MELLINGER: The Disconnect between the 6-2 Chiefs and the fatalism of their fans

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Pretty good article by Sam Mellinger that goes in depth on the 'why' behind the Chiefs fan base being so negative despite a 6-2 record. ---> http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...182559536.html

Spoiler!

You could not find many places more schooled in watching bad teams, or more familiar with the markers of a future disappointment than Kansas City.

Just in this century we’ve seen the 2003 Royals blow a seven game lead at the All-Star break. We’ve seen the 2003 Chiefs earn a bye and a home playoff game and nosedive right away because of a fraudulent defense.

We’ve seen the 2012 Our Time Royals make a mockery of optimism, and the 2013 Chiefs turn a 9-0 start and 28-point playoff lead into a cruel prologue, to say nothing of Sporting Kansas City’s most recent fade or, because we don’t want you to punch the screen you’re reading this on, anything about the area’s major colleges.

All of that is true, and the following paragraph is not meant as a challenge to Kansas City’s collective Ph.D. in sports letdown. This is just an honest statement about how past and factually irrelevant experiences color the way we feel about the now:

The Kicker Who Shall Not Be Named has nothing to do with Harrison Butker, and Greg Robinson has nothing to do with Justin Houston. If this exact group of players with this exact record played in another place, many in Kansas City would almost certainly believe it to be a better team than these Chiefs.

Fan satisfaction is impossible to measure, but if social media, emails, voicemails and other forms of expression are to be believed there is an enormous disconnect between the Chiefs’ 6-2 start and their fans’ general fatalism.

No Chiefs team has started a season with higher expectations in some time, so the same results that would be interpreted with encouragement in the past are now being scrutinized like a doctoral dissertation.

They blew out the Patriots — but that was too long ago.

Alex Smith is the league’s best quarterback halfway through the season — but he’s still Captain Checkdown.

Kareem Hunt leads the league in rushing — but the defense can’t stop the run.

Houston looked healthy again against the Broncos — but the Chiefs couldn’t put away a mediocre team with a horrendous quarterback.

NFL power rankings are among the most useless things in American sports, other than to gauge the current perception across the league rather than locally. The Chiefs rank as high as second and no lower than fourth in power rankings by ESPN, NFL.com, Sports Illustrated, CBS, NBC, and the Associated Press. Most of those rankings are topped by the Eagles, who lost their only game at Arrowhead Stadium. According to OddsShark.com, the Chiefs have the fourth-best odds of reaching the Super Bowl.

Every factual positive from this specific group is weighed against a past that’s taught Chiefs fans that every highlight is the lead-in to a punch in the face, that every bit of playoff optimism is a setup for embarrassment.

Let’s be clear about something, too: that’s unfair to this particular team, but absolutely deserved for this particular franchise.

The Chiefs have taught their fans that failing to at least prepare for a letdown at the end is a bit like standing on the roof with a 3-iron toward the sky during a lightning storm.

By any logical measure, this Chiefs team is very good, with the potential to be great. Only three teams can feel they have a realistic shot at representing the AFC in the Super Bowl — the Chiefs, Patriots, and Steelers. The Chiefs beat the Patriots in a blowout on the road and lost to the Steelers in a close game at home.

The following are objective facts: the Chiefs are 6-2 against one of the league’s toughest schedules, fourth in point differential, fifth in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, and first in the so-called Mother Of All Stats, which is essentially a measurement of the difference between how efficiently a team passes and how well it defends the pass.

But, wait — there’s more!

The NFL is largely about attrition, and the Chiefs have already lost star safety Eric Berry and No. 2 receiver Chris Conley for the season. But they’ve also played most or all of the first eight games with important pieces who are starting to return.

Center Mitch Morse and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will strengthen the interior of the offensive line, which has been a significant problem. Tamba Hali will almost certainly be back at some point in the second half, providing more pass rush juice.

Steven Nelson’s return means the defense’s single greatest positional weakness — slot corner, where Phil Gaines had been playing out of position and poorly — is now a strength.

None of this is meant as a case that the Chiefs are the best team in the AFC, or a team without significant weaknesses. The Chiefs’ loss to the Steelers last month was a virtual replay of their loss to the Steelers last postseason, and more than anything else, that’s where the fan fatalism is coming from.

