Chiefs Chiefs still eyeing postseason at 3-5 - Page 11

Eleazar · 11-05-2015, 08:08 AM

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/

**BigMeatballDave** · 11-06-2015, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Do you remember what had to happen in order for them to make it in at 9-7 in 06??

Oh, they basically backed in, but they did win to get in and that is all that they could control.

Mile High Mania · 11-06-2015, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

9 wins isn't going to be good enough this year, IMO

Maybe. Essentially, you need the Colts to fix things and just win their division - reducing the Texans (tied with KC at 3-5) to nothing. You don't need a WC threat coming from this division. Looking at the Jets, Raiders and Steelers - they are the teams keeping you out right now, forget the rest. They each have a slew of tough games, so it's not impossible, but if you are a KC fan hoping for them to rally - you're going to need to follow 4 teams incredibly closely down the stretch, while hoping the Dolphins and Texans flounder.

The Jets and Raiders are both 4-3 and sitting in those final two (non div winner) spots right now.

Then, you have

Steelers, 4-4
Bills, 3-4
Dolphins, 3-4
Chiefs, 4-5
Texans, 3-5

Jets have Jaguars, Bills, @ Texans, Dolphins, @ Giants, Titans, @ Cowboys, Patriots and @ Bills.

Raiders have @ Steelers, Vikings, @ Lions, @ Titans, Chiefs, @ Broncos, Packers, Chargers, @ Chiefs

Steelers have Raiders, Browns, @ Seahawks, Colts, @ Bengals, Broncos, @ Ravens, @ Browns

RunKC · 11-06-2015, 08:48 AM

Raiders are going to get in

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

Oh, they basically backed in, but they did win to get in and that is all that they could control.

Backed in??

They slipped, tripped, stumbled backwards, and fell sideways into that one.

Bernard Pollard doesn't block that punt, and Jax goes to Indy.

Mile High Mania · 11-06-2015, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

Raiders are going to get in

They have some big games coming up.

**BigMeatballDave** · 11-06-2015, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Backed in??

They slipped, tripped, stumbled backwards, and fell sideways into that one.

Bernard Pollard doesn't block that punt, and Jax goes to Indy.

They still did what they had to do to get in, they won. Spin it however you like.

Doesn't matter because they did nothing the following week. I can't even remember who they lost to.

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

They still did what they had to do to get in, they won. Spin it however you like.

Doesn't matter because they did nothing the following week. I can't even remember who they lost to.

Indy

Trent Green got old the same freaking day as Herm decided to not give LJ his usual 30 carries...

95 - Indy
97 - Den
03 - Indy
06 - Indy
11 - Balt
13 - Indy

Actually, if the pattern holds, then we should actually either back in this year or next year, lose to Indy again, then win the division in 2017 and lose to Buffalo in the AFC title game.

**BigMeatballDave** · 11-06-2015, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Indy

Trent Green got old the same freaking day as Herm decided to not give LJ his usual 30 carries...

Yeah, and Manning even tried to give us the game early on.

RunKC · 11-06-2015, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

They have some big games coming up.

They do but they are a good team this year.

Hell they had Denver on the ropes and that's with 2 missed FG's from Janikowski.

Mile High Mania · 11-06-2015, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

They do but they are a good team this year.

Hell they had Denver on the ropes and that's with 2 missed FG's from Janikowski.

Yeah, that was an ugly game.

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

Yeah, and Manning even tried to give us the game early on.

Yes, he did.

A good QB and a HC away...

Same as it ever was.

Mile High Mania · 11-06-2015, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Yes, he did.

A good QB and a HC away...

Same as it ever was.

Another ugly road win, that game was all about turnovers.

ThaVirus · 11-06-2015, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Maybe. Essentially, you need the Colts to fix things and just win their division - reducing the Texans (tied with KC at 3-5) to nothing. You don't need a WC threat coming from this division. Looking at the Jets, Raiders and Steelers - they are the teams keeping you out right now, forget the rest. They each have a slew of tough games, so it's not impossible, but if you are a KC fan hoping for them to rally - you're going to need to follow 4 teams incredibly closely down the stretch, while hoping the Dolphins and Texans flounder.

The Jets and Raiders are both 4-3 and sitting in those final two (non div winner) spots right now.

Then, you have

Steelers, 4-4

Bills, 3-4

Dolphins, 3-4

Chiefs, 4-5

Texans, 3-5

Jets have Jaguars, Bills, @ Texans, Dolphins, @ Giants, Titans, @ Cowboys, Patriots and @ Bills.

Raiders have @ Steelers, Vikings, @ Lions, @ Titans, Chiefs, @ Broncos, Packers, Chargers, @ Chiefs

Steelers have Raiders, Browns, @ Seahawks, Colts, @ Bengals, Broncos, @ Ravens, @ Browns

The Jets game against Dallas will likely be a loss for them. Romo will be back.

ThaVirus · 11-06-2015, 09:30 AM

But I'm more concerned about the Bills than I am the Jets.

Steelers, Raiders and Bills. I'm rooting against those guys every week from here on out.

**New World Order** · 11-06-2015, 09:35 AM

Ultimately, I think we control our own destiny. We have a very favorable schedule compared to the Raiders or Steelers and we still have to play the Raiders twice. We also own the tiebreaker with Pitt.

The only winning team we play other than the Raiders which we are in competition for a playoff spot is the Broncos.

11-05-2015, 08:08 AM
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	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/
Posts: 80,659

11-06-2015, 08:48 AM	#153
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $-1420389	Raiders are going to get in __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Jared Wiley
Posts: 52,067

11-06-2015, 09:30 AM	#164
ThaVirus 5 o’clock free crack giveaway Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $-1607631	But I'm more concerned about the Bills than I am the Jets. Steelers, Raiders and Bills. I'm rooting against those guys every week from here on out.
Posts: 46,914

11-06-2015, 09:35 AM	#165
New World Order Choco Favre Join Date: Jul 2012 Casino cash: $-1015235	Ultimately, I think we control our own destiny. We have a very favorable schedule compared to the Raiders or Steelers and we still have to play the Raiders twice. We also own the tiebreaker with Pitt. The only winning team we play other than the Raiders which we are in competition for a playoff spot is the Broncos.
Posts: 32,123