Eric Berry Injury: Chiefs in Contention for Andrew Luck with Berry on IR

The Chiefs officially ended Eric Berry's season by placing him on the IR, but fear not Chiefs fans; there is a silver lining. The Chiefs now have a very real shot at landing Andrew Luck in next year's draft.

Eric Berry is one of the league's most exciting young defensive players. He was a vital part to the Chiefs' pass and run defense. This is a guy that is capable of making a game-changing play on any snap. He was a guy the Chiefs were counting on to lead this defense for 16 games this season.

I know that last part because Kendrick Lewis is his backup. Lewis is not starting material in the NFL. This former fifth-round pick is in his second year in the NFL.

Lewis has enough athleticism to mature into a decent starter, but he has a ways to go. He is going to get fooled often on pass plays and be out of position in run plays. The Chiefs are going to struggle and give up big plays as he adjusts to the NFL game.

Players adjusting to the NFL was the last thing the Chiefs needed at the start of this season. This team needed to make hay in the first part of their schedule because they face a murderer's row of opponents later.

From weeks 11-15 the Chiefs face the Patriots, Steelers, Bears, Jets and Packers—with only the Steelers and Bears being at home.

That is daunting for any team.

The Chiefs woes for this season go beyond Berry though. They lost a key part of their offense when young tight end Tony Moeaki was lost for the season due to a preseason injury.

And injuries aside, this team has just not played well. They were out of sync all preseason, and looked completely lost in their opening week shellacking to the Bills.

It is going to be a long season for the Chiefs, but—with a little bit of Luck—there will be a pot of gold at the end of this dark rainbow.