Is this the year for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Is this a Super Bowl team? Perhaps. It may well be the best Chiefs squad since Joe Montana took Kansas City to the AFC title game and lost badly to the Buffalo Bills nearly a quarter century ago.
I was telling the Stanford’s audience about the bad moves that likely cost KC a Super Bowl appearance in ’95 and ’97 seasons. Nick Lowery, former Chiefs place kicker was at the show which sparked those bad memories. Had Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson not gotten rid of Nick before the 1995 season – in which KC went 13-3, but lost their only play off-game to the Colts at Arrowhead – kicker Lin Elliot would not have missed three short field goals. Had Nick still been with KC he surely would have made at least one of them and Chiefs would have moved on to the AFC title game. The other big mistake was benching quarterback Rich Gannon for Elvis Grbac after the 13-3 season in 1997.
So is this current Chiefs team the real deal? Their numbers say NO.
They’re not in the top ten in much of anything except takeaways!
Passing game below average; rushing game poor right now; pass defense improving but not top ten – nor is our stopping the rush. We do hold the other teams down in scoring and that’s a top ten item. However the number that matters is wins and losses and 10-3 says KC is a damn good NFL team.
Most fans are down on QB Alex Smith.
He’s been off his game much of the season, but against Oakland this past week he had a great first half, but then no second half, no scores, not even a deep drive (plus two turnovers).
Yet the Chiefs found a way to win with its defense.
Many compare this Chiefs team to the 2014/2015 Royals.
They find ways to win and refuse to lose. This Chiefs team has had a tough schedule, unlike coach Andy Reid‘s overrated 9-0 start in season one here. KC has defeated the Raiders, Denver, Atlanta, Panthers. Two were last year’s Super Bowl teams and two are playoff teams this year – so that’s not easy.
The answer will come in the next three weeks and the playoffs that follow. The Chiefs will be considered a good team if they make the AFC title game. If they go to and win the Super Bowl, they’ll be considered a great team – the best since the Len Dawson era.
Can they? Will they?
I believe it’s possible, but in the end only one city and one team will be happy, the one who wins it all. Tyreek Hill, Marcus Peters, Justin Houston, Travis Kelce are all likely all-pros this year, so that helps. Losing Derrick Johnson is a major blow. Will they rise above it? Can Alex get better?
Tough board this weekend for the NFL but here’s my picks.
PRO FOOTBALL
DETROIT -1 OVER THE BEARS IN A TEASE WITH GREEN BAY PACKERS +9 1/2 over THE SEAHAWKS
NEW YORK GIANTS + 9 1/2 OVER DALLAS IN A TEASE WITH DETROIT -1 OVER BEARS
Sorry for all the ‘errors’ in this story, Hearne went out of town, and rewrote this on the fly so thus the mistakes…sorry….
We won both games again…second half of season has been great in picking games. Dallas fell to earth tonight. Their young qb is having some issues on offense and it may cost them down the road.
Now both AFC and NFC are wide open at the top….I would have to place the Steelers at the top of the list today. They are playing lights out and ‘Big Ben’ has a history of doing well in playoffs when they come in on roll….Chiefs are in it as well.
The Steelers are slowly getting healthy from season wrought with injuries. Oh and don’t forget that Tom Brady is still in the NFL, and will be a force come playoff time. That’s what I love about the NFL playoffs. The regular season is wiped away in an instant, and everyone is 0-0. A 13-3 regular season means DICK. 9-7 is just as good if you’re in the playoffs.
Gotta love the Denver loss yesterday, Guy. With their remaining schedule, it’s a real possibility they won’t even make the playoffs this year. Two way race in the AFC West with the Chargers being burnt toast and the Broncos starting to turn a beautiful golden brown.
Broncos may not win another game, and end up 8-8.
Yes Jim, it may come down to the Chiefs beating Titans this Sunday here. Denver is fading and having offensive issues…the team is likely down and may not be putting it out there as hard with a low level playoff spot at best…Chargers are banged up badly so that game is looking much better…a 13-3 season is likely with a win over Titans here, they are good.
I hate seeing the Steelers coming on…now you have two deadly teams in the post..Steelers and Pats…
Boy Tom Brady sure looked like, uh, Tom Brady last night. Now that the Pats have pretty much locked up the number one seed in the AFC, Chiefs have to win out for the 2 spot, then maybe play Steelers here, yikes and if they win go to New England and face Brady… tough games ahead for the Chiefs.
Staying in the top 2 playoff spots is critical, CG. Man, you have to admire the machine that is Brady and the Pats. Tom Terrific just keeps on rollin’. Shows you how critical a franchise QB is to a team. First ballot HOF and one of the greatest QB’s in history. Damn those Pats!
BTW – It looks like the weather for Sunday’s game at Arrowhead is going to make last Thursday night seem down right balmy. I like the Chiefs as a cold weather team.
Yes I think the Titans are the only team that really could beat KC now…Denver in a free fall and Chargers are done and badly hurt…a meaningless game for them at the end…so likely we win those two…but Titans will be looking to upset KC…
Who knows maybe we are better off as a wild card…don’t face Steelers and likely face Houston in round one…but of course we’d like the 2 spot…beating Titans likely gives us that and a trip to Boston if we can get by Steelers here, if it goes that way…boy a tough ticket for KC…
The NFL playoffs are always going to be a tough. There is no “easy” road. Even if you’re the #1 seed.
True ‘Guy’ there is no faking your way through, you got it or you don’t…Chiefs will soon find out…I’m hoping but not too sure…man those Pats look so good with Brady…but who knows…lets beat Titans first.