Chiefs Chiefs still eyeing postseason at 3-5 - Page 9

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/

Mother****erJones · 11-05-2015, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberFart

You guys know as well as anyone that the Chiefs aren't making the playoffs. The Raiders will beat them down 2x.

You're the worst ****ing troll. 4th & 48er

Mother****erJones · 11-05-2015, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

I do worry about this but you've gotten very bold in your 1st competitive season in 10 years...

All of the resident raider trolls have been. It's laughable

ThaVirus · 11-05-2015, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

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.

They certainly could do better. They've given up a couple fourth quarter leads.

But in the Bears game they only allowed a net of 11 points. The collapse was shit after Jamaal went out and we missed the field goal, but any offense worth two shits will put up 12 points. I just can't put a defense at fault in a game in which it only allowed 11 points.

And against Denver, the offense and special teams gave them the ball in our territory on three separate occasions. 24 points allowed under those circumstances aren't great by any means, but should have been enough to win the game.

ThaVirus · 11-05-2015, 06:43 PM

And let's be honest, it was really Jamell Fleming that allowed Manning to march down the field late in that game. If Sean Smith plays that week, you have to imagine we get that W easily, no?

Spott · 11-05-2015, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

And let's be honest, it was really Jamell Fleming that allowed Manning to march down the field late in that game. If Sean Smith plays that week, you have to imagine we get that W easily, no?

We would have still found a way to lose against Manning. We always have and always will.

**Baby Lee** · 11-05-2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

I'd love to buy this story but I disagree with all of it.

We have a fuddle-butt HC, craptastic O line, a defense that only shows up when you roll the dice the right way, and a QB that can save or sink the game on any given play.

How does this actually disagree with ANY of what I said?

I'm talking about 1) talented, 2) finally showing a spark lately, 3) easy schedule ahead.

There's an entirely difference in problem solving when your task is getting a team to;

a) 'run faster, be more powerful, have better instincts, stay healthy'
as opposed to
b) 'get your head out of your ass and play up to your capabilities.'

All that you said could easily be just as much true, even more.

dls6501 · 11-05-2015, 09:22 PM

I think we have an outside shot. Wouldn't bet on it though.

TEX · 11-05-2015, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

True. In SD however a missed FG and a HORRIBLE call against the Chiefs, with several starters out, did them in.

Yep. A missed FG and an illegal overloaded line by SD on said missed FG - don't forget that part of it. THEN we got the TERRIBLE call that went against us. The league wanted Rivers in that year and he and the Bolts got in on virtually the last play of the last game of the season. Imagine that...

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-06-2015, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trivers

He states this losernonsense all the time. Sorta have to consider the source and ignore him.

He probably never played any other sport than kickball in his life.

I can't stand people who root for us to lose..

100% agree and got your back on this issue

MMXcalibur · 11-06-2015, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberFart

You guys know as well as anyone that the Chiefs aren't making the playoffs. The Raiders will beat them down 2x.

"We're barely over .500 for the first time in 12 years! TIME TO TALK SHIT!"

OctoberFart · 11-06-2015, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

I do worry about this but you've gotten very bold in your 1st competitive season in 10 years...

Well we have had good success against KC when we have been terrible. Oakland fans should be happy. We got a great young core and not just a bunch of retread has beens.

clemdawg · 11-06-2015, 05:44 AM

Its a shame that injurys are hurting the best teams. K.C. is one of them.

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

Yep. A missed FG and an illegal overloaded line by SD on said missed FG - don't forget that part of it. THEN we got the TERRIBLE call that went against us. The league wanted Rivers in that year and he and the Bolts got in on virtually the last play of the last game of the season. Imagine that...

Yup. It's that easy to 'rig' a game in the NFL

One shit call, and it's 'well, **** you Pittsburgh - y'all are staying home and we'll just have to take an "our bad, dawg" on this one...ya gnomesaine?? Sorry. Keep your coach off the field.'

Because you KNOW they have people watching every single call in at the 'command center', right??

And you know, that if they REALLY wanted to get calls correct, that the command center could intervene in cases like the SD game (where officials are majorly blowing calls at the end of the game that directly affect who is allowed to participate in the playoffs)

But they don't care about getting calls 'right', just 'right enough-ish'. If they cared, they would actually enforce rules instead of merely interpreting them.

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

"We're barely over .500 for the first time in 12 years! TIME TO TALK SHIT!"

no shit

There are some STUPID ****ing people in the world.

To paraphrase Jim Morrison...'a bunch of ****ing idiots.'

rabblerouser · 11-06-2015, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

They have good QB's..

And less than 10% of drafted QB's turn out. There is no parity in the NFL.

Absolutely there is almost total parity in the NFL.

What separates an 'average' team from the good ones is almost always coaching and QB play.

Look at Indy - they were in the AFC Championship Game last year and they have a terrible team.

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

11-05-2015, 06:43 PM	#124
ThaVirus 5 o’clock free crack giveaway Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $-1607631	And let's be honest, it was really Jamell Fleming that allowed Manning to march down the field late in that game. If Sean Smith plays that week, you have to imagine we get that W easily, no?
Posts: 46,913

11-05-2015, 09:22 PM	#127
dls6501 Veteran Join Date: Jan 2014 Casino cash: $9940375	I think we have an outside shot. Wouldn't bet on it though.
Posts: 1,433

11-06-2015, 05:44 AM	#132
clemdawg Rookie Join Date: Nov 2015 Casino cash: $10000400	Its a shame that injurys are hurting the best teams. K.C. is one of them.
Posts: 29