2019 Record - 12-4-0
Head Coach - Andy Reid
New Players in 2020 - Ricky Seals-Jones (TE), Mike Remmers (OL), Antonio Hamilton (DB), Taco Charlton (DL)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Damien Williams (RB), Lucas Niang (OL)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Patrick Mahomes put up good numbers again in 2019 following his huge 2018 season as he passed for 4,031 yards with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions and averaged 5.1 yards per carry when running the football. He also missed two games with a knee injury. Chad Henne, Shea Patterson and perhaps Ta'amu Jordan will compete for the backup spot.
The top running back will likely have to be rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU), the Chiefs top draft pick. Damien Williams opted out for the 2020 season and LeSean McCoy is with Tampa Bay now.
The tight end is Travis Kelce, who led the team with 97 receptions last year for 1,229 yards and had five touchdowns. Wide receivers include Tyreek Hill (58, 860, seven TD), Sammy Watkins (52, 673, three TD) and Mecole Hardman, who averaged 20.7 yards per catch and scored six touchdowns last season. Demarcus Robinson (32, 449, four TD) is another option for the Chiefs passing attack.
DEFENSE - Defensive tackle Chris Jones (nine QB sacks) and defensive end Frank Clark (eight sacks) lead the front seven for the Chiefs while safeties Tyrann Matheiu (four interceptions and two sacks) and Juan Thornhill (three picks) spearhead a solid secondary. The corners are Charvarius Ward (two INT) and Rashaud Breeland. Damien Wilson, Ben Niemann and Anthony Hitchens (two sacks) are the linebackers. Rookie LB Willie Gay, Jr. (Mississippi State) will look to get to his chance too.
Kansas City totaled 16 interceptions a year ago and had 45 quarterback sacks while registering a plus-8 in turnovers. The Chiefs improved dramatically in 2019 from the previous year as they allowed 19.2 points per game (7th overall) while giving up 350 yards per game. The pass defense ranked eighth overall (222 ypg) while the run defense allowed 128 yards per game, which was 26th in the NFL.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - As long as Mahomes stays healthy, the Chiefs have to be considered favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions. The offense simply hums with him at the controls and really got it going in the playoffs last season, averaging 39 points per game.
The rushing attack will face a stiff challenge with a rookie likely getting the bulk of the carries this season. Kansas City ranked 23rd last season in the league, gaining just 98 rushing yards per game. If opposing teams stack the box, Mahomes will make them pay with his talents and a wide array of top notch receivers.
Head Coach Andy Reid finally got the monkey off his back last year as the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. But if the Chiefs continue to light up the scoreboard on offense and the defense continues to get better (which it did as the 2019 season progressed) there is no reason to doubt they will once again win the AFC West division title. A tough first half of the schedule will definitely be a challenge, but as long as they stay healthy, this team could very well win a second straight Super Bowl.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Houston
Week Two - at L.A. Chargers
Week Three - at Baltimore
Week Four - vs. New England
Week Five - vs. Las Vegas
Week Six - at Buffalo
Week Seven - at Denver
Week Eight - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Nine - vs. Carolina
Week Ten - BYE
Week Eleven - at Las Vegas
Week Twelve - at Tampa Bay
Week Thirteen - vs. Denver
Week Fourteen - at Miami
Week Fifteen - at New Orleans
Week Sixteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Seventeen - vs. L.A. Chargers
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