Chiefs still eyeing postseason at 3-5
 

Chiefs still eyeing postseason at 3-5


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cue the old tape of former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Mora Sr. talking after a poor performance by his team, and asked about the potential for postseason play.

"Playoffs? Don't talk to me about playoffs," Mora bellowed. "You kidding me. Playoffs?"

In most seasons, those words could have been used to describe the situation surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs (3-5). Only a few weeks ago after losing five consecutive games, the Chiefs stood 1-5 and thinking about the postseason was folly.

But below undefeated New England, Denver and Cincinnati, the AFC is a pool of mediocrity and after stringing together two victories heading into their bye week, the Chiefs are only one game out of the conference's second wildcard spot.

Andy Reid is not the type of NFL head coach who will screech like Mora when talking to the media about his team's future. The theme is always the same: more hard work is needed.

"There's things we can get better at," Reid said. "We're not nearly as good as we possibly can be, so we've got to keep working. That's the challenge for all of us, players and coaches.

"We can all improve and get better, there's plenty to see on tape for that to learn from."

The Chiefs' two-game winning streak came against a Pittsburgh team without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a Detroit club that will compete over the second-half of the 2015 season for the first selection of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Still, all that is meaningless when a team is trying to end a long losing streak and return to a projected role as a contender.

Whether Kansas City has returned to that point will be seen over the next five games, with four of those in the AFC West and three on the road.

Ahead are trips to Denver and San Diego, then a weekend at home against Buffalo, before a trip to Oakland. By the time November turns to December, everyone will have a much better handle on exactly what the Chiefs can make of this season.

According to STATS, 280 teams started 3-5 in NFL history; 15 rallied to make the playoffs.

The Chiefs franchise has started the season 3-5 six times before this season, and did not make the playoffs in any of those years (1961, 1974, 1976, 1985, 1989 and 2004.) Only the '89 team finished the year with a winning record at 8-7-1.

Translation: no matter the quality of the conference, they have a long road ahead of them if they want to play into January.

"I feel like the confidence has always been there," tight end Travis Kelce said of the locker room vibe. "It's just going out there and doing it. Obviously, we have had some mixed pieces in the offensive line, and at wide out.

"In the beginning we had some guys banged up. But no excuses to that. The teams we played definitely came to play and kudos to them. But at the same time, we have a confidence in that locker room."

Kelce mentioned "mixed pieces" along the Chiefs offensive line and without a doubt that's where they have struggled to perform. In eight games, they've had five different starting groups, with only rookie center Mitch Morse playing in his spot for all games.

The Chiefs have one of the bottom four pass protection units in the league, allowing 29 sacks in 299 passing plays. Quarterback Alex Smith has been bruised and battered, starting the season with three interceptions in the first three games.

Smith now has gone five games without throwing it to the other team, and overall in the last five games the Chiefs have only two giveaways.

Defensively, Kansas City has picked up the pace in forcing turnovers. In the first four games, the Chiefs had only three takeaways, but have generated eight in the four most recent games.

The Chiefs are plus-three in the turnover ratio, and there are only seven teams with higher plus ratio.

As with most NFL teams, the Chiefs have dealt with their share of injuries, losing their No. 1 offensive weapon when running back Jamaal Charles tore the ACL in his right knee.

Kansas City also lost Phillip Gaines to a torn ACL; he was one of the club's top three cornerbacks. Offensive line injuries have slowed that group's development.

Still, here they are, sitting 3-5 and they can realistically say they are still in the race for a spot in the postseason.

"I think they've just stuck together," Reid said. "You've seen young guys get better. ... We've probably got more young guys playing for us than anybody in the league and they've continually gotten better.

"They've had the veteran support there, in a positive way for them. And then some of the guys that were banged up or sick they've continued to get better every week. That's important."

