Last season the Chiefs finished 2-14-0 last in the AFC West Division, missing the playoffs.

Offense: Kansas City was awful on both sides of the ball with the lone bright spot being the running game. Larry Johnson struggled last year with only 874 yards, and in his six years with the Chiefs Johnson has played in all 16 games only twice. Those two years he had over 1,750 yards and over 17 touchdowns both years. The other four seasons he failed to crack the 900 yard mark or had more than 10 touchdowns. The Chiefs offense runs through him, but he may have some help this year in newly acquired quarterback Matt Cassel coming over from New England. After coming in for the injured Tom Brady in Week 1 Cassel threw for over 3,600 yards last season with 21 touchdowns while starting his first game since high school in Week 2. The Chiefs offense should be better this season but it will take a huge improvement for this team to reach an 8-8 season.

Defense: The Chiefs defense struggled last year and this year was about improving one of the weaker defenses in the league ranking 31st in total yards allowed and 29th in points allowed. The Chiefs also were last in sacks last season with only 10 but newly drafted Defensive End Tyson Jackson should help improve that number. Jackson had 18.5 sacks in his four years at LSU and added 33 quarterback hurries so he is a player that can get after the quarterback. The Chiefs also tried to bring in some veteran leadership by signing linebacker Zack Thomas formerly with the Cowboys and Dolphins. The additions should help one of the weakest defenses in the league next season.

Star Power: Linebacker Derrick Johnson has been the face of the defense since being drafted in 2005 at 15th overall. In his four years with the team, Johnson has averaged 88 tackles and three sacks per season, but has never had a 100 tackle season, yet. Expect Johnson to have a big season with an improved linebacker corps in Kansas City with Johnson, Mike Vrabal formerly of the Patriots, Zack Thomas of the Cowboys and Dolphins and Tamba Hali coming into his fourth year in Kansas City. Johnson should have over 100 tackles and at least five sacks this season.

Biggest Addition: Last year the Chiefs thought they had a franchise quarterback in Damon Huard, who played well when given the opportunity in his first two seasons in Kansas City. But Huard was ineffective in the five games he played last year, starting a quarterback carousel that included Huard, Brodie Croyle, and Tyler Thigpen. The Chiefs may have finally solved their quarterback dilemma with the addition of Matt Cassel from New England. Cassel had a big season starting in his first football game since high school, throwing for over 3,600 yards and leading the Patriots to 11 wins last season. But Tom Brady is healthy this year so Cassel was moved to the Chiefs, who hope he can continue on his success from last season.

Biggest Loss: Having a struggling offense is not something that any team wants, but then trading the most effective piece of that offense would seem absolutely crazy but that is what the Chiefs did this offseason. Sending tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons was a huge loss, but it was a trade that may have needed to happen. Gonzalez would never openly criticize the organization that drafted him back in 1997, but he did not want to be a part of another rebuilding season and wanted a chance to go to a contender and the Chiefs granted his wish. During his time in Kansas City Gonzalez averaged 911 yards a season in addition to over 6 touchdowns a year and is coming off his first back-to-back 1,000 yard receiving seasons of his career. New quarterback Matt Cassel could have used the reliable tight end to throw to if needed but the team will now have to try and move on without him.

Biggest Game: Sunday, September 13th in a Week 1 matchup the Chiefs travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Baltimore will give a stiff test to the new and improved Chiefs team to find out how well new coach Todd Haley has done with this rebuilding project. Both the offense and defense of the Chiefs will be tested by superior units of the Ravens and Chiefs fans should expect a loss in this game. But how close the game actually is will serve as a good measuring stick towards the rest of the season in Kansas City.