KANSAS CITY, Mo. - At first glance, the Kansas City Chiefs appear poised to make a strong post-season run next season. Theyve solidified the quarterback spot, have several young stars under contract, and came within a hair of making the post-season this year.Delve a little deeper and the off-season outlook changes considerably.Their offensive line is in dire need of upgrades. So is their wide receiver corps, where Dwayne Bowe has failed to live up to his massive contract.Outside linebacker Tamba Hali could be forced to restructure his big contract or be cut, and fellow pass rusher Justin Houston — who just set the franchise record with 22 sacks this season — is a pending free agent.The Chiefs wont be busily preparing for a playoff game, but general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid certainly have plenty of other work ahead of them.I dont think there is any one thing that you can say, OK, this is how were going to be better next year, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said after Sundays season-ending win over San Diego. Theyll get into evaluation mode right away. Well have free agency and the draft right around the corner. And the key is weve got to come back a better football team next year.That didnt necessarily happen this year.After winning 11 games and qualifying for the playoffs in Reids first season, Kansas City backtracked to 9-7. Yet the Chiefs were still in the post-season hunt until Sunday, when two outcomes they needed — Baltimore and Houston losing — failed to transpire.Not even a season-ending victory over San Diego did them any good.Its a bit of an empty feeling as far as winning the game but not having the opportunity to go to the playoffs, Reid said. Theres some good things we can learn from that.Namely, taking care of business in the second half of the season.Kansas City started 7-3 and was barrelling toward a first-round bye. But just like last year, the Chiefs fell into a tailspin and were never quite able to pull out of it.Now, as the Chiefs head into the off-season, here are some of the key story lines:HOUSTONS MONEY: No. 1 with an asterisk is the fate of Houston, who is poised for a big payday after his record-setting season. Only Michael Strahan has had more sacks in an NFL season, and that was by a half. The Chiefs spent last off-season negotiating with his representatives on a long-term deal, but the two sides were never close. If nothing else, the Chiefs could franchise him.You have to give us a window to lay out that plan here in the next four to five days, to be able to move in a proper direction, Dorsey said. Well be able to make those hard decisions.HEALTH CHECK: Alex Smith expects to be ready for the off-season program after lacerating his spleen in the Chiefs penultimate game. Meanwhile, Reid said linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive Mike DeVito were making progress in their return from torn Achilles tendons.BERRYS FUTURE: Eric Berry is continuing treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma, leaving his future with the team in question. The star safety is due more than $8 million next season, the final year of his current contract — a big salary cap number for someone unlikely to play a game.OFFENSIVE LINE WOES: The Chiefs line was a mess most of the season, especially after Jeff Allen sustained a season-ending injury in Week 1. There are massive holes at guard and right tackle, and potentially at centre, where Rodney Hudson is a free agent.Im not really thinking about that right now, Hudson said. Take some time, reflect on the season a little bit, get a little rest and figure all that out.WIDE RECEIVER QUESTIONS: Bowe struggled all season and could be released. If that happens, the Chiefs would free up cash but lose one of their only playmakers. Upgrading at wide receiver will be just as important as fixing the offensive line.Whatever happens, happens, Bowe said. I know Im a great player. I did a lot here in the city and thats all I can look forward to.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Athletics Jerseys 2019 .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. Oakland Athletics Shirts . Some teams got significantly better, some teams divested themselves of talent and some teams had quiet afternoons, keeping the status quo. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. Custom Oakland Athletics Jerseys . They kicked off the still-going trend of host cities winning the Grey Cup and sent Hall of Fame head coach Wally Buono to the front office a champion.WASHINGTON -- Right-handed starter Doug Fister and the Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on a contract, avoiding arbitration. The Nationals announced the deal via their Twitter account Saturday. Fister was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in a trade this off-season after he went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA over 208 2-3 innings in 2013. He made $4,075,000 last season and when submitting his arbitrration figure asked that his salary more than double to $8.dddddddddddd.5 million. The Nationals had offered $5.75 million. Only one other Nationals player still could go to arbitration, right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard. He asked for a raise to $6.35 million from $4 million; the team offered $4.45 million. Clippard was 6-3 with a 2.41 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 71 innings in 2013. ' ' '