Reid never outwardly reached for the panic button when the club couldn't win a game. There were no coaching staff changes, and with the exception of the offensive line, there was little in the way of changes to the starting lineup. He feels everybody stepped up their performance, especially the guys in the locker room.

"The players have upped it," Reid said. "Not that you're not going to get beat every once in a while; that happens in his league. We're playing against good players. Best in the world, right? So, they keep battling. They're not letting things get them down at all."

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2...3581446674565/

And I am eyeing that Powerball jackpot doesn't mean I am going to win it.

Even if we go 5-3, which is possible but being very optimistic, we'd still miss the last spot.

I think we could, but it would require us not having a single let down (loss in a game we're favored to win) for us to have a chance...

We probably have like a 5% chance at the honor of losing a wild card game. Another loss and it would be near zero.

Hopefully the Lions or a team playing a backup QB makes it, they seem to play well against those teams.

And then I think to myself, "I'm glad I didn't get any season tickets"
And then I think to myself, "I've seen this shitshow before"
And then I think to myself, "This is basically last year in reverse"
And then I think to myself, "This is just like 2011, EXCEPT NO ONE IS GETTING FIRED!!"

Letting the days go by
Let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by
Water flowing underground
Into the blue again
After the money's gone
Once in a lifetime
Water flowing underground

Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Look where my hand was
Time isn't holding us
Time isn't after us
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Yeah, the twister comes
Here comes the twister
Same as it ever was...

Looking at the schedule, the only guaranteed loss right now is our next game in Denver. I think a lot of us realists may have jumped the gun a bit with how poorly the Chiefs were playing due to their competition. The teams that slaughtered us are, far and away, among the best in the NFL.

Still, the fact that they did slaughter us simply means that even if the Chiefs do string a bunch of wins against bad teams and make the playoffs, they'll just get crushed again.

#mediocrityforthetruefans

See, if they **** around and back in (shades of 2006), the front office will spin the above into 'a record setting 2015 - season tickets available now!!'


Yeah, Andy Reid is clutch against 3rd string QBs.

Looking at the schedule, the only guaranteed win right now is...??

Oakland is capable of curbstomping us...twice. so can Phyllis. Then Peyton again.

That's 5 losses right there...

Buffalo will rape us, so that leaves maybe Baltimore or Cleveland.

I remember the last time we played Cleveland late in the season, a terrible Cleveland team that we should have destroyed at Arrowhead...but every time the Chiefs kicked the ball away, they'd let a return go for 6pts. And lost like 40-38

I remember a real similar Baltimore game from 2006

So...I look at the schedule and see one more win. Maybe.

Indi is not a good team right now. They'll probably limp to the division title but they are balancing the razor's edge.

And Cinci still hasn't shown up for a playoff game yet...

They can only afford to lose 1 the rest of they way, maybe 2. That would leave them at 9-7. I'd be surprised.

8-8 is more likely.

There is no way they should not sweep SD. They can't even field a team. How many are on IR? Their best player is done for the season.

Also, the Ravens are done. Chiefs can easily win that. Beating Oakland once and Cleveland puts them at 8-8.

This is realistically a best case scenario. They're going to have to pull 2 more wins out of their asses. Buffalo and... ?

Yep. That Bears loss did us in. There were others, (Broncos & Vikings) but THAT BEARS loss was the killer because Chiefs had better talent and blew a 14pt 4thQtr lead at home. :shake:

There's a BIG difference in being 3-5 as compared to 4-4. It's going to translate into finishing 8-8 and being outside looking in instead of 9-7 and being in the mix.

I'd like to add to your last statement and say that the Chiefs will have it beat a team that they're not favored to do so and also hold serve against those that they are. In the first half of this season they did the just opposite.

Not a chance in hell.

Just what I needed to take the great taste of the Royals out of my mouth and curdle it.

KC needs to pressure Rivers all day long. Never give him time.


We will most likely lose at Den and at Oakland. Oakland actually believes in themselves for the first time since Red-assed-Rich retired. And they aren't afraid to go for the big play. Those games won't be easy.

