The 2016 Chiefs: Kansas City's worst playoff team ever?

[oaklandhater]

The 2016 Chiefs: Kansas City's worst playoff team ever?
By Clay Wendler

This might be the worst Chiefs playoff team of all time. 23rd in passing, 23rd in rushing, 20th in pass defense, 29th in run defense.

— Clay Wendler (@ClayWendler) November 28, 2016

On it's own, it's pretty shocking that this team is ranked so poorly in all four categories of football. For a little perspective: not even the worst team in Chiefs history, the 2012 Chiefs, were that bad. They were fifth in rushing.

By the way, when I say "the worst team in Chiefs history," that's not hyperbole. It's statistical fact, according to Pro Football Reference's simple rating system. So, assuming this 8-3 juggernaut doesn't blow it and makes the playoffs, we'll start in there in our quest: Are the 2016 Chiefs the worst Chiefs playoff team ever?

First off, a more recent comparison: the 2016 Chiefs are definitely the worst team of the Andy Reid era.

With an SRS of 3.6, it's not even close. The 2015 squad comes in #1 at 9.0, followed by 2013 at 6.1 and 2014 at 5.6. This seems to be almost entirely due to the offense, which at an Offensive SRS of -1.0 is the 16th worst offense in Chiefs history. Ouch.

What about the other Chiefs playoff teams?

There are several that come in below 3.6, but it bears repeating the initial point: not a single one of them ranked 20th or worse in passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense and rushing defense.

In fact, it's not even close. You can almost get there with the 2013 Chiefs, but they had a top 10 rushing offense. Even the complete playoff frauds of 2010 stopped the run better than the 2016 Chiefs.

So yes: this is the worst Chiefs playoff team of all time. In terms of being terrible at moving the football and stopping the opposition, they have no equal. If nothing changes, they will be the first Chiefs playoff team to ever rank 20th or worse in all four categories.

They would, naturally, be the first Chiefs team to win a playoff game owning such a dubious character trait. I don't know about you, but that doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Which is why I end up tweeting things like the above.

But we're not going to stop there.

Maybe there's a non-Chiefs team...maybe even a Super Bowl team...that we can lean on to provide some historical context for this overachieving team? Can we find some optimism?

Sorry: there is none. A quick look at all the Super Bowl participants since 1966 reveals that not a single winner OR loser ranked 20th or worse in passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense and rushing defense.

In fact: no one even comes close. Your closest doppelganger is the 2001 Patriots, but they were top 20 in both rushing and run defense. This Chiefs team is ranked 10 spots behind them in both categories. This doesn't work.

What about every playoff team in NFL history? This is difficult to research, but crazy people like me can do it. And here's what you get:

There is not a single playoff team in NFL history that ranked as poorly as the 2016 Chiefs do in passing, running, pass defense and run defense.

If nothing changes with this squad (and why would it?), they will be in a league of their own as the only team to ever qualify for postseason play holding such a distinction.

Let us try to find one last glimmer of hope, though. I am actually a Chiefs fan, you realize. I'd like to find something to make me feel good about the 2016 Chiefs.

If you really want to find a true historical equivalent to the 2016 Chiefs, here it is: the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.

They don't quite achieve the 4x20 greatness this team, but they come close at 19/31 27/21.

And while they finished 7-9 and allowed Matt Cassel to waltz into their own house and beat them, you should know:

They did win a playoff game.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! And pass the checkdowns.

[oaklandhater]

Clay gonna Clay

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

Clay gonna Clay

You two are a modern Sid and Nancy, shuffling through the garbage in search of another hit of that enticing horse known as Alex-hate.

[New World Order]

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

You two are a modern Sid and Nancy, shuffling through the garbage in search of another hit of that enticing horse known as Alex-hate.

I hate the entire offense

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

I hate the entire offense

Yeah, and Sid loved singing and Nancy loved Rocker Cock. We know what you two are here for.

[stevieray]

this is spam

hope you get banned.

[Prison Bitch]

The steelers game skewed some of that.

[RunKC]

How does this guy still have thread starting priveledges?

[New World Order]

If the d is healthy and we don't have a bunch of bonehead playcalling they really can beat anyone.

[Bl00dyBizkitz]

Who is this guy?

[pugsnotdrugs19]

These threads get worse and worse each week.

Everyone and their f**king brother knows this is the least healthy playoff caliber team in the league right now. They can and I expect that they will continue to get better.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by stevieray

this is spam

hope you get banned.

for what I didn't write the article nor do I agree with it

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Bl00dyBizkitz

Who is this guy?

Gochiefs

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

The steelers game skewed some of that.

This I defended our D every week since the steelers game in game threads.