When you have the top-rated offense in football, how good do you have to
be on defense? Better than the Chiefs were last season, that's for sure.

Despite a offense that was first in yards gained and second in points scored, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years last season because their defense let them down.

Kansas City finished 31st in total defense and 29th in points allowed, a combination of futility that the offense of Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and a powerful offensive line couldn't overcome. The fact they won seven games was a credit to that offense, but unless the defensive changes they made in the offseason bloom, it will be another fallow year for the Chiefs.

In an effort to address the problems, the Chiefs used three of their first four draft picks on defensive players, including Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson as its No. 1 pick, and signed three big-money free agents to shore up a unit that was last in the league against the pass.

The trade for Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain has to help because he's one of the best in the league, and the signing of safety Sammy Knight adds a hitter. Inside linebacker Kendrell Bell was a gamble because of his injury history, but if he's the player he was when he was named Rookie of the Year after making nine sacks in 2001 or the guy who made 100 tackles two years later for the Steelers, he's a huge upgrade. The Chiefs also added free-agent defensive end Carlos Hall in the hopes he and Bell can bolster a weak pass rush and aid an improving secondary. The one holdover bright spot is Jared Allen, who made a surprising nine sacks as a rookie. If he, Hall and Bell bring the heat and force some turnovers, the Chiefs' offense can do the rest.

This is a team, like coach Dick Vermeil, that might be making its last hurrah, because as good as the offense is, it's aging. The line is anchored by two old All-Pros, Willie Roaf and Will Shields, has a 35-year-old quarterback in Green who has averaged 4,107 passing yards and 26 touchdown throws the past three seasons and a battered but still explosive runner in the 32-year-old Holmes. Holmes showed some wear last season, but ex-No. 1 pick Larry Johnson finally came on, rushing for over 100 yards three times and gaining 100 more on receptions in a fourth
game late in the season.

The offense might be aging, but it's not the problem. The problem is a defense that should be better. Is it good enough? We'll soon see.

HOT SEAT: Patrick Surtain. Still one of the best cornerbacks in football, Surtain has made 25 interceptions over the past three seasons to lead the NFL. He's as solid a cover corner as the Chiefs could have acquired. Problem is the depth of their defensive problems go far deeper than one man. Surtain will have to cover without the kind of pass rush that was so much a part of the Dolphins defense, and even if he plays as expected, he may not live up to the expectations in Kansas City. His presence will increase the pressure on the other side of the field as well, where Dexter McCleon will be the starter at least until Eric Warfield comes off a four-game suspension.

OVERHEARD: Safety Jerome Woods has lost a step and is no longer the bone-crushing tackler he once was. Since breaking his leg in 2002, Woods has not been able to cover as much ground as he once did in the middle of the Chiefs' defense, nor does he deliver the same kind of hits. He's been replaced by Greg Wesley with Knight now being looked upon for the big hits at strong safety.

OUTLOOK: With the Chiefs' explosive offense, they only need a mediocre defensive effort to get into playoff contention. That's what they'll get but it has to be better than a year ago with the reinforcements because how could it be worse? Whether it's good enough to get Dick Vermeil one last shot at the Super Bowl before he retires is a question yet to be answered.

PREDICTION: First.

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