Baltimore might be finished as far as heart but they all want a bigger paycheck. Their biggest weakness (passing game/deep ball) is one we can't and won't exploit. And it is our nature to play down to the opponent more often than not...

:clap: ROFL

Just like to add:
And then I think to myself, "That's why I did NOT renew NFL Sunday Ticket"

Same thing with the Chicago team that came into Arrowhead and beat us.

It's the Elway factor - no matter how terrible the team, no lead is safe if it's less than 21 pts.

14 pt lead, all the offense needs is 2 possessions to tie.

Rivers can sling the ball. Yes, he has no team around him.

However, Rivers is better at rallying his team than Cutler is.

Remember 2008, the game that got Carl fired?? I do. A hungover Phyllis Rivers decides to wake up with 97 seconds left, threw a few TDs and win the game.

Just letting you know.

1 win against SD at Arrowhead, and you can pick a win from between Cleveland and Baltimore. That's 2 more wins.

5-11

Yep - none of that shit at my house this year neither. Or last.

Between Haley getting canned in 2011, the shitshow of 2012, and the playoff collapse in Indy, I'm not giving these ones who suck the penises another dime until ReidSmith is gone.

So, we're looking at 2017 over here, for real...

Us being a total $#it-show is exactly why I renewed my sunday ticket.

This way I can concentrate on my FD after my team pushes me to the brink of not-give-a-$#it-at-all-ville...

For me, this was the first time in 12 seasons that I did not renew NFL Sunday Ticket. Also the first that I don't watch MNF on a regular basis or Thursday night games when I can, because IMO the NFL is not a good enough product anymore to keep me watching when my team sucks. THAT NEVER used to happen. So sick of the SAME stories & teams, rule changes, STUPID London games, etc. Hell, I don't even know what constitutes a catch anymore - like half of the refs... BUT, I DO know that when question about said catch occurs, my team won't get the same call that a team with a HOF / Franchise QB WILL get. Bank on that. (This usually works the same way for fumbles too)

I only renewed it because I get it for free. I've hardly watched it this year compared to past years. Every year it's the same old stories and at the end, it's always watching teams not named the Chiefs playing for a chance in the Super Bowl.

And the best news? Great seats are STILL available for you to witness the forthcoming historic turnaround the Kansas City Chiefs are about to pull off! I'm as shocked as you are at this news!

Yeah I'm actually about to take the Dtv package down a step.

Getting rid of ESPN and FoxSports. The basic 'family' package has NFL Network and they replay the MNF if I really care to watch...

And I laughed this morning when they asked Jeff Fisher "do you actually know what constitutes a catch"??

He goes "yeah I'm on the competition committiee, so I know exactly what constitutes a catch..."

You could tell he stifled himself from adding "I don't think the refs do, though."

Bingo!

Hey!!

NO KC Chiefs team has ever made the playoffs after starting 3-5...

Witness. History.

Buy your tickets now!!!

Well nobody seemed to like my idea of abandoning the Chiefs and making this RoyalsPlanet permanently, so it's still a football board!

Just a reminder that the chiefs did not make a single trade at the trade deadline for players we probably aren't going to keep. Like chase Daniel.

11-5 5th seed.

Book it

Maybe because no one offered anything worth a shit?

Given how much the chiefs have pumped up the message about the chiefs being still in it? Loudest voice being Clark hunt? Yeah, I'm pretty sure we weren't as aggressive at the trade deadline as we should have been.

I can see the new advertising campaign right now.

COME TO KANSAS CITY
HOME OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONS
AND SEE THE CHIEFS PLAY

"Come to Arrowhead. The neighbors of the World Champion Kansas City Royals!"

ROFL

This team is not beating the Broncos or the Raiders. San Diego is bad this year.....but that offense will be tough to stop....especially if Alex goes back to his usual "can't convert 3rd downs" bullshit. If the Browns have McCown....we might lose that one. The only team that we SHOULD destroy is Baltimore.

