Kansas City Chiefs (Madden 16)

[Legend.]

Can the Chiefs stay healthy and contend for a playoff bid?

KANSAS CITY, MO - The only team with wins over both the AFC and NFC champions on its resume in 2014? That would be Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs, who, despite a confounding slew of injuries and suspensions, tended to play up - or down - to just about every opponent last fall. Lose to Tennessee at home, then crush New England; top Miami and Buffalo on the road, then lose at Oakland. Which explains the end result: A rollar-coaster, schizophrenic 9-7 campaign.

A healthy Jamaal Charles would get 2015 off on the right foot. As would a happy Justin Houston, who put together perhaps the quietest 22-sack season - a half-sack short of Michael Strahan's NFL record - in modern NFL history, a run for the ages overshadowed by the monster campaign of J.J. Watt. But a slate that features just seven true home games - a Nov. 1 date with Detroit is being played in London - only makes a challenging schedule that much tougher to navigate.

Game: Madden 16
System: PS4
Rosters: Latest Update
Sliders: Custom (JoshC1977's M16 Sliders)

[Legend.]

Kansas City Chiefs 2015 Season Preview

Offense

Charles says he was never more "frustrated" as a pro than last fall, but the Pro Bowl back still accounted for 1,324 yards, averaged 5.0 yards per carry and totaled 14 touchdowns - nine rushing - on one good leg. Not much was done to the position behind backup Knile Davis, who could see more work to limit the wear and tear on Charles.

Quarterback Alex Smith signed a big-money extension before the start of the regular season that set him within his peers but also put him squarely in the sights of some Chiefs fans who see that cash as better splashed elsewhere. Still one of the smarter and most accurate (65.3 percent completion rate in 2014) passers in the game, Smith has, on paper, as many toys to play with as he's ever had in Kansas City. Chase Daniel is gaining cred as one of the NFL's top backups, and he's paid like it ($3.75 million base salary in 2015).

The Chiefs became the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL meger to go an entire season without a touchdown thrown to a wideout. Jeremy Maclin, signed away from Philadelphia to replace aging Dwayne Bowe, is expected to change all that, and quickly. Second-year target Albert Wilson found his groove over the final third of 2014; incoming draftee Chris Conley has crazy tools; and veteran Jason Avant, a former teammate of Maclin's and a longtime Reid protege, knows this offense back to front. Tight end Travis Kelce (862 receiving yards, five touchdowns) was a revelation in his first full active season; if he keeps his temper and ball security in check, Kelce could be the best tight end to put on a Chiefs uniform since Tony Gonzalez was traded out of town in 2009.

A succession of injuries and Eric Fisher's bum shoulder forced general manager John Dorsey to piece together a makeshift offensive line last fall, and it showed, as the total sacks allowed jumped from 41 to 49 while Smith spent many Sundays running for his life. The addition of Ben Grubbs (Saints) and Paul Fanaika (Cardinals) should stabilize the interior blocking, but center Rodney Hudson, now with Oakland, could be sorely missed.

Defense

Things you can count on: death, taxes and four grinding quarters each week from nose tackle Dontari Poe. The Memphis native led all NFL interior defensive linemen in snaps played for a second straight year, rolling up a career-best six sacks in the process. Poe should benefit from the return of veteran end Mike DeVito, one of two defensive starters to suffer a season-ending Achilles tendor tear in Week 1. DeVito's injury allowed the club to get longer looks at Allen Bailey (five sacks) and Jaye Howard (one sack) at end in defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's 3-4 scheme. With DeVito and former reserve Mike Catapano reportedly healed up, the Chiefs have strength, depth and flexibility up front.

Stalwart linebacker Derrick Johnson was the other veteran to tear an Achilles in the home opener, and the unit never quite recovered from the loss of its spirtual leader - especially against the run, where the Chiefs seemed to really wear down after early November. Like DeVito, Johnson said in the spring that he felt at least 80 percent of the way back. Even at that he is a more reliable anchor in the middle than super subs Josh Mauga and James Michael-Johnson, special teams contributors who were forced to carry the rope in No. 56's absence. Mauag was re-signed and is expected to have the inside track and a starting spot, but don't be surprised if rookies Ramik Wilson and D.J. Alexander work their way into specific packages.

