The Chiefs lost 11 games last season. That sucks. But how and why did they lose? Out of their 6 wins, only 1 was a one score game(Week 12, the Colts went to OT). Of their 11 losses, 9 were one score games(Including 2 AFTER Mahomes went down with the injury, and they were division games — Wk 17 Broncos and Wk 18 Raiders). Now, in the seasons prior, the Chiefs tended to win one score games. Why? They tended to avoid sloppy penalties. Their special teams were generally clean. They were good at getting the other team off the field, and they were super effective at converting 3rd downs.
So, last season, they had sloppy play, big returns erased by penalties, no Rice for their first 6 games, and no Worthy for their first 4. Additionally, their D-Line starters were Karlaftis, Jones, Nnadi, and Danna, and they felt so unsure about their D-line that they signed Pennel after the season started. If they’d had a better run game, or fewer O-line injuries, or fewer penalties last year, they may have won most of those one score games. If they’d won even half, they may have been a playoff team last year(those one score games included all 4 of their division losses last year, as well as playoff teams like the Jags and Texans)
I’m not gonna pretend like the Chiefs have had an immaculate offseason, or that they’re definitely gonna win the Superbowl this year. But they’ve made sensible moves to address their losses on the Defensive side of the ball, they’ve taken steps to try and improve their pass rush(the weakest part of their defense), they’ve made coaching changes to try and address the sloppy play, and they made a sizable investment in their run game(nearly tripling what they’ve spent on the RB room compared to prior seasons). I can’t help but be at least a little optimistic for this season — None of their weapons, so far, will be missing the start of the season. Their O-line is healthy. Their defense has the potential to be better than last year. Yes, the AFC is tough, and the AFC West is only getting better, but I don’t see much cause for Doomsaying at the moment.