Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Reasonable Goals for This Season

Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

Every year, NFL teams set goals for what they hope to accomplish in that particular season.

The Kansas City Chiefs will just be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 campaign while improving both their offense and defense in many different areas.

Here are five reasonable goals for the Chiefs in 2012.

A Top-5 Rushing Offense

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Just two years ago, the Chiefs owned the best rushing offense in the entire NFL.

After a season where they finished in the middle of the league in that category, a top-five ground attack should be very attainable in 2012.

After all, KC will be getting back star running back Jamaal Charles and will now have former Brown Peyton Hillis to pair with him, creating one of the best running back tandems in the league.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me at all if this running game finishes as the top-ranked unit at season's end.

A Top-10 Defense

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

This could prove to be the toughest goal out of any of these, but it's very reasonable if you think about it.

Last year, Kansas City's defense was very inconsistent in the first half of the season before putting together several dominating performances to finish the year.

In 2012, the Chiefs will be looking to build off of the momentum that they have from the end of last season.

With a plethora of play-makers and one of the best defensive coaches that the NFL has to offer in Romeo Crennel, this could end up being much better than a top 10 defense this season.

Having at Least Two Players with 10-Plus Sacks

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

It's been a long time since the Chiefs have had two or more players register 10 or more sacks on their defense.

In fact, you would have to go all the way back to the 1994 season when Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith accomplished that feat.

However, it should happen this season.

With Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali picking up 10 or more sacks in each of the last two seasons and the emergence of Justin Houston late last year, KC appears to already have two viable candidates to reach the double-digit mark in sacks for this coming regular season.

Getting at Least 3 Players to the Pro Bowl

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Last season, the Chiefs were still able to send linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson to the Pro Bowl in a down year for the organization.

Two years ago, KC was able to send quarterback Matt Cassel, running back Jamaal Charles and receiver Dwayne Bowe to the NFL's All-Star game.

With all of the talent that will be returning to this team this season, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to get at least three Pro Bowl selections again this year.

If everyone can still healthy and things go right for Kansas City in 2012, they could have upwards of six potential Pro Bowlers in Hawaii next January.

Winning at Least 9 Games in the Regular Season

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Last year, the Chiefs were still able to string together seven wins even though they didn't have their starting quarterback, running back, tight end or safety for most of the season.

With all of these guys coming back, suddenly this is a much better team in 2012.

That's not to mention that KC has upgraded their roster through free agency and the draft to help put them in position to win the AFC West for the second time in three years.

Because of this, there is no why Kansas City shouldn't be able to win at least nine games this year.