Rather than pout over the failure to land a long-term contract, Houston took his grief out on opposing quarterbacks, stringing together a career-best in sacks and affirming his status as one of the most exciting pass rushers in the game. Houston bristled when the Chiefs slapped the franchise tag on him in March, but later signed a six-year, $101 million contract this summer shortly before the deadline for long-term deals on franchise players. Houston's outside linebacker bookend, Tamba Hali, saw his production slip (11 sacks in 2013; six last fall) but endeared himself to Chiefs fans by taking a pay cut rather than trying to force his way onto the open market via a release. First-round pick Dee Ford was a non-factor during the first half of 2014 but could take on more snaps (and responsibility) if the 31-year-old Hali fades.

As stunning as the Johnson/DeVito injuries were, it was nothing compared to the shocking news of late November, when Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, ending an injury-plagued season on a somer note. Berry was recently cleared to resume football activites and is expected to be ready for the regular season opener. With Berry's health still a concern, the Chiefs signed veteran Tyvon Branch from Oakland and re-upped with journeyman Ron Parker, who can slot into any role in Sutton's secondary, but seemed to excel as a safety. Cornerback Sean Smith is coming off his best season (18 pass breakups) in Kansas City but was hit with a three-game suspension to begin the season because of a drunk-driving incident dating back to last summer.

Specialists

De'Anthony Thomas was drafted to change games with his legs, and the speedster didn't disappoint as a rookie, avergaing 11.9 yards per punt return with a touchdown and 30.6 yards per kickoff return. Thomas is a perfect compliment to Davis, who has run a kickoff back for a score twice now in two seasons. After an impressive spring and summer, rookie kicker Cairo Santos beat out veteran Ryan Succop and rebounded from a terrible regular-season debut to hit 25-of-30 field goal attempts and 8-of-12 from 40 yards or longer. Punt Dustin Colquitt (44.6 yards per boot) is the locker room's resident grey beard, having survived five head coaches and three GMs since joining the club in 2005.

Final Analysis

Peyton Manning is fading, but he's 13-1 against the Chiefs; as long as he's at the controls, the Broncos probably aren't going anywhere. A schedule that pairs the Chiefs with the NFC North doesn't do them many favors, nor does getting stuck away from Arrowhead Stadium from Halloween to Thanksgiving. But three of the final four games are winnable and at home, and the locker room believes in Reid. If an answer is found at center and if Kelce stays healthy, the Chiefs should be primed to chase a playoff berth again.

Prediction: 2nd in the AFC West

[Legend.]

Kansas City Chiefs 2015 Schedule

Week 1: @ Houston Texans - September 13th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Houston, Texas; Reliant Stadium (CBS)

Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos - September 17th, 2015; 8:25 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (NFL Network)

Week 3: @ Green Bay Packers - September 28th, 2015; 8:30 PM (ET)
Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wisconsin (ESPN)

Week 4: @ Cincinnati Bengals - October 04th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Paul Brown Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio (CBS)

Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears - October 11th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (FOX)

Week 6: @ Minnesota Vikings - October 18th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
TCF Bank Stadium; Minneapolis, Minnesota (CBS)

Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - October 25th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri

Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions* - November 01st, 2015; 9:30 AM (ET)
Wembley Stadium; London, England (FOX)

Week 9: BYE WEEK

Week 10: @ Denver Broncos - November 15th, 2015; 4:25 PM (ET)
Sports Authority Field at Mile High; Denver, Colorado (CBS)

Week 11: @ San Diego Chargers - November 22nd, 2015; 8:30 PM (ET)
Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, California (NBC)

Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills - November 29th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (CBS)

Week 13: @ Oakland Raiders - December 06th, 2015; 4:05 PM (ET)
O.co Coliseum; Oakland, California (CBS)

Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers - December 13th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (CBS)

Week 15: @ Baltimore Ravens - December 20th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Maryland (CBS)

Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns - December 27th, 2015; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (CBS)

Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders - January 03rd, 2016; 1:00 PM (ET)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (CBS)