7 Numbers To Consider Before Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans Game
By Ben Nielsen
Aug 23, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson (8) celebrates with defensive tackle Jairus Campbell (60) after scorn a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Minnesota won the game 30-12. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
NUMBER: 9
Nine will be my official wins projection for the Chiefs, with a two-game margin of error going in either direction.
Year two of Andy Reid/John Dorsey features variables that should make repeating last season’s 11 wins difficult to repeat, but I don’t think it is out of the question the Chiefs could repeat it.
Kansas City’s offensive line is a question mark given their extreme youth, but the rest of the areas of the offense got better. De’Anthony Thomas adds the element Dexter McCluster was supposed to be when he was drafted; Travis Kelce and Anthony Fasano add the tight end targets that did not exist a season ago; Frankie Hammond Jr. and Albert Wilson fit the mould of an Andy Reid receiver better than, say, Chad Hall. Is it perfect? No. But it is better than a season ago.
Defensively the front seven is deeper, and potentially monstrous. Keeping Eric Berry healthy and the development of players like Cooper and Phillip Gaines is going to be crucial to the stability of the secondary. Otherwise the impact of the front seven is going to be reduced.
Special teams may be even more deadly than they were a year ago. Dave Toub’s schemes with Thomas and Davis’ speed should be a nightmare for opponents to deal with. Added this season are the stylings of Daniel Sorensen, who is a playmaker in kick and punt coverages.
Withstanding the first six-game wave of the season is going to be crucial to any playoff hopes the Chiefs have in 2014. Walking away from games against Denver, San Francisco, New England, and San Diego, plus tough games against Tennessee and Miami, with a 3-3 record would set up very nicely for the Chiefs. If they can do that then my nine win prediction should be very safe.