The Kansas City Chiefs have gone 43-21 in Andy Reid‘s four years as head coach. Reid aims to improve upon that success in the Chiefs 2017 season. They won the AFC West last year with a record of 12-4 and went 6-0 within the division.
There is already chatter about rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes taking over for incumbent Alex Smith, but the Chiefs are adamant that Mahomes is sitting this year. Mahomes is definitely the quarterback of the future for Reid and company but this year the Chiefs will rely on an elite defense and Smith to lead them to another playoff berth. We’ll see if the Chiefs brass sticks with Smith.
Smith’s top two targets from 2016 return this year in second-year receiver Tyreek Hill and Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce. Those two will be relied on to make big plays for the offense. Whether or not Hill can handle the primary receiving role is one question that will be answered this year.
The offense suffered a setback when starting running back, Spencer Ware, was lost for the year during the preseason. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt will take the reigns with a couple of veterans backing him up in Charcandrick West and C.J. Spiller.
The defense remains the strength of this team and will be even stronger in 2017 with linebackers Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson returning at full health. The defensive line will be a force to reckon with while Eric Berry and Marcus Peters lead the secondary.
Here is the week by week breakdown of the Chiefs 2017 season.
Week 1 (09/07) @ New England Patriots
In the season opener, the Chiefs travel to Gillette Stadium to face the defending Super Bowl champions. Who will blink first? Tom Brady and company or the Chiefs defense? The pass rush of the Chiefs are almost too much for the Patriots offensive line to handle but Brady will pick on the lone weakness, the corner opposite of Peters.
Result: Loss 23-24
Week 2 (09/17) vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have Carson Wentz, who is a great young quarterback, but they do not have the weapons around him yet to be where they want to be. Former Eagle, Bennie Logan, helps stuff the Eagles run game and makes them one-dimensional. The Philly defense has some play makers, but they still succumb to the Chiefs. Reid goes 2-0 against his former team.
Result: Win 28-17
Week 3 (09/24) @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Chiefs play in LA for the first time since 1994 when they travel to meet division rival Chargers. Philip Rivers has an improved offensive line but not enough to halt Houston and his running mates. The run game tasted success last year against the Chiefs but the Kansas City front seven is improved while the Chiefs offense puts up enough points to secure the victory.
Result: Win 17-7
Week 4 (10/02) vs Washington Redskins
Kirk Cousins is playing for a contract and has some nice receiving options. Terrelle Pryor and a healthy Jordan Reed are the difference makers in this one. In classic Chiefs fashion, they lose a game they shouldn’t at home.
Result: Loss 31-21
Week 5 (10/8) @ Houston Texans
Houston’s defense gets J.J. Watt back and Jadeveon Clowney is living up to the hype. Hunt and the running game cannot get going and the air attack is grounded as well. The defense overwhelms the Chiefs while an underrated Tom Savage leads the Texans in a tight defensive game.
Result: Loss 7-6
Week 6 (10/15) vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh is slated to have a big season with their explosive offense in tact. The Chiefs host the Steelers at the worst time after dropping the previous two games. Big Ben, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell prove to be too much while the Smith and the inconsistent offense cannot keep up. Kansas City loses their third straight, dropping them to 2-4. Fans will no doubt be chanting “Mahomes”.
Result: Loss 27-13
Week 7 (10/19) @ Oakland Raiders
The Chiefs enter Raider week on the ropes and need to find a solution. They finally turn to rookie Patrick Mahomes and he gives the offense the shot in the arm it needs. Derek Carr‘s struggles against the Chiefs defense continue while the rookie tandem of Mahomes and Hunt lead the charge against a poor Raiders’ run defense.
Result: Win 34-16
Week 8 (10/30) vs Denver Broncos
Mahomes faces a true test in his second career start when the Broncos come to Arrowhead Stadium for a Monday night showdown. The Chiefs defense keeps Denver in check to allow a struggling offense to score just enough points to seal the win.
Result: Win 14-10
Week 9 (11/05) @ Dallas Cowboys
The Chiefs travel to Jerry’s World for a rare showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. A fresh legged Ezekiel Elliott takes advantage of a worn out Chiefs defense and puts his team on his shoulders. The Chiefs offense answers every time though, and in the end, win a huge road game and get above .500 heading into their bye week.
Result: Win 37-34
Week 10 (Bye)
Week 11 (11/19) @ New York Giants
Andy Reid’s success after bye weeks continues on and the Chiefs shock a very talented Giants team in their own backyard. The lack of a true running game proves to be their Achilles heel while Eli Manning makes one too many miscues under a heavy pass rush.
Result: Win 17-13
Week 12 (11/26) vs Buffalo Bills
This late in the season the Buffalo Bills will be teetering on the brink of complete surrender. Kansas City delivers the knockout blow by containing LeSean McCoy and causing whatever quarterback is under center to wish he hadn’t made the trip.
Result: Win 20-3
Week 13 (12/03) @ New York Jets
Kansas City visits the Big Apple for the second time in three weeks when they meet the Jets of New York. This trip proves to be less competitive though and the Chiefs roll the lowly Jets. The offense of the Jets is going to be put together with duct tape and bailing wire and are absolutely no match for Eric Berry and the stifling defense. Mahomes’ chemistry with Kelce and Hill is solid at this point and easily put the Jets away.
Result: Win 28-0
Week 14 (12/10) vs Oakland Raiders
The Chiefs winning streak is in jeopardy when the Raiders come to town. Oakland dropped the first match up to the Chiefs at home but come to Arrowhead motivated with important division implications on the line. A chippy contest gets very intense in perfect Chiefs vs Raiders fashion. The Chiefs streak ends at six and Carr gets his first victory inside Arrowhead.
Result: Loss 20-23
Week 15 (12/16) vs Los Angeles Chargers
The Chiefs face the Chargers in their second straight divisional game. After losing at home to the Raiders the previous week, the Chiefs come out flat and Mahomes struggles against Joey Bosa and the Charger pass rush. Dee Ford is the unexpected “X Factor” in this one and helps keep his team in it. The Bob Sutton led defense makes enough plays yet again to earn the win.
Result: Win 10-7
Week 16 (12/24) vs Miami Dolphins
The Jay Cutler led Dolphins leave the comfortable Miami weather for a Christmas Eve game at bitter cold Arrowhead Stadium. Miami is fighting for a playoff spot late in the season but cannot overcome a talented Chiefs team in their own element. Derrick Johnson and Reggie Ragland stuff Jay Ajayi on their way to dashing the playoff hopes of the Dolphins.
Result: Win 23-16
Week 17 (12/31) @ Denver Broncos
What better way to spend New Year’s Eve than watching a classic rivalry game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos? The Chiefs have locked in a playoff spot at this point but the division championship still hangs in the balance, so the Chiefs will be highly motivated. Chiefs walk out of Mile High with their second win over the Broncos in a close victory.
Result: Win 20-14
The Chiefs wrap up the 2017 season at 11-5 and 5-1 against AFC West opponents. They earn a playoff berth in this simulation. The kickoff to the NFL season commences this Thursday, September 7th when the Patriots begin their title defense against the visiting Chiefs.