Last Words on 2013 Kansas City Chiefs

As a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise, it's tempting to delve into 20 years without a playoff win, how I've never really seen one since I didn't really understand or appreciate anything when I was 9, how it's the longest active streak of playoff losses.

But I'm also a fan of the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs. And it's not really fair to that team to carry all this baggage. 

Here are the games that team played, sorted by opponents record including playoffs to date. Playoff teams in bold.

L @ Denver 13-3

L vs Denver 13-3

L vs Indy 12-5

L @ Indy 12-5

W @ Philly 10-7

L @ San Diego 9-7

L vs San Diego 9-7

W vs Dallas 8-8

W vs NY Giants 7-9

W @ Tennessee 7-9

W @ Buffalo 6-10

W @ Jacksonville 4-12

W vs Oakland 4-12

W vs Cleveland 4-12

W @ Oakland 4-12

W @ Washington 3-13

W vs Houston 2-14

That tells a pretty good story. 10-0 against non-playoff teams. 1-6 against playoff teams.

If they had held on to a 21-7 lead over the Broncos on December 1, they likely would have been the #1 seed and not even had to play yesterday.

But they couldn't. They were a good team and I think seeded appropriately. 5th in the conference. About just as good as the Colts, 4th in the conference.

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Obviously they were a few plays that if just one of them had flipped, the Chiefs could have won.

1. Missing wide open Cyrus Gray to start the 4th for a sure touchdown and a 17-point lead.

2. The fumble that bounced into Luck's hands. If there was no fumble it would have been a 3rd and 2.

3. The fumble that the Colts recovered an inch in bounds.

4. Going from a 2nd and 7 to a 3rd and 11 to a 4th and 6 and field goal when up 41-38.

5. When down 44-45, and have 2nd and 7 on the INDY 39 and all we need is a field goal and there's an intentional grounding, 6 yard gain on 3rd and 17, and then Bowe gets one foot in on the 4th down. 

BUT

There are just as many plays that went the Chiefs way that led to that huge lead in the first place. These teams are about even. 

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When the Colts got the deep TD pass to finally take the lead with 4 minutes to go, I was not upset. I was thinking the Colts were sure to get a TD, I was happy to have 4 minutes to drive for a field goal. Almost got there.

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Anyways, great season. Only the 4th playoff game I've gotten to experience (as an adult). And it's not like the Chiefs were going to win two more road games anyways. Once they lost twice to Denver and couldn't win the division, I had lowered my ceiling to winning one playoff game. Almost got there.