new quarterback in Alex Smith, the former 49er.

At running back, Jamaal Charles returns with the focus on him and Smith. However, the team’s two most important players line up on the defensive side of the ball.

If Kansas City hopes to shut down their opponents and get the ball into the hands of their offense, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali must be successful stopping the run and rushing the quarterback.

The two outside linebackers must stay healthy all season and remain on the field if the Chiefs hope to reach the postseason.

Since late in the 2011 season, which was the rookie year for Houston, the two outside linebackers have formed a tough duo for any offense.

Over the past 21 regular season games, the two have 29.5 combined sacks, with 19 last season when the two went to the Pro Bowl.

If the Chiefs hope to improve on last season, it must receive great play from its defense. If Houston and Hali can put consistent pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, the offense will get their hands on the ball more often.

Kansas City will not have it easy however, as they face Dallas, Philadelphia, the New York Giants, Houston, Washington and Indianapolis and that is just outside the division. Add to those two games against Peyton Manning and two against Philip Rivers and they will be facing some of the finest quarterbacks in the NFL.

Passing Denver to reach the top of the division will be a difficult task for the Chiefs, but the Chiefs have been successful in holding Manning in check in their head-to-head matchups.

Last season when Denver played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Denver won 17-9, as the offense for Kansas City could not score.

However, this season with the addition of Smith and the returning Charles, the Chiefs have the tools to put the ball into the end zone.

On defense, the Chiefs should have one of the best in the AFC. The defense will end up doing more than their share to win games for the team, but only time will tell if the offense can respond.

The Chiefs get their chance to show how much they have changed on Sunday September 8 at Jacksonville, one of the weaker teams in the league and a good way for the Chiefs to start their season under new head coach Reid.