KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
2021 Record - 12-5-0
Head Coach - Andy Reid
New Additions - JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Deon Bush (DB), Jermaine Carter, Jr. (LB), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR), Justin Watson (WR), Ronald Jones II (RB), Geron Christian (OL), Elijah Lee (LB), Justin Reid (DB), Taylor Stallworth (DL)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 3rd (397 YPG); Scoring - 4th (28.2 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 27th (369 YPG); Scoring - 8th (21.4 PPG)
Patrick Mahomes is back for his fifth season as the starting quarterback after passing for 4,839 yards with 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 381 yards (5.8 YPC average) and two touchdowns. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (517 rushing yards, 4.3 YPC and four TD) and Ronald Jones II (428, 4.2, four TD with Tampa Bay) are the running backs. Tight end Travis Kelce is back and he had 92 receptions for 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, the wide receiving corps will be led by Mecole Hardman (59 receptions for 693 yards and two TD) along with newcomers JuJu Smith-Schuster, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had 26 receptions for 430 yards and three scores with the Green Bay Packers last season. Rookie Skyy Moore (Western Michigan) and perhaps Josh Gordon and Justin Watson will also be available.
Chris Jones (nine QB sacks) and Frank Clark (4 1/2 sacks) lead the defensive front line with linebacker Nick Bolton (team leading 112 tackles) in tow. Safety Tyrann Mathieu left for New Orleans, so now the Chiefs have Deon Bush (two interceptions) coming over from the Bears this season. Rashad Fenton and top rookie pick Trent McDuffie (Washington) are the cornerbacks and L'Jarius Sneed (two INT), Justin Reid and Juan Thornhill round out the secondary.
Outlook for 2022 season - The Chiefs blew a big lead against Cincinnati in last season's AFC Championship game and missed a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Therefore a large turnover in roster personnel happened this off-season with Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu among the biggest names leaving. Three new wide receivers and four defensive players (two safeties and two linebackers) are now in town this season and Head Coach Andy Reid will look to work his magic in what should be an exciting season in the AFC West division.
As long as QB Patrick Mahomes is healthy and the running game can show enough consistency to take some pressure off the passing game, the Chiefs will be right there as far as playoff contention is concerned. Mahomes was sacked 28 times in the 2021 regular season and nine times in the post-season, which is a concern. He has always shown a knack for improvising while on the run, but eventually too many times is not good, evidenced by the AFC title game loss to the Bengals.
The AFC West division looks to be loaded this upcoming season, so Kansas City will likely find it tougher to waltz to another division crown (they have won the AFC West six consecutive times) but do not be surprised if they are once again in the conference title game in late January. In addition, the first half of the regular season schedule is a killer on paper, so a Super Bowl appearance and/or title is another question, but this team is definitely capable of accomplishing both.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Arizona
Week Two - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Three - at Indianapolis
Week Four - at Tampa Bay
Week Five - vs. Las Vegas
Week Six - vs. Buffalo
Week Seven - at San Francisco
Week Eight - BYE
Week Nine - vs. Tennessee
Week Ten - vs. Jacksonville
Week Eleven - at L.A. Chargers
Week Twelve - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Thirteen - at Cincinnati
Week Fourteen - at Denver
Week Fifteen - at Houston
Week Sixteen - vs. Seattle
Week Seventeen - vs. Denver
Week Eighteen - at Las Vegas
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