Kansas City Chiefs

Three years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs won 10 games and just missed the playoffs. Two years ago, KC won nine games and claimed a wild-card berth. But this team got old in a hurry, and last year became a wreck as a sports betting proposition, going 4-12, and losing their last nine games in a row.

The Chiefs were without a quarterback of any large measure of ability or experience, and their most reliable offensive weapon of recent seasons, RB Larry Johnson, was severely hampered by injury. Kansas City actually sat at 4-3 through October last year, but suffered several tough losses after that.

With Damon Huard and second-year man Brodie Croyle handling the QB duties, and Johnson limited to less than 200 offensive touches, KC ranked 31st in total offense last year at 277 YPG and dead last in the league in rushing at a meager 78 YPG. And while the defense ranked 13th overall at 319 YPG, the Chiefs ranked 28th vs. the run at 131 YPG. Tallied up, Kansas City ranked 24th in the league last year in total yardage at -42 YPG, and a -11 turnover ratio – fifth-worst in the league – didn't help either.

The Chiefs went 7-8-1 vs. the NFL betting lines last year and while going 6-2 ATS on the road, could only go 1-6-1 vs. the numbers at Arrowhead Stadium. Also, the totals went 8-8 in KC games last year, despite their averaging just 35 total points.

Over the offseason the Chiefs decided to go young, dumping a bunch of aging veterans and bringing in a handful of free agents, as well as making 12 picks on draft day. Their top three picks, DT Glenn Dorsey, OL Branden Albert and CB Brandon Flowers, will probably step right in and start.

Croyle, 0-6 as an NFL starter, will enter this season as the starter at QB, but Huard should stay ready because he could be sent in at any moment. There are questions as to whether Johnson can still carry the load out of the backfield, and their best receiving threat, TE Tony Gonzalez, is now in his 12th year in the league. While Gonzalez is still near the top among all players at his position, his mileage is adding up.

The Chiefs traded last year's league sack leader, DE Jared Allen, during the offseason but plugging the holes against the run is a more immediate concern. The fortunes of this team have changed dramatically in a very short time. Kansas City is now a team in transition, and is likely to struggle again this season.