Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs headlines for Tuesday, June 17
Ranking NFL teams’ odds of going worst to first in 2025 season | USA Today
What’s working for them: If the Raiders’ core aim is to establish baseline competitiveness, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith seem to be fitting leaders for that mission. With Chip Kelly designing the offense, the coach and quarterback could rekindle the spark that allowed them to defy expectations in Seattle. Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashon Jeanty’s arrival should immediately change the complexion of a historically putrid ground game, while the receiving corps added pieces to lighten the load on Brock Bowers and move on from the disappointing Davante Adams era. And the Silver and Black might be the only ones in their home city who can count on better luck in short order after their -16 turnover differential finished tied for the second-worst mark in the NFL.
What’s working against them: Chiefly (no pun intended), it’s the division. If Kansas City’s nine-year claim to the AFC West is to come to an end in 2025, the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos – both returning playoff outfits – would be the natural candidates to assume the top spot. Las Vegas was one of only two teams to go winless in its division last season, and an overall talent deficiency will be hard to compensate for. That particularly seems like the case on defense, where a unit that doesn’t offer much beyond Maxx Crosby will be relying on several veteran stopgap solutions to make up for several free agency losses, which Carroll admitted the group couldn’t afford.
Every NFL Offense’s Best- and Worst-Case Scenario in 2025 | Bleacher Report
Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest Need: Left Guard
Best-Case Scenario: Improved Protection and Receiver Health Brings Back Explosiveness
The Chiefs have learned the hard way how important pass protection is during Patrick Mahomes’ tenure. Both Super Bowl losses to the Buccaneers and Eagles could be chalked up to not protecting their franchise quarterback.
Hopefully, they’ve resolved the issues on the left side by signing Jaylon Moore, drafting Josh Simmons and moving Kingsley Suamataia inside to left guard.
Losing Joe Thuney at left guard is going to hurt, but improving the tackle spot while finding a suitable replacement on the inside could be enough. If Mahomes has time, he’s going to make up for a lot of the Chiefs’ shortcomings on offense.
Worst-Case Scenario: No Explosive Element Leaves Little Margin for Error
Just having Andy Reid and Mahomes is going to be good enough for the Chiefs to at least be above average.
However, the lack of an explosive element left the offense leaning completely on efficiency last season. The Chiefs were seventh in success rate, but 27th in passing plays over 20 yards.
Getting Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown back from injury should...
