philfree
10-16-2009, 05:58 PM
When will the Chiefs' first victory happen?
October 16, 2009 3:10 PM
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
Thanks to the 2008 Detroit Lions, the idea of a team finishing the NFL season 0-16 is no longer shocking and unbelievable.
While the Lions are the mayors of Loserville, no one wants to join them on the 0-16 list.
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire
There are still some winnable games on the schedule for Todd Haley and the Chiefs.
Yet, the Kansas City Chiefs are about a third of the way there. The Chiefs are 0-5 after blowing a game against Dallas on Sunday. In Week 2, Kansas City blew a game late to Oakland.
The Chiefs have not learned to finish the job under first-year head coach Todd Haley. That was the problem with former coach Herm Edwards and it was one of the reasons he was fired. The Chiefs won two games last season and they blew several games late. The Chiefs have lost nine straight games dating back to last season and 28 of their last 30.
The Chiefs cannot shake their losing culture. They can’t run the ball, convert on third down or stop anyone.
I truly don’t believe the Chiefs -- one of four winless teams remaining -- will go winless. Given their inability to finish games, though, a winless season has to be considered a possibility.
The following is a look at the remaining 11 games on Kansas City’s schedule and whether the Chiefs can win:
Oct.18 at Washington
Current record: 2-3
Chance of Chiefs winning: 30 percent
How can the Chiefs win? They have to hope the pressure on Redskins coach Jim Zorn and the reported in-fighting continue to disrupt Washington on offense.
Oct. 25 vs. San Diego
Current record: 2-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 20 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Chiefs will have to hope the Chargers are in a total downward spiral after a loss to Denver on Monday night. If the Chargers beat the Broncos, I think they will start rolling.
Nov. 8 at Jacksonville
Current record: 2-3
Chance of Chiefs winning: 30 percent
How can the Chiefs win? This could be one of the Chiefs’ best chances on the road. If Kansas City stays in this game in the second half, it could be in business.
Nov. 15 at Oakland
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 50 percent
How can the Chiefs win? Finish the Raiders off. Kansas City ran all over the Raiders in Week 2, but they blew the game late. If the Chiefs can overpower Oakland again, they should win.
Nov. 22 vs. Pittsburgh
Current record: 3-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Steelers will have to make several mistakes on both sides of the ball and lose their focus to fall to Kansas City.
Nov. 29 at San Diego
Current record: 2-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If the Chiefs are going to beat San Diego, it likely will be at Arrowhead Stadium in the first meeting.
Dec. 6 vs. Denver
Current record: 5-0
Chance of Chiefs winning: 10 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If Denver doesn’t suffer any major injuries and continues to play as balanced as it has been, the Chiefs will be in trouble.
Dec.13 vs. Buffalo
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 55 percent
How can the Chiefs win? This is one of the reasons I don’t think the Chiefs will go 0-16. In fact, this could be Kansas City’s third win. By the time these two teams meet, the Bills likely will be a bigger mess than the Chiefs.
Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 60 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If the Chiefs are still winless at this point, they better do everything they can to win this one because it might be their last realistic chance.
Dec. 27 at Cincinnati
Current record: 4-1
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Bengals could be in the playoff hunt, so they might be playing for their postseason lives.
Jan.3 at Denver
Current record: 5-0
Chance of Chiefs winning: 5
How can the Chiefs win? The only way Kansas City can win this game is if the Broncos use backups because they've already secured the playoff berth they want
PhilFree:arrow:
October 16, 2009 3:10 PM
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
Thanks to the 2008 Detroit Lions, the idea of a team finishing the NFL season 0-16 is no longer shocking and unbelievable.
While the Lions are the mayors of Loserville, no one wants to join them on the 0-16 list.
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire
There are still some winnable games on the schedule for Todd Haley and the Chiefs.
Yet, the Kansas City Chiefs are about a third of the way there. The Chiefs are 0-5 after blowing a game against Dallas on Sunday. In Week 2, Kansas City blew a game late to Oakland.
The Chiefs have not learned to finish the job under first-year head coach Todd Haley. That was the problem with former coach Herm Edwards and it was one of the reasons he was fired. The Chiefs won two games last season and they blew several games late. The Chiefs have lost nine straight games dating back to last season and 28 of their last 30.
The Chiefs cannot shake their losing culture. They can’t run the ball, convert on third down or stop anyone.
I truly don’t believe the Chiefs -- one of four winless teams remaining -- will go winless. Given their inability to finish games, though, a winless season has to be considered a possibility.
The following is a look at the remaining 11 games on Kansas City’s schedule and whether the Chiefs can win:
Oct.18 at Washington
Current record: 2-3
Chance of Chiefs winning: 30 percent
How can the Chiefs win? They have to hope the pressure on Redskins coach Jim Zorn and the reported in-fighting continue to disrupt Washington on offense.
Oct. 25 vs. San Diego
Current record: 2-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 20 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Chiefs will have to hope the Chargers are in a total downward spiral after a loss to Denver on Monday night. If the Chargers beat the Broncos, I think they will start rolling.
Nov. 8 at Jacksonville
Current record: 2-3
Chance of Chiefs winning: 30 percent
How can the Chiefs win? This could be one of the Chiefs’ best chances on the road. If Kansas City stays in this game in the second half, it could be in business.
Nov. 15 at Oakland
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 50 percent
How can the Chiefs win? Finish the Raiders off. Kansas City ran all over the Raiders in Week 2, but they blew the game late. If the Chiefs can overpower Oakland again, they should win.
Nov. 22 vs. Pittsburgh
Current record: 3-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Steelers will have to make several mistakes on both sides of the ball and lose their focus to fall to Kansas City.
Nov. 29 at San Diego
Current record: 2-2
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If the Chiefs are going to beat San Diego, it likely will be at Arrowhead Stadium in the first meeting.
Dec. 6 vs. Denver
Current record: 5-0
Chance of Chiefs winning: 10 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If Denver doesn’t suffer any major injuries and continues to play as balanced as it has been, the Chiefs will be in trouble.
Dec.13 vs. Buffalo
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 55 percent
How can the Chiefs win? This is one of the reasons I don’t think the Chiefs will go 0-16. In fact, this could be Kansas City’s third win. By the time these two teams meet, the Bills likely will be a bigger mess than the Chiefs.
Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland
Current record: 1-4
Chance of Chiefs winning: 60 percent
How can the Chiefs win? If the Chiefs are still winless at this point, they better do everything they can to win this one because it might be their last realistic chance.
Dec. 27 at Cincinnati
Current record: 4-1
Chance of Chiefs winning: 15 percent
How can the Chiefs win? The Bengals could be in the playoff hunt, so they might be playing for their postseason lives.
Jan.3 at Denver
Current record: 5-0
Chance of Chiefs winning: 5
How can the Chiefs win? The only way Kansas City can win this game is if the Broncos use backups because they've already secured the playoff berth they want
PhilFree:arrow: