Originally Posted by Megatron96
Definitely foresee some struggles from both the offense and defense to start the season. Not surprising what with all the new faces, particularly all the rookies that are on the roster.
On defense and offense all these new guys and young players are going to have to get comfortable with the playbooks and each other. This was the case in 2019 as well as 2020? Whatever. It took some time, but eventually they got in the groove and their play dramatically improved.
No real reason to think history won't repeat itself to some extent this season. The defense will be up and down through the first half of the season or so, and they'll be playing an abbreviated playbook until everyone gets on the same page. Ditto the offense. It just should click quicker for the offense this time around, with the overall higher quality of the skill players.
But add in the fact that KC is playing 5(?) playoff teams from last season in the first 7 weeks, including four teams that last season owned a top-10 offense last season, and it could be tough sledding for the Chiefs until the bye.
AZ had a top-10 offense last year, and while I'm very optimistic about the defense going into this season, in recent memory the Chiefs have been pretty not good against mobile QBs, and Kyler is among the elite in that category.
Then we get LAC, now with another elite pass rusher in Khalil. And Herbert's no slouch in either passing or running either. Keenan Allen's coming off a career-type year, Ekeler looks to be healthy, M. Williams set a personal best in several categories in 2021.
Then the only cakewalk game is vs. IND, followed by the Bucs (beat us in the SB last we met), LAR with D. Adams, the Bills (that would've beaten us in the playoffs last season except for a coin flip), and the 49ers, that were in the process of beating KC in the SB, until the last 7 minutes happened.
Realistically, if the Chiefs can get to the bye 4-3, even 3-4, I do like our chances down the stretch. The schedule does ease up a bit what with TEN, JAX, HOU and SEA as a bit of a cushion. 11-6 or 12-5 seems pretty doable.
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