Are the Chiefs Relevant?

As a follow-up to the Pro Football Talk feature over the past couple of days on the Kansas City Chiefs' Mount Rushmore, I decided to take a look at the performance history, decade by decade. The assertion on the show was that the Chiefs have not been relevant since the 1960s, so said Mike Florio.

Here's a quick look at the Chiefs have performed over the decades.


1960s

• Record: 87-48-5
• Winning Percentage: .639
• Equivalent Record: 10-6
• NOTE: The best decade with on Superbowl title and the best winning percentage.

1970s

• Record:60-79-5
• Winning Percentage: .434
• Equivalent Record: 7-9
• NOTE: This is the worst decade in franchise history. Zero playoff appearances.

1980s

• Record:66-84-2
• Winning Percentage: .441
• Equivalent Record:7-9

1990s

• Record:102-60
• Winning Percentage: .630
• Equivalent Record: 10-6

2000s

• Record:72-90
• Winning Percentage: .444
• Equivalent Record:7-9

2010s

• Record:19-29 (so far)
• Winning Percentage: .396
• Equivalent Record:6-10

Overall

• Record:404-388-12
• Winning Percentage: .510
• Equivalent Record:8-8

CONCLUSION:
So no matter how much it hurts, despite the great decades of Hank Stram and Marty Schottenheimer leading the team, we are fans of a .500 team over it's history. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the Chiefs!! We have great history, incredible fans, an iconic and historic stadium, and an owner that created the AFL and named the Superbowl. But our record leaves something to be desired.

I say Dorsey, Reid and the boys begin changing that this season.

Here We Go!!

A New Era at Arrowhead

The End is in Sight

It was the worst of times; it was the worst of times. 2012 is the season that will long live in the brains of suffering Kansas City Chiefs fans for years to come. From just about every angle that you could possibly look at the recently completed football campaign, it was a complete and total disaster. Let’s take a look at just a few of the stats, shall we.

Points scored, allowed: 211, 425

Point differential: -215 (worst in the league)

Offensive Touchdowns: 17 (last in the league)

Total Offense: 32nd

Total Defense: 25^th

Record: 2-14 (last)

There were a few bright spots, but you had to look hard to see them through the clouds. Jamaal Charles came back with a vengeance from a knee injury that ended his 2011 season. He returned to form as one of the NFL’s top running backs, finishing with 1,509 yards. And the team ended up sending six players to the Pro Bowl, proving the roster was not void of quality players.

Off the field, things were just as bleak. Fans were forming new groups to lobby for then-General Manager Scott Pioli to be fired. Head Coach Romeo Crennel, as nice of a man as he is, did not have any answers … on the field or at press conferences. Linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide at the team’s practice facility. The Chiefs were in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. As painful as it is for fanatical football fans to admit, the conclusion of the final contest in Denver could not come soon enough.

The end of the one of the longest and most painful seasons in the history of the Chiefs mercifully came to an end on Dec. 30. Fans were fed up they wanted to see changes. And Clark Hunt did not disappoint.

A New Beginning

It was an incredibly eventful month for Clark Hunt, Chiefs’ chairman and CEO, following the end of the season. In three consecutive Mondays, he held press conferences announcing major changes for the organization. On Dec. 31, it was Crennel’s firing and adoption of significant structural changes. On Jan. 6, it was the hiring of Andy Reid as the team’s 13^th head coach. And finally, on Jan. 13, it was the hiring of John Dorsey as general manager; Pioli and the team had “parted ways” earlier in the month.

The 2012 season was marked with despair, negativity and pain for Chiefs fans, long considered one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in the league. And in less than a month, bold moves by the new Mr. Hunt turned the off-season on its ear.

Rather than grousing and complaining, fan blogs and sports talk radio surrounding the Chiefs suddenly turned to optimism, hope and predictions of success for 2013. Somehow, we all came down with a case of amnesia and collectively decided to forget about the crushing defeats, the bumbling leadership and the inept quarterback play. With the flip of three bold switches by Clark Hunt, fans have returned to their loyal, positive and supportive ways.

The organization still has major decisions in front of it that will determine, to a large extent, the success we will see the team have on the field for the foreseeable future … Who to draft with the No. 1 pick? Whether to franchise LT Branden Albert, WR Dwayne Bowe, sign them to long-term contracts or let them walk? What to do with the QB situation (Cassel, Quinn, Stanzi) – do they all need to go? That is all in addition to preparing for the upcoming draft and free agency. Lots of decisions, but very little time.

Despite last season’s failures, it is an exciting time to be a Chiefs fan. I’m counting the days until the NFL Combine, the opening of free agency, the NFL Draft, mini camps, training camp … and of course, the pre-season and eventually the 2013 regular season.

It’s a new era in Chiefs football. Hang on folks. It’s going to be a wild ride.

As always, thanks for reading.

Steve

Black Monday for Missouri’s Football Teams

It’s a sad, sad Monday following a colossally weak weekend for football in the State of Missouri. As a bonkers-crazy football fan, I was looking forward to this weekend’s home games with anticipation and visions of sweeping all three games. The sweep we saw is not the one I was envisioning.

Syracuse at Missouri

The Tigers were coming off a thrilling quadruple overtime victory, earning just their second SEC win and their first on the road at Tennessee. Syracuse beat a good Louisville team the week prior, but that was at home. They wouldn’t be able to do that on the road against a rejuvenated Mizzou squad, right? Wrong.

Unfortunately my first Mizzou game of the year was a disappointing loss as the Tigers played porous defense, unable to stop the Orange’s quick passing game. As a result, Mizzou (5-6) will not be going to a bowl game this year. Not exactly what the Black & Gold faithful had in mind for its first year in the SEC.

Jets at Rams

The New York Tebows came to town on Christian Family Day hoping to spoil the Rams hopes to continue ascending up the ranks of improving NFL teams. After managing to tie the mighty 49ers on the road last week, St. Louis had its sights on a big home win. Tebow had little effect on the game, but the Jets running game and defense did plenty. Other than the Rams’ opening touchdown drive, the offense was anemic and the defense couldn’t stop New York’s running game. Both teams had the same plan – run the ball, play tough D. Only one was able to execute. The Rams fell to 3-6-1 and any hopes of competing for a Wild Card spot were put to bed. 


Bengals at Chiefs 
Cincinnati, coming off a huge home win over the New York Football Giants, was hoping and easy path to its fifth win of the season in Kansas City. The Chiefs entered the game with only one win, but the team had played the Steelers tough in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football and hoped to ride that positive momentum double its season win total. Didn’t happen. I have Chiefs season tickets, and thankfully, I couldn’t attend the game. My son took some Mizzou buddies to their first ever Chiefs game … it was ugly. The only thing more embarrassing than the play on the field was how not-full the stands were. Needless to say, the Bengals stomped the Chefs (maybe they can cook better than they play football) and set them firmly into place as the lead dog for the first pick in next spring’s NFL Draft.

As always, thanks for reading. Join the discussion. That's what makes it fun.

Steve