If the Chiefs had the same record, but swapped out losing to the Steelers for, say, the Eagles, then the general self-esteem of fans would undoubtedly be higher.

Losing to that team, in that way — again — is cruel treatment for Chiefs fans. Sort of like losing a fistfight, then being forced to watch a boxing match with the guy who beat you up.

Combined with the mostly cruel history of being a Chiefs fan, it doesn’t matter that losing to the Steelers last month doesn’t guarantee a result in a hypothetical playoff game any more than beating them would have. We have seen this movie. The ending is gory, and tearful. It’s up to the Chiefs to convince fans the sequel is better.

Because that loss — and even the win over Denver — shines light on what’s always been the team’s most likely fatal flaw. They just can’t stop the run. Some of that is an emphasis on defending the pass, some is Berry’s injury, some is Derrick Johnson’s aging, and some is that offenses have found success running at Dee Ford and Daniel Sorensen.

But there are no boats without holes in a league that priorities parity over everything except profits.

The Patriots are actually giving up more yards per rushing attempt than the Chiefs, and have surrendered more yards and yards per play than any other team in the league (even the Colts).

The Steelers’ offense is mediocre, and Ben Roethlisberger is clearly not what he used to be (10 touchdowns, nine interceptions and his worst completion percentage since 2008).

But you don’t notice your neighbor’s leaky roof as much as your own leaky faucet, so Chiefs fans of a certain age will never fully trust a quarterback after Elvis Grbac, or a kicker after You Know Who, or a playoff lead after Indianapolis.

That’s not necessarily fair for these players on this team, who either weren’t around or virtually without exception had different roles in those past disappointments.

But fair’s got nothing to do with it, and none of this is the fault of fans. Those scars don’t go away by themselves. It’s up to the Chiefs to heal.

In that way, the end of this season will affect how this franchise is viewed for years — by either changing or dramatically reinforcing the history of even the brightest moments being followed by the darkest letdowns.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Disagree.

I’m not even that big of a Royals fan and it was a giant relief when the my won the wildcard game. The sweeps to the series were pure elation and while losing the series was no fun, it was just a relief to be relevant. Then when they won in-15 it was marvelous.

16 and 17 were fairly frustrating but it’s hard to be really upset because rings.

Same when KU won. That team had HUGE expectations. And they persevered through crap officiating, bad games and the general randomness of single elimination. Winning was sooooooo goddamned fun. I was running around outside my house in Sidney like a maniac. If I’d have lived in town someone prolly would have called the law. Since then Self gets a ton of slack from me. Prison Bitch inexplicably wants him fired but I don’t think those type of fans are prevelant. Put together a successful program and most fans will give you leeway. In my experience anyway.

I guess I'm just envisioning the reaction on this place. Would we all be elated for a day or two? Of course. But say it happens this year, and it looks like Alex is playing at an All Pro level. What's the over under on how many days (hours) go by after the Super Bowl before a "trade Alex" thread shows up?

ChiefsPlanet, for the most part, is built on pessimism. I'm just not convinced that we're all gonna somehow be happier a year from now regardless of what the Chiefs do in the postseason.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I'm just envisioning the reaction on this place. Would we all be elated for a day or two? Of course. But say it happens this year, and it looks like Alex is playing at an All Pro level. What's the over under on how many days (hours) go by after the Super Bowl before a "trade Alex" thread shows up?

ChiefsPlanet, for the most part, is built on pessimism. I'm just not convinced that we're all gonna somehow be happier a year from now regardless of what the Chiefs do in the postseason.

I think we here at CP would feel cheated if the chiefs team that wins the SN isn't a flawless team.

Which will likely never happen

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I'm just envisioning the reaction on this place. Would we all be elated for a day or two? Of course. But say it happens this year, and it looks like Alex is playing at an All Pro level. What's the over under on how many days (hours) go by after the Super Bowl before a "trade Alex" thread shows up?

ChiefsPlanet, for the most part, is built on pessimism. I'm just not convinced that we're all gonna somehow be happier a year from now regardless of what the Chiefs do in the postseason.

