Many people may not buy into the myth (Dan Marino, Kurt Warner) but nobody can deny it's existence. Superstitions have been around for years regarding the "unluckiness" of the number 13. For myself, it is a possible slight superstition that periodically slides into mere amusement most of the time. However, the power of the number was brought to my initial attention by my beloved Chiefs back in 1997 and I have been paying close attention ever since.
You see, I grew up in the glory days of the Chiefs resurgence under Marty Schottenheimer. The apex of this resurgence occurred concurrently with my rise to awareness of my sports life. I liken this experience to the same as being born except instead of cutting the cord, getting slapped, and meeting my mom it was 7 sacks in one game by Derrick Thomas, a 76 yard touchdown run by Steve Bono, and Joe Montana making his way to the midwest. Comparable, right? Right.
But I digress. After making the AFC championship game in 1993 and the playoffs again in 1994 the Chiefs were primed for another big season in 1995. A big season was exactly what they had, led by a stingy opportune defense the Chiefs stormed to a franchise best 13-3 season. The unlucky power of the #13 was in the back of my mind but at my young age it was not a concern. Then came the disaster that was...
The name that shall not be uttered. In my young age I was able to blame my Chiefs woes on the above placekicker, although not an ignorant enough in football knowledge to still do so today. Being the ultimate team sport the Chiefs loss in the divisional round in 1995 was a team loss...or was it? I submit that my years of pain over this Chiefs loss was directly related to the unlucky, neigh, unholy power of the #13. That number cursed my Chiefs to an utterly heartbreaking defeat and a season that ended much too short.
One year is not enough sample size to truly believe in the power of the number but it only took the next two seasons to fully convince me this number had no business in football let alone anywhere near my Chiefs. You see the next year John Elway and the Donkey's went 13-3 and had the same fate as the Chiefs, not to be outdone the Chiefs went 13-3 AGAIN in 1997 and again failed to win a single playoff game. This is indisputable evidence against the #13 as it happened three years in a row. This stayed in the back of my mind the last 12 years or so and now that I can present the evidence I have I will present it to you all. So here it is loyal Jeff Reporters, undeniable proof that the #13 is, in fact, evil in terms of NFL AFC Football. The following is a run down of every year a team has gone 13-3 in the AFC since the Chiefs first did it back in 1995.
1995 - Chiefs 13-3: Already talked about it, no need to explain, too painful.
1996 - Broncos - 13-3: Haha, few things brought me as much joy as this. Awesome.
1997 - Chiefs - 13-3: Even more painful, this time the we lost to the Donkey's. Too painful.
1998 - None
1999 - Colts - 13-3: Peyton Manning proved he was worth the #1 pick with the best turnaround in NFL history, then lost in the playoffs.
1999 - Titans - 13-3: This one is tough, the Titans made it all the way to the Super Bowl this season (although they lost). However, they were not the #1 seed this year and they didn't get a bye, which I later learned were part of the curse.
2000 - Titans - 13-3: Told you, #1 seed and a bye = loss.
2001 - Steelers - 13-3 Somewhat bucked the trend and won a game but lost the conference championship.
2002 - None
2003 Chiefs - 13-3: The Colts again? I didn't really expect them to win, but still...
2004 - None
2005 - Broncos - 13-3: Sort of bucked the trend, won one game, lost conf. championship, still no Super Bowl
2006 - Ravens - 13-3: Just adding fuel to the fire at this point
2007 - Colts - 13-3: A let down year after winning the Super Bowl the year before
2008 - Titans - 13-3: I thought they were more smoke and mirrors than truly the best team in the league and was only proved right by their failure to win a playoff game
2009 - Chargers - 13-3: Haha, this was awesome. Nothing makes me feel better than to see Phillip Rivers lose a big game. He's a douche.
One thing you might notice is that there are a few repeat offenders on this list. Matter of fact most are repeat offenders proving that the #13 strikes and strikes often. The "Repeat Offenders 13-3 Curse" club roll call is as follows: Chiefs (3), Colts (2), Broncos (2), Titans (3 - but did make super bowl). I don't feel as though I could present better evidence than this. I defy anyone to tell me this curse does not exist.
My final thought I leave you with is that the #13 does not belong anywhere near AFC football and if it strikes my Chiefs again, I will strip naked and cover myself in fried bologna in order to take my mind off the excruciating pain of yet another premature loss to a great season.
Hmm....Also interesting that there have been 13 AFC teams to go 13-3 since 1995...hmmm.....
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