KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs were ninth in the NFL in scoring last season, but only with a strong helping hand from their defense. The Chiefs scored six defensive touchdowns and otherwise aided the offense by forcing 29 turnovers.
Logic dictates the Chiefs offense will have to do without as much help this year. Kansas City lost one key defensive component, cornerback Sean Smith, to free agency. Another, linebacker Justin Houston, won’t play at least the first half of the season after having knee surgery.
Throw in some uncertainty about safety Eric Berry and linebacker Tamba Hali -- each only recently returned to practice -- and it's reasonable to conclude more of the burden this season will fall on the offense.