2 Kansas City Chiefs
The plan is for TYREEK HILL to be an every-down player in 2017. This could fundamentally change the makeup of the Chiefs' offense. The 5'10", 185-pound Hill can be deployed anywhere as a wide receiver—including on the line by himself on the weak side, a la Dez Bryant or A.J. Green. He's also dangerous in the backfield and even more so on gadget plays, which are a big part of coach ANDY REID'S brilliantly schemed, misdirection-based offense.
• Kansas City's passing game is unique because it doesn't depend on wide receivers winning one-on-one battles outside. (That's why they released the expensive Jeremy Maclin this offseason.) The scheme relies on route combinations creating opportunities for tight ends and running backs. This means the throws are more about timing than velocity, making caretaker quarterback ALEX SMITH—call him a "point guard QB" if you feel that's more respectful—a fine fit.
• The NFL's two best three-tight end packages belong to the Redskins and the Chiefs. What do they have in common? An athletic, refined route runner who can line up anywhere (Washington's Jordan Reed and KC's TRAVIS KELCE), and a No. 2 tight end who can also line up anywhere (Vernon Davis and DEMETRIUS HARRIS). (The third TE tends to stay near the line.) Remove Kelce and the Chiefs' attack is significantly less potent.
• No defense that has ever allowed fewer than 20 points a game has given up more yards than the 2016 Chiefs. This speaks to their D's dependency on big plays. Kansas City's 18 interceptions were tied with the Ravens and the Chargers for the league lead. What's incredible is that the Chiefs did this in a matchup-based scheme. When they aren't playing man coverage, they play an assertive matchup zone that often ends up resembling man coverage in its execution. Man-to-man defenders typically don't get many picks because their eyes are on their receiver, not the quarterback or the ball.
• Second-year defensive end CHRIS JONES has a chance to be special. His initial quickness and raw strength are tremendous.
"HILL, AS AN EVERY-DOWN PLAYER, COULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF THEIR OFFENSE."
SI'S 2017 PREDICTION
10-6
2016 RECORD
12--4
SEPT. 7
THURSDAY
AT NE
SEPT. 17
VS. PHI
SEPT. 24
AT LAC
OCT. 2
MONDAY
VS. WAS
OCT. 8
AT HOU
OCT. 15
VS. PIT
OCT. 19
THURSDAY
AT OAK
OCT. 30
MONDAY
VS. DEN
NOV. 5
AT DAL
BYE
NOV. 19
AT NYG
NOV. 26
VS. BUF
DEC. 3
AT NYJ
DEC. 10
VS. OAK
DEC. 16
SATURDAY
VS. LAC
DEC. 24
VS. MIA
DEC. 31
AT DEN
Position Rankings
QB
23
SKILL
8
OL
9
FRONT 7
4
Strength
DBs
6
ANDY BENOIT'S 400 MMQB ON.SI.COM/400
21 TRAVIS KELCE TE
27 ERIC BERRY SS
39 JUSTIN HOUSTON OLB
53 MARCUS PETERS CB
83 MITCHELL SCHWARTZ T
156 CHRIS JONES DE
157 TYREEK HILL WR
160 DEE FORD OLB
198 BENNIE LOGAN DT
211 SPENCER WARE RB [OUT OF SEASON]
229 LAURENT DUVERNAY-TARDIF G
276 DERRICK JOHNSON LB
281 TAMBA HALI OLB
286 RON PARKER FS
307 TERRANCE MITCHELL CB
308 MITCH MORSE C
372 ALEX SMITH QB
375 RAKEEM NUNEZ-ROCHES DE
393 ALLEN BAILEY DE
OUT OF SEASON