Power Rankings: Post-Draft Offenses (26-32)

Nov 24, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers won 41-38. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs
Last Season’s Rankings: #21 Overall Offense (337.3 total yards per game) #24 Passing Offense (208.8 passing yards per game) #10 Rushing Offense (128.5 rushing yards per game)

One of the main reasons the Chiefs were ranked so highly last season was because of one man and his name is Jamaal Charles. Ever since Charles burst onto the scene with the Chiefs in 2008, he has been dynamic to say the absolute least. In 80 career games in the NFL, Charles has averaged 97.475 combined yards per game. Four times Charles has rushed for over 1,000 yards and five touchdowns and his career yards per carry average is an outrageous 5.6 yards per carry. In short, Charles has been one of the game’s best. With that said, I think 2014 is the year in which Charles truly does explode. He no longer has to worry about money issues with his huge contract extension. The 2014 Kansas City Chiefs are basically Jamaal Charles team. Sure Alex Smith can ball (3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns passing with 431 rushing yards and a 5.7 yards per carry average), however the offense literally and figuratively runs through Jamaal Charles. If Charles is running well, then the Chiefs are playing well. The key for the Chiefs really is keeping Charles healthy and protected. That means that the Chiefs need to beef up their offensive line and help to create running holes for Charles to run through. After all he is only just one man. Football is a team sport and the offensive side of the ball most reflects that togetherness.

Last season the Chiefs passing offense was definitely efficient, however they could have had a lot more of a passing presence with Alex Smith and Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs ranked 24th in the league in passing last season with only 208.8 passing yards per game with their RB Jamaal Charles leading the team with 693 receiving yards last season.  As for receivers, ever since Bowe’s amazing 1,162-yard, 15-touchdown performance in 2010 for the Chiefs, Bowe’s receiving yards have gone down ever so steadily (57 receptions for 673 yards and five touchdowns). I think that 2014 sees more of a reliance on the passing game for Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs with Dwayne Bowe as the centerpiece. With Dexter McCluster gone to Tennessee, the Chiefs really don’t have any other receiving options other than Donnie Avery (40 receptions for 596 yards). The Chiefs can’t keep on counting on Jamaal Charles to bail them out. Other than Bowe and Avery, the Chiefs do have TE Anthony Fasano who caught for 200 yards and three touchdowns. I think that without McCluster as the RB/WR option, the Chiefs lose some value. Not to mention, they lost key offensive linemen in the off-season which should hinder the passing game a little bit. I think that there is a bright spot in their receiving in Dwayne Bowe. I think if Alex Smith develops more of a connection with Bowe, the Chiefs could be seeing big numbers in 2014.