Chiefs have more questions than answers again

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) talks with head coach Andy Reid during a time out during the first half of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) talks with head coach Andy Reid during a time out during the first half of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

After a 1-5 start to 2015, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to turn their season around, rattling off 11 straight victories.

After an off season that saw only one prominent free agent leave (Sean Smith) while other prominent players were retained (Jaye Howard, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry) and the addition of Mitch Schwartz, things were looking up, and people were talking Lombardi Trophy. Now, as a team sits at 2-2, despite having been outplayed in conservatively 11 of the 16 quarters they have played, one has to wonder. How did we arrive at this point, again?

A reshaped defensive backfield, once thought to be a strength, has been a huge liability for the team, especially highlights the curious and disastrous selection of Kei’Varae Russell. While Marcus Peters has been an interception machine thus far through four games, he’s also had issues of allowing receivers to get behind him. In today’s NFL, that’s a reality teams and fans simply will have to live with. However, past that, there appears to be very little at the cornerback position, as is exhibited by the face that Steelers wide receivers are still running open through the secondary.

Currently, through four games, the Chiefs defense ranks 18th in points per game at 23, 20th in the league in yards per game at 370, 11th in the league in yards passing at 240.5 and 28th in yards rushing at 129.5.