I definitely think he will continue to ascend. He's improved exponentially over the course of this season and as long as Charlie Weis returns, I expect him to continue to get better.

Will he be a guy that can carry a team week in and week out? At this point, I think the answer is "no" but I think that's difficult to predict. He has shown the capacity to become a very, very good game manager, which is something I didn't think he was capable of doing in September.

So I guess the question at this point is, how high is his ceiling? I don't have that answer but I have far more confidence in his abilities than I ever expected after his last two showings, despite the level of defensive talent he faced.

He did all the "right" things, which was really cool to see.

Goddamn it. I'm just so reluctant to let my hope for him swell... I really don't want it to come crashing down on me and crushing me once again.

And I've said as much. He has made progress.

Is it enough?

We won't know until he either plays at this level in a huge game, or on the road, without a running game, etc.

Otherwise, we're right back to square one:

I don't want to HOPE this team can count on its QB.

I want to KNOW if this team can count on its QB.

Meh, the crown his ass comment was really just tongue in cheek. I'm not trying to discount his progression, just that we haven't exactly been playing teams with outstanding defense.

The pressure is on Matt now, and so far he seems to be handling it well. These next 5 games will tell us all we need to know about him.

Yes the Chiefs are 7-4. Yes if they win their division they deserve a playoff spot. But look at who their wins have come against. Chargers, Browns, SF, Jags, Bills, Cards, Seahawks. Both the Chargers and Browns were not the same team they are today and we barely won both of those games. I think this team is getting alittle overhyped thanks to their easy schedule.

hmmm.. its now what i been hearing from various pod casts. I havent looked up any stats, but supposedly they weren't that terrible and the Chiefs were going to lose going into Seattle because thier 12 man and how hard it was to win there. They have only lost one another game at home this year and that was due to them having a 3rd stringer at QB that game. Was against the Giants i believe.

No question that this league is schedule driven.

Winning begets confidence, so this might off-set some of the challenges that are bound to occur next year. Plus, we're still allowed to participate in the draft, and I believe we're allowed to be involved in FA, possibly (with many variables here).

We arent the same team as when we played the Chargers and Browns. So now what?

I don't see anyone overhyping the team...Is it the local media? Certainly national media is not. Most people I know and things I read describe the Chiefs as what they are - rebuilding, no real chance in the playoffs but might make it TO the playoffs...if they can fend off SD down the stretch.

Exactly.

Which is why is drives me nuts to see people say, "no one expected us to be 7-4. No one expected us to be in 1st place."

And?

That doesn't mean that because I mis-judged their abilities, that whatever happens from here on out is gravy because they've met/exceeded expectations.

For me it does. I didnt expect this to be a fun season to watch. It hass been. We have been in every single game going into the 4th quarter, hell we been tied or had the lead in every single game outside of the Denver game going into the 4th quarter.

Do i want this team to do more? absolutely, am i going to rant moan and groan if they dont? Nope.

How arent we? We've played 2 terrible teams 2 weeks in a row and we ran it down their throat. Thats how we've won all year.

Hell, I already consider this a successful season regardless of whether we make the playoffs or not. We have made huge strides. all they have to do now is back it up and improve on it.

I agree with everything you say here.

I think we'll see a step back when the Chiefs face a team that puts pressure on Cassel early. I think that's the kind of thing that affects him and reverberates for the rest of the game. My game plan for facing Cassel would be to come hard at him early in the game and make him feel the heat.

I think that over time, this can be remedied both through improvement in the pass protection and continued toughening of Matt Cassel's mind, but I don't think it's completely accomplished yet. What the past few weeks have done though is demonstrate that it's not a matter of a weak arm or poor mechanics or inability to process more than one receiver.

Are you kidding?

People here were talking playoffs weeks ago.

People said there was no way we'd lose to Oakland or Denver.

People continue to think our remaining home games are gimmes.