HEAD COACH: Romeo Crennel
Key Additions: RB Peyton Hillis; QB Brady Quinn; TE Kevin Boss; OL Eric Winston; CB Stanford Routt
Key Losses: CB Brandon Carr; RB Thomas Jones; QB Kyle Orton; RB Le'Ron McClain
Offense: Matt Cassel returns at quarterback in 2012 after missing the final seven games last season, where he passed for 1,713 yards with ten touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brady Quinn and Ricky Stanzi will be the backups.
The running game is the bread and butter for the Chiefs offense. Last season, they slid to 15th in the league (118 yards per game) after leading the NFL in 2010.
A big reason for the fall off was Jamaal Charles being lost for the season in just the second game with a knee injury.
The Chiefs will be looking for a return to form by Charles, who burst to the top of the AFC rushing leaders in 2010, averaging six yards a carry.
Along with Charles, Kansas City will have Peyton Hillis (587 yards and three touchdowns with Cleveland last year) and Dexter McCluster, who filled in nicely last season by going for 516 yards with a 4.5 ypc average and one touchdown. The fullback is Shane Bannon.
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe recently signed and will be the primary target once again after making 81 catches for 1,159 yards and five touchdowns. Jon Baldwin played sparingly last year, making 21 receptions for 254 yards and one score.
Steve Breaston (61, 785, two TD) returns in 2012 and will be a prime receiver as well as McCluster, who had 46 catches for 328 yards and a touchdown. Jeremy Horne and rookie Devon Wylie (Fresno State) are also available.
The tight ends will be Tony Moeaki (out last year with knee injury) and Kevin Boss, who comes over from Oakland after making 28 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns last season.
The offensive line will feature center Rodney Hudson, guards Ryan Lilja and Jon Asamoah. At the tackles will be Eric Winston and Branden Albert. Rookies Jeff Allen (Illinois) and Donald Stephenson (Oklahoma) were drafted high and should get a chance on the line, along with second year man David Mims.
The Chiefs will look to improve after finishing 27th in offense (311 yards per game) in 2011, while also ranking 25th in the NFL in passing, averaging 193 yards per game.
Defense: Overall on defense, Kansas City ranked 11th, giving up 333 yards per game in 2011. The run defense was the weak link a year ago, allowing 132 yards per game, which was 26th in the NFL.
Enter Dontari Poe, a rookie first round pick from Memphis, at nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment. The ends are Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.
At linebacker, the Chiefs have Tamba Hali (12 QB sacks) and Justin Houston (5 1/2 sacks) on the outside with Jovan Belcher and Derrick Johnson as the inside backers. In reserve is Andy Studebaker, Cory Greenwood, Brandon Siler and Cameron Sheffield.
In the secondary, safety Eric Berry returns from a knee injury to help solidify a strong pass defense that was sixth in the NFL a year ago, allowing just 201 yards passing per game. Along with Berry at safety is Kendrick Lewis, who made three interceptions and took one back for a touchdown.
The cornerbacks are Brandon Flowers (four interceptions with one returned for a TD) and Stanford Routt, who had four picks a year ago with the Oakland Raiders.
Rookie pick (from Alabama) DeQuan Menzie, along with Travis Daniels, Donald Washington and Javier Arenas, will provide the secondary with depth.
OUTLOOK: Circle December 30th on your calendar if you are fan of the AFC West because that is the final game of the 2012 regular season when the Chiefs play at Denver. That game may very well decide the division winner.
The key to the Chiefs offense will be Cassel, because if he shows any signs of playing like he did two years ago (when KC won the AFC West) then the Chiefs should be considered as a favorite in the division hunt as well as Denver and San Diego.
Another plus would be Jamaal Charles running wild and getting the big chunks of yardage and the big plays like he did two years ago. With Charles and Hillis, the Chiefs may have their very own version of 'thunder and lightning' in the backfield this season. McCluster is a good scatback runner who will give the team a boost as well.
With the added weapons and a healthy Cassel back in 2012, the offense should be much better than last season, when the Chiefs scored just 212 points (13.3 points per game), which was next to last in the NFL.
The defense is solid and Head Coach Romeo Crennel knows how to fire the guys up as the team seemed to rally around him last season after former coach Todd Haley was fired.
The schedule is tough and a 9-7 season could be enough to win the AFC West division, or at least maybe qualify the team for a 'wild card' spot in the post-season.
It will all depend on an improved offense and a stronger run defense. Winning at Denver in the final regular season game would also be a big help.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Arizona
Week 2- at Buffalo
Week 3- at New Orleans
Week 4- vs. San Diego
Week 5- vs. Baltimore
Week 6- at Tampa Bay
Week 7- BYE
Week 8- vs. Oakland
Week 9- at San Diego
Week 10- at Pittsburgh
Week 11- vs. Cincinnati
Week 12- vs. Denver
Week 13- vs. Carolina
Week 14- at Cleveland
Week 15- at Oakland
Week 16- vs. Indianapolis
Week 17- at Denver
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