Chiefs offense built for extended run in postseason.

[ReynardMuldrake]

If you're looking for a darkhorse to emerge out of the AFC, you might want to cast your eyes on the Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC West champions are one of the hottest teams in the league, and their offense is built for the rugged play of the postseason.

When thinking about the formula for winning games in January, it is imperative that an offense features an elite quarterback, a dynamic playmaker at receiver and a strong running game. The Chiefs surprisingly feature each of these critical elements in their arsenal, and the collective production will make them a difficult opponent in the postseason.

In looking at Kansas City's run to the division crown, it has been the dramatically improved performance of Matt Cassel that has fueled their success. He has played at an MVP-like level this season by completing 60.2 percent of his passes with 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Those numbers represent a significant improvement in his play from his first season as the Chiefs' starting quarterback where he only completed 55 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while compiling a dismal 69.9 passer rating.

While his impressive stat sheet clearly validates his stellar play, it the outstanding performance that he has put on tape that suggests Cassel has the skills to lead the Chiefs on a postseason run. He looks more decisive in the pocket, and he is throwing the ball with outstanding zip, velocity and accuracy. His ball placement has been superb, and his ability to connect with open receivers has made the Chiefs' passing game lethal.

Part of Cassel's improvement can be attributed to the arrival of Charlie Weis. The savvy play caller implemented the original offensive scheme that Cassel thrived in during the 2008 season as Tom Brady's backup in New England, and the familiarity with the system has undoubtedly led to his outstanding play. In addition, Weis has gotten his star quarterback to avoid negative plays in the pocket. Cassel has only turned the ball over six times, and is one of the fewest sacked quarterbacks in the league.

Although opponents have frequently dialed up the blitz to harass Cassel in the pocket, he has repeatedly punished foes for their aggressive tactics. He quickly gets the ball out of his hands, and his heady decisions have kept the Chiefs out of negative situations.

Of course, every quarterback needs an explosive primary target in the passing game, and Cassel has his pivotal piece in Dwayne Bowe. The fourth-year pro has blossomed into an all-star this season. He leads all receivers with 15 touchdown grabs, and has emerged as a force on the outside. At 6-foot-2, 221 pounds, he overpowers defenders in one-on-one matchups, and is a big target over the middle of the field. Cassel has taken advantage of his size by frequently targeting Bowe on inside routes, and his ability to run after the catch has led to big plays. In looking at the Chiefs' 34-14 win over the Tennessee Titans, Bowe's 75-yard touchdown catch illustrates his dynamic skills as a pass catcher. He catches a deep dig route over the middle, and runs through and around defenders on the way to the end zone. With Bowe capable of turning short passes into big gains, Cassel has become more comfortable allowing his playmakers to do their job instead of trying to shoulder the entire burden of carrying the offense.

While some will point to the Chiefs' rejuvenated passing game as a key component of their offensive success, it is their punishing ground attack that has propelled the unit into the ranks of the elite. Led by the electrifying tandem of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs are averaging a league-leading 167.5 rushing yards per game. As an explosive inside-outside combination, Jones and Charles share the workload evenly, but each brings unique skills to the table.

Jones, who has rushed for 879 yards on 235 carries, is a rugged inside runner with outstanding vision and quickness. Though he no longer possesses the home-run speed, his experience and savvy allows him to remain productive despite his diminishing skills. In studying Jones' game this year, his uncanny ability to avoid free hitters in the hole stands out. He quickly anticipates open lanes, and still retains the burst to get in those alleys. With the Chiefs' zone-based scheme dependent on runners finding cracks in the defense, Jones' cutback skills make him a valued commodity in the backfield.

In Charles, the Chiefs add a speedster to the mix capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. He excels at getting to the corner, and they repeatedly feed him the ball on a host of outside zone runs. By design, those runs direct him toward the inside foot of the play-side offensive tackle, but Charles' speed, vision and explosiveness allows him to bounce to the outside or burst through cracks created by overaggressive defenders pursuing the play. Regardless of his decision, his speed and elusiveness makes him a threat to take it the distance whenever he gets the ball in space.

Throw in a physical offensive line capable of dealing with the heavyweight defenses featured by Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets, and the Chiefs suddenly have an offensive recipe that could lead to an extended stay in the postseason.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...-in-postseason

You hear that, bitches? Teams better prepare for us because we're making a run at the playoffs!