Kansas City Chiefs – 2009 Preview

2008 Record: 2-14

Head Coach: Todd Haley

Last year the Kansas City Chiefs were the youngest team in the league, and it showed.  They ended the 2008 football season with only 2 wins; the worst in franchise history.  In reality, their 2-14 season looked worse than it actually was.  Seven of their games were lost by 7 points or less.   Although the 2008 Kansas City Chiefs showed some promise, the season had a lot to do with the end of Herman Edward’s career.

The Chiefs will start out the 2009 season with a new head coach (former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator, Todd Haley) and a new Quarterback (Matt Cassel).   Although they will be in rebuilding mode, it should be expected that the Chiefs will do at least a little bit better in 2009.  Matt Cassel helped lead the New England Patriots to an 11-5 season last year after Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury.  This year, in Kansas City, he’ll definitely have a few good receivers (Bobby Engram, Dwayne Bowe, and Mark Bradley) to turn to in 3rd and long situations.  The running back situation is looking better and free agent additions Mike Goff and Eric Ghiaciuc should help bring some stability to the offensive line.  On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs will be switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defensive strategy.

Kansas City starts off their preseason with Houston on Saturday, Aug 15, at Arrowhead Stadium.  They will go on to play Minnesota at the Metrodome, Seattle at home, and St. Louis at Edward Jones Dome before their regular season begins. 

Regular Season Schedule:

1 - Sun, Sep 13 at Baltimore - 1:00 PM
2 - Sun, Sep 20 Oakland - 1:00 PM
3 - Sun, Sep 27 at Philadelphia – 1:00 PM
4 - Sun, Oct 4 NY Giants – 1:00 PM
5 - Sun, Oct 11 Dallas - 1:00 PM
6 - Sun, Oct 18 at Washington – 1:00 PM
7 - Sun, Oct 25 San Diego – 1:00 PM
8 - BYE
9 –  Sun, Nov 8 at Jacksonville -1:00 PM
10 - Sun, Nov 15 at Oakland – 4:05 PM
11 - Sun, Nov 22 Pittsburgh - 1:00 PM
12 - Sun, Nov 29 at San Diego- 4:05 PM
13 - Sun, Dec 6 Denver – 1:00 PM
14 - Sun, Dec 13 Buffalo - 1:00 PM
15 - Sun, Dec 20 Cleveland - 1:00 PM
16 - Sun, Dec 27 at Cincinnati - 1:00 PM
17 - Sun, Jan 3 at Denver – 4:15 PM

Prediction:  With necessary changes being made, expect great improvement in 2009.
Record: 6-10, with a few of the losses being close ones.