How Chiefs can improve offensively in 2016

Red Zone Scoring Percentage (Touchdowns Only) — Arrowhead

You’d be surprised to know how inefficient Kansas City’s red zone offense was at Arrowhead in 2015. I hope you’re sitting down for this. Last year, the Chiefs scored offensive touchdowns, from the red zone on their home field, just 48 percent of the time. That was good for 26th-best in the league last season.

If the Chiefs can do a better job of punching it into the end zone, deep into their opponents’ territory, they’ll create an even more imposing home-field advantage in Arrowhead Stadium.

Remember the Chiefs’ first meeting with the Super Bowl-champion Denver Broncos? Then I’m sure you recall Jamaal Charles heart-wrenching fumble that ultimately cost Kansas City that game. What you may have forgotten was the Charles fumble that helped squander the Chiefs’ chances at a first-quarter touchdown. Those gaffes by the All-Pro running back were symptomatic of an offense in disarray against Denver that night. The Chiefs would score a touchdown just once with four trips inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line.

Much to the chagrin of the Chiefs, two of those red zone plays resulted in turnovers. In the other home loss, against the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs had to settle for field goal attempts on two of three trips inside the Bears’ 20-yard line (one of which was blocked).

Those early losses put the team in a precarious situation to start the 2015 season. A better red zone showing from the Chiefs in Kansas City could mean the difference between a low seed and one of the top spots in the AFC postseason tournament.

Next: One last offensive category...