Only once since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995 have the Rams and Chiefs made the playoffs in the same season. That was over a decade ago (2003), when both teams went one-and-done in the tournament. Fast forward to the 2015 season — likely the last time the “Show-Me State” will be home to two NFL franchises — and both teams appear primed to show us something in the postseason for the first time in a long time.

It is difficult to declare offseason winners before the NFL Draft, but the Chiefs and Rams both feel very good about what they’ve accomplished so far this offseason.

Let’s start in Kansas City, where the Chiefs addressed their most glaring need in a major way, signing Jeremy Maclin away from the Eagles. Suddenly, a team that did not get a single touchdown reception from the wide receiver position in 2014 has an outside threat coming off a 1,300-yard, 10-touchdown season.

Maclin’s numbers will no doubt decline after leaving Chip Kelly’s video-game offense, but he was drafted by Andy Reid in Philadelphia and has enjoyed success in his schemes as well. Maclin will play alongside one of his former Eagles teammates, Jason Avant, who joined the Chiefs in November and should benefit from having an entire offseason to get acclimated.

Said Maclin: “In the back of my mind it was either I was going stay in Philadelphia or come to Kansas City. Both of those situations made sense and Kansas City made more sense. I think with kind of my personality and kind of the way that I am, I think this fits me a little better. And then also Coach Reid. Coach Reid, (David) Culley, Doug (Pederson), a lot of guys who I had a chance to build relationships with in Philadelphia are here and it just felt like home.”

While Maclin will boost Kansas City’s offense, it is the defense that will take this team where it wants to go. Using the franchise tag on Justin Houston was a no-brainer, but the real coup was getting Tamba Hali to restructure his contract. With Houston and Hali — who have combined for 50 sacks over the last two seasons — joining 2014 first-round pick Dee Ford, the Kansas City pass rush will again be amongst the most feared in the league.

While the pass rush in Kansas City is something to behold, they know how to bring the heat in St. Louis, as well. The Rams ranked in the top half of the league in sacks last season (40), despite facing the ninth-fewest pass attempts. A dominant defensive front seven — led by Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree — got even better with the additions of Nick Fairley and Akeem Ayers.

Said Fairley: “You’ve got those guys up there and a guy next to me like Aaron that’s going to basically take on some double teams, I’m going to take on some double teams. So, it’s going to be a good fit for me.”

But the real story in St. Louis is the change at quarterback. Hall of Famer Howie Long — father of Rams DE Chris Long — said last season that the Rams were a quarterback away from being a dominant team. They may have that quarterback now after shipping Sam “Glass Knees” Bradford to Philadelphia in exchange of Nick Foles. A former third-round pick out of Arizona, Foles has racked up 6,753 yards in just 24 starts. Most impressive, he has 46 career touchdowns against just 17 interceptions.

Yes, Foles came back down to earth last season after earning Pro Bowl honors in 2013 (when he threw 27 TDs and just two INTs), but he is still light-years better than Shaun Hill and Austin Davis. The Rams have made sure Foles is set up for success in his new role, re-signing Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks in free agency.

Foles is familiar with his new team, as the Eagles played the Rams in Week 5 last season. Philadelphia jumped out to a 34-7 lead in that game, but the Rams answered back with a 21-0 run to make  a game of it.

Said Foles: “I remember playing this team and thinking, ‘This is a talented team!’ The defense is scrappy, flies all over the place and is really tough to go against. But the big thing I noticed was the fight. I admire teams that fight throughout the game.”

The Rams and Chiefs both plan on being fighters this season and carrying that fight all the way into the playoffs. It starts with winning their divisions, a realistic goal for both franchises.

The Chiefs finished last season 9-7, the same record as the Chargers. But Kansas City swept San Diego and has its eyes on overtaking Denver, as well. Given all the changes in the Mile High City this offseason — losing Julius Thomas, Terrance Knighton, Orlando Franklin, Rahim Moore and Nate Irving — that certainly seems plausible.

The path to the top is not as clear for the Rams, who at 6-10 last season were the only team in the NFC West with a losing record. But you can cross at least one hurdle off their list, as the 49ers have basically imploded. That leaves the Seahawks — a team the Rams knocked off in Week 7 — and the Cardinals for St. Louis to contend with.

It is easy to see the commonalities between the two Missouri teams. Both enter the season with retooled offenses and dominant defenses. Additionally, they are both led by coaches with at least 150 career wins — no small feat — but no rings to show for it.

Perhaps that will change this season. Maybe Reid or Jeff Fisher — or both — will make his second Super Bowl appearance. In what is likely the final season the Chiefs and Rams both call the “Show-Me State” home, both teams are geared up to truly show us something special.

Want to talk more about the expectations for the Chiefs and Rams in 2015? Join Michael Lombardo for his weekly NFL Chat on Friday at 2pm EST. But you don’t have to wait until then … you can ask your question now!