Kansas City Chiefs: Premature predictions for 2017
By Chris Taylor
5. The Chiefs will be playing in the AFC Championship game
My prediction stops there. Despite the brow-raising offseason moves the Chiefs have made so far, they seem primed for a deep playoff run.
There are just too many weapons on this team. Jamaal Charles and Jeremy Maclin neither played a significant role last season, so losing them does not deserve a call from the doomsday brigade. Even though the Maclin release surprised us all.
Alex Smith is capable of big numbers, through the air and on the ground. Not Drew Brees type numbers or Michael Vick type numbers mind you, but numbers.
Tyreek Hill will dominate this season. He is the quintessential game breaker.
Travis Kelce will be an All-Pro, and now that sanctions have been lifted on celebrations, watch out!
The defense will be rude, stingy, and selfish all season long.
Special teams will remain super. The offensive line will be strong. The running game will be effective.
The coaching will be superb. Andy Reid has done an amazing job putting a staff together. Dave Toub has the greatest special teams mind in the NFL. Matt Nagy (OC) will be a NFL head coach in the next couple years.
This might just be the year. All the ingredients are there. It may come down to less lucky bounces (off the left upright) and more precise plays to make things happen. It may come down to proper execution or fixing the penalties. It might just come down finding a diamond in the rough somewhere within the roster.
However it happens, I feel that in 2017, the Super Bowl will be just one game away.