Boy it really feels like they're gearing up for a SB run this year.
 

I know, technically they're doing it every year. But this year really seems different.

They've got Mahomes on the horizon. They've got cuts in a year in which Alex Smith, Tamba Hali, and Derrick Johnson probably won't be on this team. They know they're on the verge of a mini-rebuild around Mahomes.

As a result, they've padded the back end of the roster with some trades, and it really does seem the team is going all in on 2017 as Alex Smith's final push for a SB berth. It seems like they're all in for 2017.

If it doesn't work out, which with Brady in the AFC, it probably won't, they'll retool, sell some used parts, and start to build around Mahomes.

IMO, it all hinges on Justin Houston. If he can be his dominant 22 sack self, then watch out. If he can't, we're likely a 10-6 team with "possibly" a wild card win.

The Chiefs need Houston to be Houston, strong or at least decent CB play behind Peters and a strong year from Smith for his standards. If they can get two out of three of these elements for the whole season and playoffs, I would think they have a good chance of going deep into the playoffs.

We'll know a lot more by Friday. Here's hoping Houston and Berry not only play but play well.

Oh yeah. They're really going all out with Kelce and Hill as the only two credible receiving threats.

Yep. And it can be a very QUICK task...

ROFL

This!!

Defense is going to have to ball out like gods.

I'm not holding my breath.

wow

this is mind blowing

are you related in any way to Walter Mercado or a member of the psychic friends network?

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...in-Obvious.jpg

http://wjbq.com/files/2015/07/Debbie...1&s=0&a=t&q=89

Every receiver ever needs that first season, right?

Don't underestimate DAT13

What? Not even close. They had a meh offseason. Money was tight and they didn't push it.

Stop this trolling. If they really thought they had a shot at a SB they'd have kept Maclin.

If KC is going to the SB this yr, these people need to stay healthy.

Alex Smith
While it might currently be an unpopular choice, and as much as the hype for Mahomes is, and how real it appears to be, he's just a rookie and most likely wouldn't lead this team to a SB this year. But you watch in a couple years...this team has a good chance to really make a serious run..hell maybe next year.
**(Not saying playing him would ruin him. I think he'd be the type of player that plays w/ more confidence once he has better talent around him. But Alex has (right now) better command of the offense. Wait til' next year when Mahomes has all the reps in OTA's camp etc, and get on the same page w/ Hill, Hunt, Kelce, OL etc.)**

Eric Berry
Dude is a game changer, a playmaker...this team may have not been a playoff team last year if not for him, most noticeably the CAR and ATL games.

Justin Houston
I haven't seen any pass rush from the starters all preseason. I just hope Houston is back healthy and he's the Justin Houston of old. If not you're looking at a horrible contract on the Chiefs hands. It'd be nice if Ford can come into his own and not disappear for half a season. But Houston is proven. He's expected to play at an All-Pro level. He played that way for half of the @DEN game...needs to play the entire season like that if this defense wants to be an elite SB defense.

Eric Fisher
This team's OL depth is pure hot garbage. I'm not sure if Cameron Erving is going to solve any of that. I know it was a guy the Chiefs were high on coming into that draft. He never did shit in CLE, but maybe that's just part of being w/ the Browns franchise, everyone there fails, and maybe a change of scenery where there's a winning atmosphere is just what he needs, that's about all you can hope for w/ that addition at the moment. It would be nice to see him improve more. He was manhandled by James Harrison. He still gets beaten like a drum at times. Needs to be more consistent.

Peters Hill and Kelce
CB depth behind Peters is very suspect. Would have been nice to land Haden but I was thinking "theres just no way the Chiefs would pull off something like that"...and what happened, happened and now he's a ****ing Steeler (**** that team btw). Hill and Kelce are going to be 65-70% of this offense and it should be. But there's just not a lot (if any) depth at either position. If Hill goes down, I mean does anyone think AS and Chris Conley are going to scare anyone? Same w/ Kelce....the dropoff from 1st to 2nd string is a lot.

And I'd say Derrick Johnson, however I don't think the drop off would be as severe as the other positions mentioned. Chiefs look to have some ascending depth in that area. Hopefully that continues to improve.

In addition to this, the Chiefs MUST run the ball better. Their short passing game is an extension to the running game, and if the running game doesn't work the whole god damn philosophy goes to shit and Alex Smith is tasked w/ converting 3rd n long, not a strong suit of his. If the Chiefs can run the ball considerably better than last season, and if Smith uses his legs to move the chains rather than going 3 n out (he stopped running after getting whacked vs Indy), then the Chiefs can be a efficient offense. Just have to turn the 3 n outs into points. They can do it, but they have to run the ball better. This OL in short yard running situations is not good. They have to improve in that area if Smith wants to play in between the chains.

Oh, so that's why the Pats, Seahawks, Broncos, and Ravens won it in recent years!