KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
2020 Record - 14-2-0
Head Coach - Andy Reid
Key Additions - Orlando Brown, Jr. (OL), Kyle Long (OL), Joe Thuney (OL), Blake Bell (TE), Austin Blythe (OL), Michael Burton (RB), Jerrick McKinnon (RB), Jarran Reed (DL)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 4,740 yards with 38 touchdowns and only six interceptions last season and also rushed for 308 yards and scored two touchdowns. The running game has Clyde Edwards-Helaire (803 yards, 4.4 ypc average and four TD), Darrel Williams and Jerrick McKinnon, who rushed for 319 yards (3.9 ypc) and five touchdowns with San Francisco last year.
The wide receivers are Demarcus Robinson (45 receptions for 466 yards and three TD), Tyreek Hill (87, 1,275, 15 TD) and Mecole Hardman, Jr., who caught 41 passes for 560 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce is the main target in the Chiefs passing game and he had 105 receptions last season for 1,416 yards and eleven touchdowns.
The Chiefs offense was the best in the NFL in 2020, averaging 416 yards per game while topping the league in passing as well with 303 yards per game. The running game was 16th overall, averaging 113 yards per game. Kansas City averaged 29.6 PPG and was 6th in the league in scoring.
DEFENSE - Chris Jones (defensive tackle) and Frank Clark (defensive end) lead the way up front for Kansas City. Jones registered 7 1/2 quarterback sacks last season and Clark had six sacks. Taco Charlton, Derrick Nnadi and Jarran Reed (6 1/2 sacks with Seattle Seahawks) will make up the rest of the front four. Willie Gay, Jr. and Anthony Hitchens will combine with perhaps Nick Bolton (rookie from Missouri) at the linebacker spots. Others include Darius Harris, Ben Niemann and Omari Cobb.
In the secondary is safety Tyrann Mathieu, who had six of the Chiefs 16 interceptions last season. Along with the "Honey Badger" at safety is Juan Thornhill. The corners are L'Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward. Daniel Sorenson, Armani Watts, Rashad Fenton and Deandre Baker provide depth to the defensive backfield.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - With Mahomes and company doing their thing on offense, the Chiefs will put up a lot of points once again this year. The key for the offense to click will be the offensive line giving Mahomes the protection he needs to make things hum along. In the Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay, Mahomes was battered and sacked and sent scrambling all over the field due to poor pass protection. Head Coach Andy Reid is hopeful the revamped offensive line will change all of that.
The defense was decent a year ago, allowing 358 yards per game (16th in NFL) while allowing 22.6 points per game. Better pressure on the quarterback would be a plus as the Chiefs only had 32 sacks last year. The pass defense ranked 14th (236 YPG allowed) and the run defense struggled, giving up 122 yards per game, which was 21st overall.
Since Mahomes took over as the starting QB in 2018, the Chiefs have dominated the AFC West division and should likely do it again this year. A 13-4 record should be enough to get another division crown, but the Chiefs want to win another Super Bowl after being denied the repeat performance last February. It is very possible they could make it back for a third straight season and as along as the offense does their thing and the defense improves, another Lombardi trophy could be held high in about six months.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Cleveland
Week 2 - at Baltimore
Week 3 - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week 4 - at Philadelphia
Week 5 - vs. Buffalo
Week 6 - at Washington
Week 7 - at Tennessee
Week 8 - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week 9 - vs. Green Bay
Week 10 - at Las Vegas
Week 11 - vs. Dallas
Week 12 - BYE
Week 13 - vs. Denver
Week 14 - vs. Las Vegas
Week 15 - at L.A. Chargers
Week 16 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 17 - at Cincinnati
Week 18 - at Denver
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