Chiefs Season Ends Abruptly to Overmatched Ravens, 30-7
We’ve been here before Chiefs fans. If not for KU’s miracle shot in 2008 my sports life would be nearly as tragic as that of an MU fan. Although, the conversation has been had that it might actually be more painful as a fan to be thisclose every year and lose, than to come up out of nowhere every few years or so. That debate is still out there, but the fact remains that every time you get even remotely close and are shot down it makes your sports life harder and that much harder to be a fan.
No matter the scenario, whenever the Chiefs are in the playoffs I find myself doing the same thing. Every time I convince myself “you know, this is set up just right for us to make a run.” In 1995 it was the 13-3 Chiefs with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and an undermanned Colts team coming to town. In 1997 it was the 13-3 (again) Chiefs with homefield advantage throughout and the Broncos coming to town who had lost to the Chiefs in Arrowhead just a month before. In 2003 it was the 13-3 (yet again) Chiefs, with the suspect defense of the Colts (again) coming to town. In 2006 it was the Chiefs who backed into the playoffs but wait, they had the best matchup possible with the league rushing champion and the weakest run defense in the playoffs. And finally in 2010 it was the Chiefs with a home game against the Ravens with a suspect offense and a team bickering internally. All seemed like solid matchups, but all for naught as the Chiefs still haven’t won a playoff game since Joe Montana was at the helm.
You begin to question yourself after that many let downs in the last 15 years. Originally you have to say to yourself, you know it’s gotta happen to somebody, why not us? Look at the Steelers in ’05, the Giants in ’07, the Cardinals in ’08, seriously, why not us? Afterwards you say to yourself “it’s never gonna happen to us,” “why won’t it ever happen to us?” You begin to question whether or not it is worth being a fan anymore. For me it’s always worth being a fan, but eventually you have to temper your expectations and be a sports realist. Even the year KU won it all I had them losing in the National Championship game cause at some point you start thinking with your head and not your heart.
I think after a lifetime of fandom of the Chiefs I am finally released to be able to start thinking with my head and not my heart. My fandom will not decrease one little bit, but I think I will begin to look at things more pragmatically going forward. Look at this past season, it was a great year. The Chiefs won 10 games, won the AFC West, and found themselves hosting a playoff game. It was a special season and definitely unexpected. Yet, here I am, feeling it was all a loss and I am disappointed, when in reality I predicted 7-8 wins and 10 wins should make me nothing but happy. But there I was thinking the Chiefs were in position to host the AFC Championship game. Instead, the Chiefs got manhandled in the second half by an overmatched Ravens team that just had too much. The Ravens are where the Chiefs need to be.
The game was purely a case of an overachieving team being outmanned by a team that was flat out better. The Ravens have been a better team all year and this game was no different. The hardest part about it was that this is not an only this year type of scenario. The Chiefs have looked outgunned in every playoff game they have played since 1995. The Chiefs never look like they’re ready to play against playoff teams and always end up on the short end of the stick. It’s frustrating.
Now that I am done with my diatribe, to keep some continuity, I will go with the good and the bad from this game:
Good:
Tamba Hali – The Chiefs only legit pass rusher all season showed up big time. Against one of the better left tackles in the league Michael Oher, Tamba was wreaking havoc all day long. Tamba registered 1.5 sacks and showed that he truly was snubbed of a pro bowl vote.
Eric Berry – The kid was absolutely everywhere. He had some slip ups in coverage, but he batted down 4 passes and was always around the ball. He ratcheted up his play and showed that he is going to be an amazing player for KC for years to come.
Jamaal Charles – The only bit of offense we had came from Jamaal who averaged just over 9 yards per carry against one of the best D’s in the game. Charles is legitimately one of the top 2 or 3 RB’s in the game.
Bad:
Dwayne Bowe – AKA David Copperfield.
Matt Cassel – Proved this season and this game that he is not as bad as we thought, but not as good as we were thinking either. He is just a guy and that is always what he will be. Not gonna win us a game, but usually won’t lose us the game either.
Defensive Secondary/Coaching - *Ahem* Todd Heap. How can this man run open ALL DAY LONG. The same play that was the Chiefs Achilles heel all season did them in again. The tight end crossing route destroys the Chiefs defense and our coaches made no adjustment to try and cover it. Every time they lined up in 4 wide with Heap in the slot, Heap came across the middle and caught a wide open pass. I called this play out 4 or 5 times before it happened, why couldn’t our coaches pick this up and find a way to stop it?
Chiefs Playoff Ineptitude – The Chiefs have lost an NFL record 7 straight playoff games. They are always overmatched and not ready to play. This is the biggest problem in this franchise and it’s beginning to become a mental block. The Chiefs better be prepared to deal with this cause the next time they make the playoffs it’s gonna be all about whether they can break this streak or not. This part of the Kansas City Chiefs culture needs to change.
Final Thoughts: Putting this in perspective, it really was a great season. Arrowhead came alive again and it was fun to see the Chiefs on the winning side of things. A disappointing end to the season but the foundation has been laid. The Chiefs have a lot of talent and are only going to get better. The Chiefs may take a step back record wise next season, but 2012 they will be a formidable force. Great season.
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