Dec 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) and linebacker Dee Ford (55) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 17-13. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

KC Royals Will Not Go Far With Chris Young in Rotation by Leigh Oleszczak

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a nice balance between their offensive and defensive units. Which side is more important for the team headed into the 2016 season?

In recent years, KC Chiefs fans have been fortunate that their favorite football team can put a good offense and a good defense out on the field. It hasn’t always been like that though, and looking back, it’s tough to decipher which side is more important to the team.

Sure, the offense puts points on the board (or are supposed to anyway), which explains why the 2012 season went so poorly. With guys like Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn running the offense, it was difficult for the offense to score points.

Then there are other seasons, like 2008, where the offense did their job of lighting up the scoreboard, but the defense failed to do their part. The 2003 season was a similar example of this too, but that year was one of Kansas City’s best offensive years, possibly ever.

So, which unit needs to have a better year in 2016?

Personally, I would say that the defense needs to continue being the more dominant force. That’s Kansas City Chiefs football, and we’ve seen that the offense has been able to squeak out enough points in seasons past to give the team a victory.

In the AFC West, defense is the key to winning the division title. Hell, the Denver Broncos proved it’s still possible to win a Super Bowl with a mediocre offense as long as the defense is phenomenal.

The KC Chiefs could run a similar formula in 2016, but the only part that could prove to be a challenge is the secondary. Sean Smith is with another team in the division now, and the best guy in the secondary (Eric Berry) hasn’t been showing up to offseason programs due to contract negotiations.

Getting Berry signed and figuring out who the second starting cornerback is next to Marcus Peters will make fans feel a lot less anxious about what’s to come in the secondary this year.

The offense could put up as many points as humanly possible, but like we witnessed in the end of the 2013 season, if the defense can’t do their job, then the lead can be washed away pretty quickly.

So what do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Is it more important for the offense to be better this year or for the defense to be better this year?