Indianapolis Colts 2016 opponent preview: Getting to know the Kansas City Chiefs

In week eight of the 2016 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts will host the Kansas City Chiefs. The game will take place on October 30 at 1:00 p.m., and it will be the first meeting between the two teams since Indy’s thrilling come-from-behind win in a wild card shootout in the 2013 playoffs.

The Chiefs are coming off of a playoff appearance last season as a wild card team, as they concluded the regular season with ten consecutive wins and then shut out the Texans for a 30-0 victory in the first round of the postseason.

Kansas City will be expected to contend for a playoff spot once again in 2016, so the week eight matchup with the Colts could be a mid-season showdown of two playoff contenders. In order to get a better look at the Chiefs entering the 2016 season, Arrowhead Pride (SB Nation’s site covering the Chiefs) helped give us an inside look:

Kansas City Chiefs

Notable free agent additions:

RT Mitch Schwartz, WR Rod Streater

Notable free agent departures:

CB Sean Smith, S Tyvon Branch, QB Chase Daniel

Trades:

n/a

Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies:

The Chiefs could end up having one or two starters (G Parker Ehinger, CB KeiVarae Russell) the first year with a bunch of role players or those replacing someone else down the line. DT Chris Jones, WR Demarcus Robinson and WR Tyreek Hill could have a regular role on the team in the first year too.

Biggest offseason addition:

RT Mitch Schwartz

Biggest storyline heading into training camp:

In the short-term, it will be replacing Justin Houston, who is likely to miss part of the season coming back from February ACL surgery. In the long-term, can the Chiefs take the next step on offense? They’re on the doorstep after a divisional round loss last season to the Patriots. What they lacked was explosiveness on offense. RT Mitch Schwartz will help solidify the line while Jamaal Charles’ return hopes to add that explosiveness that was lacking last season.

Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp:

How old is too old on defense? Key players like Tamba Hali (32) and Derrick Johnson (33) are up there in age. No Justin Houston early on or Sean Smith, now with the Raiders.

Notable injuries heading into training camp:

RB Jamaal Charles and CB Phillip Gaines are coming back from an ACL tear early on last season. They should be ready. Justin Houston is likely to miss part of the regular season after he’s coming off of ACL surgery.