KC Chiefs: Are The Chiefs Back In Playoff Contention
The Chiefs have won their last two games, keeping the little hope that Chiefs’ nation had left alive.
The Kansas City Chiefs came into the season with high expectations from their fans, considering the level of talent that the roster had on it. Most expected the Chiefs to be at least in contention for one of the two Wild Card spots in the AFC, if not in the running with the Denver Broncos for the AFC West division crown.
This notion proved to be very false, as they started the season 1-5, losing the five games in a row after opening the season with a win against one of the worst teams in the NFL in the Houston Texans.
Now, it’s Week 9, and the Chiefs have their bye week this week after coming off consecutive victories against the Steelers and the Lions in London, England.
With the team looking very good the last couple of weeks, it has fans starting to wonder if in fact their team’s season really is over (from a making-the-playoffs perspective), which many thought it was after the losses to the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings back-to-back. Both were games that the Chiefs could have, and honestly should have won.
My answer to the question of if the Chiefs’ playoff chances are over, I would say most likely.
The Chiefs still have one matchup with the Denver Broncos, in Denver, both of their games against the San Diego Chargers, who are actually pretty bad this year, and both of their games against the Raiders, who are, on the contrary, much better than they have been for a long time, currently sitting at 4-3.
When looking at the remaining schedule, one could see how the Chiefs could win the most of the rest of their games and sneak into the playoffs, but the sad fact remains that this year’s Chiefs team is just not as good as it should be.
… but the sad fact remains that this year’s Chiefs team is just not as good as it should be.
I see the Chiefs losing AT LEAST three more of their games, which should land them on the outside looking in with an at best 8-8 record unless they go on an absolute tear the second half of the season. The reason that I can’t see this happening is the absence of their best player: running back Jamaal Charles, who was put on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
Reserve rookie running back Charcandrick West has done a nice job of filling in so far in the absence of Charles, but he simply cannot replace all of the things that Jamaal brings to the table. But honestly, who could?
Along with the absence of Charles, the Chiefs’ secondary has struggled tremendously for the entirety of this season, and I don’t think it will get any better until at least next season and beyond.
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The Chiefs’ start to their 2015-2016 campaign was simply too much for them to overcome now, this late into the season with the pressure of having to go nearly undefeated to just make the playoffs, let alone win a game.
I don’t have much faith in their chances for this postseason, but crazier things have happened!