NFL Betting Online: The Chiefs have a steep mountain to climb in the AFC West as long as Peyton Manning is in Denver, but there time is coming.
2014 Season Record: 9-7 SU, 10-6 ATS, 5-11 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 8.5, -105 O, -115 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +4800
Odds to Win AFC: +1625
Odds to Win Division: +376
The only team with wins over both the AFC and NFC champions on its resume in 2014? That would be Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs, who, despite a slew of injuries and suspensions, tended to play up – or down – to just about every opponent. The Chiefs look for more consistency and a return to their 11-win form from two seasons ago after stumbling to a 9-7 record in 2014.
Quarterback Alex Smith signed a big-money extension before the start of the 2014 season that set him in line with his peers, but also put him squarely in the sights of Chiefs’ fans who see that cash better spent elsewhere.
Still one of the smarter and most accurate (65.3 percent completion rate in 2014) passers in the game, Smith has, on paper, as many toys to play with as he’s ever had in Kansas City. He needs to become a game-changer instead of a game-manager for KC to take the next step.
The Chiefs became the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to go an entire regular season without a touchdown thrown to a wideout. Jeremy Maclin, signed away from Philadelphia to replace aging Dwayne Bowe, is expected to change all that, and quickly.
Tight end Travis Kelce was a find in his first full season, and if he keeps his temper and ball security in check, could be the best tight end to put on a Chiefs uniform since Tony Gonzalez was traded out of town in 2009.
A series of injuries and Eric Fisher’s bum shoulder forced general manager John Dorsey to piece together a makeshift offensive line last fall, and it showed, as the sacks allowed jumped while Smith spent many Sundays running for his life. The addition of Ben Grubbs and Paul Fanaika should stabilize the interior unit, but center Rodney Hudson could be sorely missed.
The defense should be better with end Mike DeVito and linebacker Derrick Johnson back after missing all of last season with Achilles injuries suffered in Week 1. Justin Houston is also back after a monster 22-sack season.
The Chiefs will have an above average defense, but Alex Smith has yet to prove he’s the difference maker needed to get this team over the hump. He’s surrounded with more pieces and needs a career-defining season to give the Chiefs a chance in the division.
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Jeremy Maclin, OG Benn Grubbs, S Tyvon Branch, CB Marcus Peters, C Mitch Morse, OG Paul Fanaika.
KEY LOSSES: C Rodney Hudson, WR Dwayne Bowe, TE Anthony Fasano, DT Vance Walker, OT Ryan Harris, OG Jeff Linkenbach.
Everyone knows what to expect of certain players such as Jamaal Charles, Justin Houston and Dontari Poe, but the team still lacks in certain areas and competes in a division that features the explosive Denver Broncos and the feisty San Diego Chargers.
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