There are fans of this team that would not cheer for the Chiefs to win if they made the SB this year simply based on who is playing QB.

Lot of posters can't have their cake and eat it too.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I'm just envisioning the reaction on this place. Would we all be elated for a day or two? Of course. But say it happens this year, and it looks like Alex is playing at an All Pro level. What's the over under on how many days (hours) go by after the Super Bowl before a "trade Alex" thread shows up?

ChiefsPlanet, for the most part, is built on pessimism. I'm just not convinced that we're all gonna somehow be happier a year from now regardless of what the Chiefs do in the postseason.

The trade Alex thread would show up while he was in the victory formation.

I think most fans would be happier for quite some time. But then again I give a lot of credit to The crew for the playoff win monkey (Thanks Hoyer!) and the first round QB. I’m on record as saying we aren’t winning anything with Alex but I’m not wielding a torch and pitchfork like I was under Franchise Killer and Squirmin Herman Mother****ing Sack of **** Edwards.

So while I harbor a fair bit of pessimism regarding our Super Bowl chances, it’s a gradient and I’m a long way from SOC depths.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I'm just envisioning the reaction on this place. Would we all be elated for a day or two? Of course. But say it happens this year, and it looks like Alex is playing at an All Pro level. What's the over under on how many days (hours) go by after the Super Bowl before a "trade Alex" thread shows up?

ChiefsPlanet, for the most part, is built on pessimism. I'm just not convinced that we're all gonna somehow be happier a year from now regardless of what the Chiefs do in the postseason.

screw that..I'll ride that wave as long as I can.

I think this speaks more to current culture than anything else.

apathy abounds...

[Coochie liquor]

Let's face it. Without the officials ****ing us in Chikeland we are 7-1. We have a 3 game lead in our division at the halfway point. It seems so far like this season is wide open. It could be our year, but even if it's not we have a bright future. Hopefully our qbotf is on the roster. We have some solid pieces to put around him to help him succeed when he gets the nod. After some offseason cuts we should have a decent amount of cap space. I'm excited about the future of the franchise regardless of how this season ends.
Do I expect us to win a championship this season? **** no, were the Chiefs. They haven't done that in my lifetime.
But is it a possibility with where our team currently is? **** yes, we can beat any team not named the Squeelers.

All that being said.... our past will always haunt us as Chiefs fans, even if we were to win it all this season

[Nickhead]

being a chiefs fan in the past is like paying taxes for 50 years, and not one refund.

[MMXcalibur]

Only when the Chiefs win the Super Bowl will I truly believe that this team can win a Super Bowl.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

Only when the Chiefs win the Super Bowl will I truly believe that this team can win a Super Bowl.

Exactly

[Rain Man]

We're all battered and abused, and then when you add things like the Peyton Manning Farewell Season, we're paranoid. Of course we're gunshy.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Oh, **** off.

I cannot muster the cognitive dissonance required to believe this team is anything but a one-and-done in waiting.

we have played in 3 playoff games in the last 2 years. Alex has played great in 2 of them. The other loss wasn't his fault. So at least there is that. And no one really believes Alex is here next season. The Mahomes era is starting soon.

[Chief Northman]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

We're all battered and abused, and then when you add things like the Peyton Manning Farewell Season, we're paranoid. Of course we're gunshy.

Don’t forget the Brady revenge tour. This year is the Rooney tribute.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by RunKC

There are fans of this team that would not cheer for the Chiefs to win if they made the SB this year simply based on who is playing QB.

Lot of posters can't have their cake and eat it too.

There will be plenty of gnashing of teeth and out right dislike of Mahomes by lots of posters because he isn’t alex.

[displacedinMN]

guarded optimism

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Hard to expect different results when the Chiefs have repeated the same formula for 30 years.

Not even close to true.

Dominant defense for 10 years and a shitty ball control run based offense that choked.

A few years of average on both sides of the ball.

A Dominant offense for 5 years with a terrible defense that couldn't stop a HS team.

4 years of average with a coach who was as conservative as it gets and made Marty look reckless.

4 years of WTF with Pioli? Cant even describe it.

Reid and company is the most balanced so far.

The result has been similar, the approach and the formula is not even close.

To say its the same is simplistic thought process.