At the dawn of the 2022 season, We Sport looks back on the situation of the 32 NFL franchises. Today, direction Kansas City where the Chiefs will want to find the Super Bowl.
The balance sheet of Kansas City Chiefs last season
Sluggish, settled and then jammed, the Chiefs machine went through all the states last season. Once again favorites for the final victory, Andy Reid’s players started their season badly (3-4 record after seven games) before settling and ending the year with a cannonball. Winner of nine of its last ten meetings, beaten only by the Bengals – as a harbinger of its future, Kansas City retained its division title and went on to Wild Cards before winning what was surely the game of the year against the Bills. Heading out to find the Super Bowl, the Chiefs fell to a surprising Bengals, ending their title dreams. A bitter defeat for a franchise that seemed above the lot.
[12-5]winners of AFC West, eliminated in AFC Championship by Cincinnati Bengals
The movements of the off-season
Very, very complicated offseason in Kansas City, with the departure of several executives. Go-to-guy from Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill was transferred to Miami; an invaluable loss for the best offense in the league. To try to compensate, the management multiplied the leads by recruiting JuJu Smith-Schuster and MVS, but also by drafting the promising Skyy Moore. This departure greatly weakens the attack, even if the latter managed to keep its left tackle Orlando Brown in the taguant.
In defense, the Chiefs have also lost several holders, starting with the soul of this squad: Tyrann Mathieu. Returned to his native Louisiana, he leaves a huge void that Justin Reid and Deon Bush will try to fill. The secondary also lost his No. 1 cornerback (Ward), a role that could go to first-round rookie draftee Trent McDuffie. The draft, precisely, was an opportunity for Kansas City to renew its workforce, a wave of young people (Karlaftis, Chenal) replacing non-retained veterans.
Major arrivals: S Deon Bush (Bears), DT Carlos Dunlap (Seahawks), S Justin Reid (Texans), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Packers)
Notable departures: LB Melvin Ingram (Dolphins), WR Tyreek Hill (Dolphins), S Tyrann Mathieu (Saints), DT Jarran Reed (Packers), CB Charvarius Ward (49ers)
Extensions: OT Orlando Brown (Franchise Tag), OF Frank Clark, DT Derrick Nnadi
Draft* : CB Trent McDuffie (Washington), OF George Karlaftis (Purdue), WR Skyy Moore (Western Michigan), S Brian Cook (Cincinnati), LB Leo Chenal (Wisconsin)
* Only the players selected during the first two days are mentioned.
The number of Kansas City Chiefs 2022/2023
If the Chiefs have lost many executives, the workforce is still quite provided. Offensively, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still in the backfield offensively, playing behind an offensive line that has grown around executives like Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney, but also youngsters like Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. The aerial game poses more questions, especially after the departure of Tyreek Hill, even if Patrick Mahomes is still there; necessarily a plus to have one of the best players in the league in the most important position.
On the other side of the field, the defensive line remains the franchise’s greatest strength, with household names like Frank Clark, Chirs Jones and newcomer Carlos Dunlap; a boon to camouflage the difficulties of the second curtain, even if the young Nick Bolton comes out of an interesting rookie season. On the back lines, the departure of Charvarius Ward and Tyrann Mathieu hurt a lot, and we will have to hope that Trent McDuffie and Justin Reid are at the level. It should be noted, however, that L’Jarius Sneed is still there at the post of nickel backenough to bring a little more serenity.
Kansas City Chiefs : Ambitions and ranking
Of course, when you’re the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes leads the attack, it’s hard to aim for anything other than the Super Bowl. Although the receiving corps is orphaned from Tyreek Hill and the defense has lost some executives, Kansas City remains a serious title contender. The defense may need to step up if the offense is less effective, but the Missouri franchise remains the bogeyman of theAFC West, a division where each of the four members aims for the playoffs. The Chiefs will surely be less dominant, but it is impossible not to place them among the favorites for the final victory.
Player to watch: Nick Bolton
We could have put a receiver, but Nick Bolton will also be closely scrutinized in 2022. Author of an excellent rookie campaign, the linebacker has established himself as one of the leaders of this Chiefs defense new look. Evolving in a key position in the middle of the field, he will have to assert himself a little more like a taulier in a defense which will have to continue to raise the level. A Nick Bolton who confirms his good debut among the professionals, and it is the entire defense of Kansas City that would come out of it.
The calendar of Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
Week 1 @ Arizona Cardinals | Week 2 vs Los Angeles Chargers | Week 3 @ Indianapolis Colts |
Week 4 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Week 5 vs Las Vegas Raiders | Week 6 vs Buffalo Bills |
Week 7 @ San Francisco 49ers | Week 8 BYE | Week 9 vs Tennessee Titans |
Week 10 vs Jacksonville Jaguars | Week 11 @ Los Angeles Chargers | Week 12 vs Los Angeles Rams |
Week 13 @ Cincinnati Bengals | Week 14 @ Denver Broncos | Week 15 @ Houston Texans |
Week 16 vs Seattle Seahawks | Week 17 vs Denver Broncos | Week 18 @ Las Vegas Raiders |
Feature image credit: Jamie Squire | Getty images
Louis Rousseau
The words “Minnesota Miracle” and “No-Call” are scratched from my vocabulary. My heart mourns the retirement of Drew Brees as my eyes finally widen watching the Knicks.
