Alex Smith announces retirement

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And this here is why you not being die hard in the 90’s makes all the difference. The NFL playoffs absolutely can be decided by one bounce if the ball. But those of us that were fans back then watched the ball bounce the WRONG way not once or twice but EVERY DAMN TIME.

We had a coach that believes in keeping the game close because he always wanted a chance to win it at the end. The problem is that when that ball bounces the wrong way in close games, it’s a death blow. It became a curse - anything that could go wrong did - untimely penalties, turnovers, missed field goals. Marty invented a new way to lose every time. And when we had a QB that could overcome it, the other team just hurt him to get him out of the game.

Not having experienced that viscerally, I’m just not sure you can see it from my view. Let me put it this way:

I’m sure when Indy cemented their comeback in 2013, you were stunned. I wasn’t. In fact, when they scored the 2nd time to cut the lead, my first thought was “here we go again”.

Honestly, I'm a lil chiefy at heart. I truly believed that we could win any game prior to Mahomes coming to town. Even back in the Cassel days, I'd get my ass up and ready every Sunday hoping Jamaal could carry us to victory lol

Now, with Patrick, I truly believe that we will win every game

Originally Posted by Bearcat

It's tied to being competitive in the biggest games of the season and then against the few really good teams in the postseason. Everyone knows you're not winning a SB every year, but being a true contender most years is infinitely better than the "make the playoffs and see what happens" approach.

The Patriots did it for 20 years, Packers have done it for years, the Colts for years with Manning, etc.... but, never the Chiefs prior to Mahomes.

Tim Tebow can win more games than he loses and win a playoff game... it's actually very hard not to reach that level of mediocrity in the NFL every year or three. That's the entire point of the league and it's not impressive or all that entertaining, IMO, to beat or 9 or 10 teams that range from shit to okay and then beat one of them in the playoffs before bowing out to a real contender.

I don't think anyone would argue the contrary.

I think there are people on both sides of the fence for either "4-12, 6-10 types of seasons until you get the QB are preferable" and "give me 10-6, 11-5 seasons even though our chances of winning it all are extremely slim". I'd take the latter every time. It seems many here would prefer the former.

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

If you look at the end results its not THAT different. maybe not 99/100 but like 40/50 and something like 26 or 27/30 for the most recent years

If you look solely at the winners, then it's a little closer, but including the final four shows that you've actually got a pretty good shot at getting far even without an elite QB. In the last 20 years, here are the teams I'd say made it to at least the Championship game who did not have an elite QB at the time. It's going to be a bit murky because of what you might consider elite. Like, I would not consider Brady elite from 2001-2004. Russel Wilson was not elite in 2013. Guys like Flacco in 2012 were not elite, but had elite postseasons. Manning in 2015 was no longer elite, though obviously he once was. Anyway, here goes:

2019 49ers
2019 Titans
2018 Rams (this one is up for debate as Goff was potentially in elite category that season)
2017 Eagles
2017 Vikings
2017 Jaguars
2015 Cardinals (also up for debate as Palmer was pretty elite that year)
2015 Broncos
2014 Seahawks
2013 49ers
2013 Seahawks
2012 49ers
2012 Ravens
2011 Ravens
2011 Giants
2011 49ers
2010 Jets
2010 Bears
2009 Jets
2008 Ravens
2006 Bears
2005 Seahawks
2005 Broncos
2004 Patriots
2003 Panthers
2003 Patriots
2002 Titans
2002 Buccaneers
2001 Patriots
2000 Giants
2000 Ravens

I almost listed the 2016 Falcons and 2015 Panthers but decided not to as Newton and Ryan both had MVP season's that year that clearly propelled the team to elite territory.