Back To The Future

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their first playoff game in 5 years and their first home game since the Vermiel era I thought it appropriate that we get out Dr. Brown’s Delorian and travel back to a similar time — 1986.

Hello Chief fans we are here in 1986. The Chiefs just clinched a playoff berth with a 10-6 record and will face the Jets in a wild card playoff game. The Chiefs are led by the unpopular John Mackovic formerly a coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Mr. Mackovic is demanding and abrupt with the players and is seen as an offensive guru.(sound familiar? — it gets better) Our team is led by an aggressive secondary featuring two excellent safeties(Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burress) and two excellent corners who were drafted and developed on the Chiefs roster (Gary Green and Kevin Ross).

The offense is led by a journeyman QB in Bill Kenney, with a speedster at tailback in Herman Heard. There is one outstanding wideout in Stephon Paige. The kicker is the famous Nick Lowery.

The Chief entered 1986 with mediocre expectations coming off a 6-10 season. It has been 15 years since their last playoff that historic two overtime Christmas day loss to the Dolphins in the final game to be played at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs have defined mediocrity during these fifteen years firing hall of fame coaches (Levy and Stram) and compiling a 81-121-1 record. The surprising 10-6 record and playoff date with the Jets had taken K.C by storm .People were excited wearing red again on Fridays. We thought the franchise had turned the corner.

Unfortunately, the ’86 Chiefs were brought back to reality with a 35-15 drubbing at the hands of the New York Jets. In the aftermath of the defeat Nick Lowery led a player revolt which resulted in the firing of Mackovic and the promotion of the popular special teams coach Frank (Crash) Ganz to head coach. It would be several years later under Marty that the Chiefs would again qualify for the playoffs.

How is this relevant to 2010?

Both teams entered the playoffs with the same records and similar point differentials. Both were led by young offensive minded aloof head coaches. It is my sincerest hope that the Chiefs end their seventeen year playoff victory drought on Sunday. But we must always be mindful that HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITSELF!

Addendum:

Both the ’86 team and the current team had similar total points and point differentials for the season. The ’86 team scored 358 points and allowed 326.  This year’s team scored 366 and also allowed 326.

Hmmmm.

Also, remember that the Chief of ’86 clinched a wild card berth in Pittsburgh on December 21 despite being out-gained 515-171. They won the game by a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a TD, and a blocked field goal returned for a TD. That sounds an awful lot like our opener against San Diego.

Jut wanted to point out a couple additional reasons why this Chiefs team could be in trouble —
just like the 1986 team.