Kansas City Chiefs: Best and Worst Case Scenarios for 2012

Bleacher Report's Dan Levy, Josh Zerkle, Matt Miller and yours truly take a crack at the best and worse-case scenarios for Romeo Crennel's Kansas City Chiefs heading into the 2012 season. 

After a late-season push for the playoffs came up just short, the Chiefs have given Crennel the reigns and hope to build on the momentum that was evident once Crennel took over for the deposed Todd Haley. 

Obviously, this team should benefit greatly from getting injured starters Matt Cassell and Jamaal Charles, which should go a long way at reviving what was a stagnant offense for much of 2011. New acquisitions running back Peyton Hillis and tight end Kevin Boss should also help open things up for wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and former 2011 first-round pick Jon Baldwin. Throw in the free-agent signing of right tackle Eric Winston, and it sure would seem this offense could score points in bunches if everything can gel sooner rather than later. 

On defense, the Chiefs boast one of the league's best pass-rushers in Tamba Hali and one of the better inside linebackers who is rarely mentioned in the national conversation in Derrick Johnson. 

One concern for the defense would be the loss of cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency. The team effectively replaced Carr by ex-Raider Stanford Routt. Carr's ability to play man-press coverage drove much of what Crennel liked to do last season, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to the drop off in talent with Routt. 

On the plus side, the Chiefs get safety Eric Berry back after he missed all but one series of the 2011 season after tearing his ACL. Berry is supremely talented and should help all over the field from coverage to putting pressure on the quarterback to adding support against the run. Berry can do it all. 

The Chiefs have as good a chance as anyone to win the AFC West in 2012. Take a look at the video above and let us know in the comments section if you agree or if we've missed the boat completely.