(Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Over the next few weeks I will preview each NFL division from an over/under season win total perspective.
All totals and odds to win division courtesy of Bowmans.com as current as the date the article is published.
For additional division previews please find links at the bottom of this article for previews of the NFC North, NFC South, NFC West, NFC East, AFC South, AFC North, and AFC East divisions.
Kansas City: 6
2008 turned out to be a complete disaster all around for the Chiefs as they bottomed out with a 2-14 record. They tied with the Rams for the league’s second worst record and allowed the fourth-most points league wide with 440.
It’s hard to find a single positive stat line on KC from last season, as their offense was average at best, they were 30th defending the run, 28th defending the pass and set an NFL record for fewest sacks in a season with only 10, not surprisingly finishing a rock bottom 32nd in that category.
Results like that can only mean changes need to be made, and they certainly were. A new GM, coach and defensive coordinator highlighted the management changes.
Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey had survived the initial round of pink slips from his new bosses, but he wasn’t able to get along with new coach Todd Haley and was recently relieved of his duties.
Gailey will be taking a front office position, while Haley will have his hands full as a first-time head coach by taking over the play calling duties on offense, as well.
A host of changes were made all over the roster, not the least of which is the addition of Matt Cassell through a trade with the Patriots. Free agent WR pickup Bobby Engram may be the biggest addition on offense, and he will have to try to replace some of the scoring the Chiefs lost by trading TE Tony Gonzalez.
The linebacking corps added some pieces with the additions of Monty Beisel and Mike Vrabel, to name a few. They’re both on the north side of 30, however, so neither can be seen as long-term solutions.
Questions abound on the right side of the offensive line, where free agent Mike Goff could be a new starter at RG, while RT is anyone’s guess as Damion McIntosh has just been released.
Being saddled with the fourth-toughest schedule last year certainly didn’t help matters for Kansas City, and only playing three teams (Cincinnati, Oakland and Buffalo) with losing records would be a tough chore for any team. The schedule should lighten a bit this season, coming in as only the 17th toughest.
That being said, most of KC’s “easier games” look to come near the end of the year, when they could already be long out of contention.
Playing Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincy, and Denver twice in their last five games may be a small consolation for having to play the likes of Baltimore, the entire NFC East, Pittsburgh and two games versus San Diego twice all by Week 12.
While Weeks 13-15 may be all home games, all three of those opponents will have had a few days extra rest as they played their game the week before on a Thursday.
The Chiefs have certain pieces in place which should be strong building blocks for the future.
Their secondary is very young, yet very promising, especially with the likes of sophomore CBs Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers.
The defensive line will need to really step up with a rotation that is also very young, where most of the key pieces are all 25 or younger.
Originally, I wanted to say the Chiefs have a legitimate shot to go over their projected win total. They have made some nice additions and the tail end of their schedule has the potential for KC to string together a few wins and end the year on a positive note.
Unfortunately, so far they have looked terrible in preseason play and the firing of their offensive coordinator roughly a week before the season can only mean the team is acknowledging things are a mess up front.
Quite honestly, looking at their schedule, they could conceivably have only two to three wins after Week 12. That would mean they would most likely need to win four or five of their final five games, and I just don’t think this team is talented enough to put together that kind of streak.
Prediction: Under 6 wins
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