[stevenash]

KANSAS CITY
2012 record: 2-14
The argument: The Chiefs have the players. Heck, they had six guys named to the Pro Bowl from a team that had just two victories. Only four others sent more all-stars to Hawaii, and this just in: All made it to the playoffs. What the Chiefs didn't have was a good quarterback or good hands. Their quarterbacks produced a dreadful 63.8 passer rating, and their 37 turnovers tied for last in the NFL. So the Chiefs went out and found Alex Smith, who ... surprise, surprise ... excels at minimizing mistakes, with just 10 turnovers in his last 25 starts and had a 19-5-1 record the past two years. Now it's time to start taking them seriously. I know, it's Alex Smith, and critics believe he was little more than a caretaker of a 49ers team driven by defense and Frank Gore ... except he wasn't. Look at the 2011 regular-season defeat of the New York Giants, when Gore didn't play in the second half. Smith won that game. Now look at the playoff defeat of New Orleans, when the 49ers were forced to scramble from behind. Smith won that one, too. Now, he's with a coach with a history of developing young quarterbacks and with a team that just shored up a secondary so thoroughly that cornerback Brandon Flowers believes it could be the best in the league.
Added bonus: The Chiefs play in a division in which only Denver had a winning record, so there's room for upward mobility. Plus, they have the seventh-easiest schedule, with opponents a combined .473 last season, including five last-place finishers.
Potential speed bump: Coach Andy Reid knows how turnovers can sabotage a club. His Philadelphia Eagles committed 75 over their last 32 starts, one reason that Reid has a new job. If the Chiefs can't clean up an act that produced 63 giveaways in 2011-12, it's déjà vu all over again for Reid. Remember: It wasn't the Chiefs' defense that was primarily responsible for last year's carnage; it was an offense that couldn't get out of its own way -- with Kansas City tying the 1981 Baltimore Colts by losing nine games by 14 or more points.

[billysink]

CBS sports< the shopping channel<the shopping="" channel<="" html=""></the>

[stevenash]

CBS sports< the shopping channel

Their website ain't half bad, and their fantasy games are good

[billysink]

Their website ain't half bad, and their fantasy games are good

Not much of a fantasy guy but the site is useful at times.

[jjgold]

Smith is a 500 type QB

KC 8-8

[Louisvillekid1]

I've been screaming this, all Andy Reid does is win.

Team is playoff bound...

[stevenash]

^
If any of my dopey prop plays hit tonight, I might pralay that into some KC futures myself

[EASports]

Alex Smith adds nothing to that team. He played on a loaded team, and had a coach who extracted every ounce of talent that Smith had to offer. The best thing that happened to Smith was getting that concussion, and being benched. He was having a solid year so far, and was able convert that into a big offseason contract. If Smith plays out the remainder of last year, the 49ers don't make it to the Super Bowl.

[Bluehorseshoe]

I want to know what is KC's fascination with getting 49er quarterbacks.

There's been five in their history. Can you name them????

[EASports]

I want to know what is KC's fascination with getting 49er quarterbacks.

There's been five in their history. Can you name them????

Montana, Grbac, Smith, ?, and ?

[Bluehorseshoe]

Montana, Grbac, Smith, ?, and ?

Sorry. Four of them.

[bobby heenan]

steve bono

[Bluehorseshoe]

steve bono

Bingo!!!

[stevenash]

steve bono

Cher divorced him

[Bluehorseshoe]

Cher divorced him

Right before he joined U2.

[bobby heenan]

Right before he joined U2.

before or after she became chaz?

[Bluehorseshoe]

before or after she became chaz?

[Otters27]

I think the Chiefs could make the playoffs with that running game. Don't see them going better than 9-7. Might be a good team to bet on early as short home favorites

[seaborneq]

Did anyone pick up cassell?

[bobby heenan]

when you look at that roster.....i mean....the offensive line could be good to very good.....then theres charles.....you have bowe, baldwin, and mcluster(not as good....but could be something like thomas, decker, welker, if used right)....defensivley there are some players that could shine....you have alot of talent in tyson jackson(allegedly already a bust....but remember a guy like that doesnt have to post big numbers to be effective...think richard seymour)....poe, hali, derrick johnson....eric berry...brandon flowers....for a 2-14 team there is some talent there...so darkhorse fits the bill for me....andy reid is a good coach....his play calling is suspect at times though

[artyfudgepacker]

fukk kc and denver raider nation baby !!!!!!!! thats the fan in me

[bobby heenan]

even forgot justin houston

[BigDeem5]

Agree totally.

10-6 easily achievable

[MoneyLineDawg]

They should be pretty solid.....I could see them fighting for the last wildcard spot, but I don't expect em to get in

Solid team and coach, Alex Smith decent but not as good as some people like to think.....Injuries and their horrible QB play sunk them last season

[petey5]

I don't think I like the Alex Smith/Andy Reid combo, although 7 wins should be possible.

[daneblazer]

The AFC sucks. Outside of Denver, Houston, NE, Baltimore someone else has to make the playoffs. Why not the Chiefs?

[daneblazer]

I wonder if Andy Reid will stick around once he realizes he signed with the Chiefs and not the Chefs?

[brooks85]

This Just In: this year's bandwagon bet


just kidding, but seriously chiefs have been hyped for many weeks now.

[Foxx]

Very favorable schedule too with 5 of their 7 toughest matches being home games. The only game on their schedule that may be out of reach is the at Denver in week 11, but KC will be coming off the bye. Prior to last season, Reid was 13-0 in his career after the bye so that game may even be winnable.

[ChalkyDog]

One team has gone from worst to first in their division each of I think the last 10 years.

KC seems the most likely of the bunch. Philly the other.

I don't see why not. If they simply just gave the rock to charles every play last year, they'd probably have been .500

[LT Profits]

Sorry. Four of them.

Five. Steve DeBerg

[Mr Handicapable]

I read one NFL magazine that had KC at 10-6. Thats getting a little carried away imo but nobody thought Indy would go from 2 to 11 wins last year. They could go 4-0 vs Oakland and SD so who knows? I think SD will be terrible this year so it could happen. I just don't know if Reid has the personnel to run his system yet. KCs receivers suck and even Dwayne Bowe seemed to get 80 yds and a TD in the 4q last year when the game was already over. He was never much of a factor when they needed him. I'd say 7-9 to 9-7 with 7-9 more likely.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Five. Steve DeBerg

Had it right the first time.

He was replaced by three Hall of Fame quarterbacks in his career.

[TwoWays]

KC always has strong defense. A decent qb and great offensive mind like Reid should really boost their winning percentage.

[pavyracer]

They will have more wins than the Raiders but can't compete with Broncos and Chargers.