Headline should read, "Chiefs not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention"

I'll give this team the benefit of the doubt and say that we'll split with the Raiders and beat the Chargers twice.

@Broncos - L
@Chargers - W
vs. Bills - W
@ Raiders - L
vs. Chargers - W
@ Ravens - W
vs. Browns - W
vs. Raiders - W

Our best case scenario is 9-7 and we either miss the playoffs or get blown out in the 1st round. Sounds like an awesome time!

More realistic scenario?

@Broncos - L
@Chargers - L
vs. Bills - L
@ Raiders - L
vs. Chargers - W
@ Ravens - W
vs. Browns - W
vs. Raiders - L

6-10. Book it.

Anything is worth more than nothing...to an organization that actually cares about winning.

Chase, Hali, and DeVito would certainly be appealing to a team with a legitimate playoff spot...and 2 of them probably won't be back after this season.

I called 5-11 with a 'pick one' w/l for @BAL/vsCLE

Just because I was behind the Cleveland sideline for the Josh Cribbs Experience, when KC blew it last minute against a terrible Cleveland team, at Arrowhead, at the end of the season...

They just refused to tackle that guy.

It was odd.

Sean Smith had to have been worth at worst a 5th rounder.

Also, dj. And if the chiefs have no intent to resign Sean Smith, there is no point in holding onto him just so we can win two or three meaningless games.

Have you thought that maybe they intend on trying to re-sign him?

Yup.

Don't know who we should've got...but I know who I would've shoppped.

It's a shame, too.

Assuming absolute best case, realistic-ish scenario for us, we squeak in the playoffs as the 6th seed at 9-7. At that point, there's about a 99.9% chance we'd be playing either @ Cinci, @ Denver or @ New England.

Seriously. Either of those games would be a complete slaughterhouse, assuming Peyton doesn't experience his usual late-season slide and Dalton resembles an actual NFL QB come January.

But the 5th seed? They'll be playing either @Indianapolis, @Houston or @ Jacksonville most likely. Now there's a winnable game.

Whoever gets the 5th seed this year will be some lucky mother****ers.

It'll either be the Steelers, Raiders or Jets.

I think it'll be the Steelers, Bills or Raiders.

The Steelers have the best team of the three but the toughest schedule. The Raiders appear to be pretty good and their schedule isn't too tough. The Bills will be getting Tyrod Taylor back soon.

The Jets will be missing Fitzpatrick for a few weeks, IIRC, so I'm expecting an appreciable slide coming up here soon. I don't even think they make the playoffs.

Fitzpatrick is playing this week.

Ah, well. I still don't think they're all that good.

They have the fortune of starting the latter half of the season with a few more wins than most, but they'll falter.

11 and 5.

Done deal

After a win in denver next week, you'll all believe

Damn...pass that over here. I want some, because you're stoned as **** if you think this team is even sniffing double digits.

Give me some of what you're smoking and I'll believe the won no matter what the score.

Wow, I have seen a lot of negativity about the team on the board this year (understandably) but this is over the top.

Just, wow. :shake:

FYP

Here's where I am. It's a long shot, but if ever there was a team by trend and schedule primed for a long shot, it's this one this year. Talented team. Easy tail of schedule, finally starting to show signs of initial promise.

And if it happens, it's a story you want to see in real time.

The pain of this season already happened, enough pain for a decade. It's still interesting in a redemption and narrative standpoint. And besides a loss or two ends the story anyway, so it's not going to be a long painful ride if it comes short.

Even if they did get in they would most likely have to play at ne, Den or Cinci.

Good luck

LMAO.

Rabble is one of the best posters on this board.

LOL @ thread title

At least someone recognizes it.

Would be nice to finally beat Peyton before he's put out to pasture.

