Chiefs
There’s a team from the AFC West that has a great shot at hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50 in February, and no, not Peyton
Manning and the Denver Broncos.
Head a little farther east, to Kansas City.
Without a doubt, the best off-season pickup that General Manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid made was the acquisition of former Eagle wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Keep in mind; quarterback Alex Smith didn’t throw a single touchdown to a wide receiver in the 2014 season.
That’s very likely to change this season. In five complete seasons, Maclin has amassed 343 catches and an impressive 36 TDs. He’ll certainly be Smith’s primary downfield target, and he’ll put KC’s receiving corps back on the map.
If the old saying “defense wins championships” is true, then the rest of the league better look out for the Chiefs. Middle linebacker and on-field leader Derrick Johnson returns from an injury that sidelined him for 2014, as well as bully Mike DeVito at defensive end.
KC’s first-round draft pick, cornerback Marcus Peters, has proven to be an absolute ball hawk during off-season workouts and training camp and should provide shutdown coverage from the get-go. Not to mention the leader of the secondary, safety Eric Berry, returns from a successful battle with leukemia.
With the likes of outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, nose tackle Dontari Poe, and a host of others remaining, the stout KC defense of two years ago could make a return.
— by Jake Mosbah
Packers
The Green Bay Packers will bring the Lombardi Trophy back where it all began after Super Bowl 50.
As long as the Packers possess the arm of 2014 MVP Aaron Rodgers, the team will be mentioned in the discussion of Super Bowl contenders. Even with the loss of Pro-Bowl receiver Jordy Nelson, Green Bay’s arsenal of receivers will continue to make great strides.
Randall Cobb, while banged up, leads the position, and Davante Adams, entering his second year out of Fresno State, generated a magnitude of hype last season and in this year’s training camp. Combine the duo with rookie Ty Montgomery, and the result is a recipe for an authoritative aerial attack.
On the ground, Eddie Lacy has proven himself to be one of the best running backs in the league. His bulldozing yet flashy style of play often overshadows his ability to catch the ball.
Green Bay’s defense is a talented group as well as a young one. The blend of Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers at linebacker wreaks havoc when rushing the passer. Ex-Hawkeye Mike Daniels adds to this by bringing pressure from the defensive line.
In the secondary, corners Casey Hayward and Sam Shields bring speed as well as solid coverage. Entering his second year, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’s blend of vision and hard hitting causes receivers to think twice when running across the middle of the field.
When it comes to special teams, Mason Crosby stands as one of the consistent kickers in the NFL. Micah Hyde, a former Hawkeye, not only does damage playing the nickel-back role on defense, he showcases his elusiveness in the kick-return game, making him just one more player to look out for on Green Bay’s roster.
The balance of a high-powered offense and an underrated defense puts the Packers as front-runners to win Super Bowl 50.
— by Adam Hensley
Colts
The Indianapolis Colts finished the 2014 regular season with an 11-5 record and advanced all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
If Touchdown Tommy and the Patriots would follow the rules for once, maybe the Colts would have hoisted the Lombardi last year. OK, it is probable those footballs didn’t make a huge difference in the 45-7 beat-down.
But 2015 is a new year, and the Colts look poised to make a run at Super Bowl 50.
Let’s start with Andrew Luck. His numbers through his first three years are unmatched. His 12,957 passing yards and 86 touchdowns are both bests for a QB in his first three years.
Luck has done all of that with a receiving corps that is less than impressive. Reggie Wayne was an aging Pro Bowler, and T.Y. Hilton was the only guy that had the ability to stretch the field.
However, the 2015 roster looks quite different. Wayne is gone, replaced by Andre Johnson, who is coming off a “down year” in which he hauled in 85 catches for 936 yards. Add in Hilton, rookie Phillip Dorsett, and Donte Moncrief, and the Colts have created a four-headed monster.
The Colts also added Frank Gore to replace the disappointment-that-is-Trent-Richardson. Gore has rushed for 1,000 yards eight of the last nine seasons. Richardson, who led the Colts in yards last year, rushed for 519. Not a typo.
Indianapolis gets better on defense as well, with Robert Mathis coming back from injury and Vontae Davis developing into a top-tier cornerback.
— by Blake Dowson