American Football: Domination

Looking back at the Kansas City Chiefs' 2016 season, was it a failure?

Absolutely not.

A 12-4 record, the second seed in the AFC, trailing only the New England Patriots in the regular season standings. They entered the playoffs as division champions.

However, despite high expectations, their playoff journey ended abruptly with an upset loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round—a devastating disappointment, to say the least.

It's no wonder Kansas City's loyal fanbase felt crushed. With everything seemingly in place for success, the Chiefs once again found themselves ensnared by the playoff curse, stopped short of advancing. Frustration gave way to a sense of helplessness, as fans questioned what more the team needed to finally break through.

In hindsight, the warning signs were there.

Strangely enough, over the past two seasons, the Chiefs relied heavily on their defense to win games. Andy Reid? Winning through defense?

Football, like soccer, has its golden rule: Offense wins games; defense wins championships. But unlike soccer, where a stalwart defense can lead to penalty shootouts, football requires the offense to ultimately close out games.

Reid understood this all too well, which is why this year's draft focused on reshaping the team's offensive core, laying the groundwork for the future.

Last season, the Chiefs' defense ranked seventh in the league.

A closer look, however, reveals the cracks: pass defense ranked 18th, and run defense ranked 26th—both in the league's bottom half. So, what propelled the Chiefs' defense into the top ten overall?

Red zone defense.

When opponents reached the brink of the end zone, the Chiefs' defense stiffened dramatically, limiting scoring opportunities and keeping their points-allowed per game the seventh-lowest in the league. Their ground defense, especially, excelled in the red zone, allowing the third-fewest rushing touchdowns.

In other words, the Chiefs' defense shone brightest in clutch moments, safeguarding the end zone and enabling the team's 12-4 record.

In stark contrast was their offense.

Last season, the Chiefs' offense ranked just 13th among 32 teams.

Though not terrible—middling, at best—it was uncharacteristic for a coach known for his offensive prowess and quarterback development.

Breaking it down: their passing offense ranked 11th, while their rushing offense lagged at 19th.

One telling statistic stands out: the Chiefs reached the red zone 55 times during the season, ranking 10th in the league. Yet their red-zone scoring efficiency was only 45.5%, ranking 30th—third-worst in the NFL.

Moreover, the Chiefs managed just four long-distance touchdowns from beyond the red zone all season.

When you piece it all together, the narrative becomes clear:

The Chiefs had the ability to move the ball effectively, with a balanced pass-run attack that remained in the league's upper echelon. Reid's offensive genius was still evident.However, quarterback Alex Smith and the team's receiving and rushing corps lacked explosiveness. Smith's deep passing and the skill players' ability to generate big plays were subpar.Once in the red zone, the offense lacked the firepower to capitalize, struggling to break through defenses.

In short, the Chiefs could march down the field but struggled to score, and lacked the explosive plays to break open tight games.

This glaring weakness was magnified in the playoffs. Facing the Steelers—a traditional defensive powerhouse—the Chiefs' defense wasn't dominant enough, and their offense couldn't crack the Steelers' wall. The lack of clutch, game-breaking moments ultimately decided the outcome.

The final score?

16-18.

A razor-thin loss to Pittsburgh ended the Chiefs' season.

Here's another critical stat that underscores the precarious nature of their 2016 campaign:

Out of 16 regular-season games, 10 were decided by a margin of one touchdown or less. Including the playoff game, that number rises to 11.

The Chiefs spent the entire season walking a tightrope. Whether winning or losing, their games teetered on the edge. Beneath the sparkling 12-4 record lay a fragile foundation.

One misstep, and the team could have plummeted, missing not just a playoff win but potentially the postseason altogether.

Case in point: their division title was narrowly secured over the Oakland Raiders, who also finished 12-4. The Chiefs edged them out only due to a superior division record.

Heading into the new season, the competition remains fierce, and the margin for error just as slim.

This is why the Chiefs' offseason needed to address these issues head-on.

But it wouldn't be easy.

In basketball, there are five players; in volleyball, six; in soccer, 11. The larger the team, the harder it is to revamp and improve. In football, the roster is enormous: 22 starters split between offense and defense, plus the oft-overlooked but critical special teams unit.

It's like the Cleveland Browns—problems everywhere, but where do you even start?

Fortunately, Reid and the Chiefs' staff knew where to look.

As an offensive specialist, Reid naturally focused on the offense. And while the defense had its weaknesses, it was stable enough for now. The offense, however, required a significant overhaul.

Reid chose to prioritize the ground game.

Partially by necessity—Jamaal Charles' injury disrupted the team's plans—and partially by foresight. In truth, the Chiefs' rushing attack had been declining since 2015. Now was the time for a reset, a chance to rebuild from the ground up.

But was this the right move?

Reid could have drafted Kareem Hunt in the third round, supplemented him with two cost-effective role-player running backs, and redirected resources toward wide receivers or the offensive line—positions that offer more immediate impact and better long-term value.

Instead, Reid and GM Brett Veach made an unconventional move: they selected Lance.

Already a polarizing pick, the decision to draft Lance—a unique talent—ignited further debate. Veach's aggressive trades during the draft only added fuel to the fire, giving critics ample ammunition to question the Chiefs' strategy.

Now, everyone was watching.

The football world awaited Lance's debut with bated breath. A trailblazer in uncharted territory, he drew comparisons to Sun Wukong's first venture into the heavens—stirring chaos while captivating an audience.

Though the regular season remained a ways off, the wait was finally over.

Preseason was here.

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Powerstones?

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