Although the Kansas City Chiefs made the playoffs for the first time since 2003, they finished the season on a bitter note.

The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chiefs, 23-8, last week, but the offensive statistics were uglier than the score. The Chiefs made seven first downs, converted 1-of-11 third downs, completed zero passes to their starting wide receivers and totaled 126 yards. That putrid performance, however, will not cause head coach Herm Edwards to make drastic changes.

“It wasn’t one game, believe me,” Edwards said during his season-ending press conference. “The week before we scored 35 points.”

Edwards admitted the Chiefs offense, ranked 16th in the league after finishing first in 2005, lagged at times. He attributed that to having to start two quarterbacks. Damon Huard ran the offense from Week Two to Week Nine after a concussion sidelined Trent Green in Week One. Working in Mike Solari, who had never served as an offensive coordinator before this season, also impeded the offense at times.

“(Solari) went through a growing process,” Edwards said. “He’ll be a lot better next season.”

Edwards said he would tweak the offensive scheme. To no one’s surprise, the Chiefs will continue to revolve their game plan around Larry Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards on an NFL-record 416 carries.

“Will I do some things differently on offense? Absolutely,” Edwards said. “But that doesn’t mean we’re going to run the option. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to throw a pass.”

The organization will focus its offseason on improving their team with heavy emphasis placed on April’s NFL Draft. The Chiefs already have evaluated several offensive lineman, which could become a greater need if Pro Bowl guard Will Shields retires.

Edwards said the Chiefs prioritized two qualities when scouting potential draft picks. They try to determine whether a player has plateaued or is ascending and whether they can win a championship – not just regular-season games – with that player.

The first-year Chiefs head coach lauded the 2006 draft. He said wide receiver Jeff Webb, a sixth-round draft pick, would need to become more involved offensively. The Chiefs also hit in the second and seventh rounds with safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page, respectively. Both should fortify the last line of defense well into the future.

Defensive end Tamba Hali, a first-round draft pick, made the greatest impact, racking up eight sacks while starting 16 games.

“We had a fantastic draft,” Edwards said. “A lot of people said when we drafted Tamba Hali, ‘well, who’s this?’ Well, he’s a good football player.”

The 2007 offseason could determine whether the Chiefs can become a championship contender in 2007 after earning a wild-card berth in 2006.

“Was it a successful season? It was a good season,” Edward said. “It’s never acceptable unless you win the championship. Maybe those standards are a little bit high.”