I doubt it, but it wouldn't surprise me because they had them beat in Arrowhead. Plus, seems like every season the Chiefs have a game they have no business winning.

Rivers is also capable of shitting himself like he did with the fumbled snap in KC when he had the game won.

The chargers are trash now, the Raiders are meh and we're hot as **** right now.

Prepare yourselves for a 30 for 30 type run

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps2v3iwk5d.gif
ROFL

I sure hope you're right.

That's at Arrowhead.

Didn't that game put us at 5-5, tied for the division lead on Halloween night??

2011

:hmmm:

The Raiders have the Steelers this weekend. Who do we root for?

The Raiders have the Steelers then the Vikings. Then they have a favorable three game stretch including teams like the Lions, Titans, and Chiefs. That's followed by the Broncos and Packers in back to back weeks. Then they close out the season against SD and KC.

Even with the emergence of the Raiders we do seem to have one of the more favorable back end schedules of any playoff hopeful. It's a shame we dug ourselves such a deep hole to start.

For us to go to the playoffs we would have to sweep Oakland and SD, beat buffalo, Baltimore (they are still tough),

Those are all at the very least competitive teams. Baltimore hung with Arizona at AZ and SD was 3 yards away from going to OT at gb.

Pitt for sure. Don't we hold the tie breaker?

That Bears game ****ing killed us. I think we would have a solid shot at the playoffs if we had won that game.

Seems odd that the record could be 5-5 for an Oct 31 game. Seems too early in year for that. But the rest of the scenario might be correct.

Yep. Would be right in the mix. 4-4 is way different than 3-5.

I brought him up because he is one of five chiefs (Sean Smith, dj, Hali, chase) who are free agents next year. And of those four, several of them the chiefs have no intent whatsoever of resigning these guys. I would rather even a 7th rounder vs letting a player go next year for nothing.

I like the idea and actually suggested it myself as well. But apparently there are a couple people who still like the Chiefs for whatever reason.

We did beat them head to head.

I don't think either side of this team is playing at a championship level. I wouldn't expect us to make the playoffs. But that said, I don't think people realize how terrible the AFC is. There might literally be 3 good teams out of 16. And one of those has a worse playoff drought than the Chiefs, and the other has a QB with a noodle arm when he gets into cold weather. Although Denver's defense is so good, it'll give them a legit shot.

With the Colts being a disaster off the field, and Luck having broken ribs, the AFC South might be wide open. I don't think people realize Houston is tied for 1st and Jax is a half game back. Whoever gets that #5 seed might be legitimately favored in that game against the AFC South.

That #5 seed right now is Oakland. The same people complaining about how the Chiefs shouldn't try to win are going to be the same people moaning about how Oakland won another playoff game before the Chiefs in two months.

But think about all those comp picks!!!!!

Yuuup...

I think the defense is playing at a playoff-caliber level. They've allowed a net of 11, 16, 13 and 10 over the past four weeks. Obviously those teams were buns, but you can only play the guys on your schedule.

Actually, the defense played rather well in all games this year except GB and Cinci.

GO CHEFUS

Well, I was the one who pushed for comp picks two years ago and I'm glad we did that. But this year is different. There is no reason for us to compete for comp picks in a year where we'll have so much cap space going into next year.

They've been good but not great. I don't chalk Denver up as a good game. As soon as we had a 14 point lead and they were on the ropes, Manning marched right down the field and got them back into the game. Then they had a 7 point lead late and let Manning march right down the field again to tie it. They had multiple chances to shut the door in that game, at home, and couldn't.

They didn't get any help from the offense against the Bears but the did have a big 4th quarter lead. If they could've gotten just one more stop we would've won that game. I think they've played closer to playoff caliber the last couple weeks though, for sure. Going to have to carry that over against Manning and Rivers coming up, for sure.

If you beat Denver, in Denver, then I'll start to believe it's possible, because that is your last major challenge and the perfect game to raise your confidence.