Why There Is Hope For The Chiefs in 2014

If you are like I was, the end of Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, came with a sigh of relief.

Yes the pure and simple fact is the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Broncos again, making it no victories for the Chiefs against quarterback Peyton Manning in Orange. However if you take a look at the game not just as a win or a loss you will see something you might have missed.

There is hope for this team.

Think about it. Everyone, including myself, had the Chiefs getting steam rolled by a bigger, better, badder team in Denver. What happened? Besides the super quick scoring drive that got the Broncos off to a great start, this battered and broken defense still managed to force Denver on two drives that went no where. This make shift defense who was counted off when Derrick Johnson was lost for the season still managed to hold Denver to 3 points in the second half, I know I had to check. So to me that seems like more hope than loss.

Despite losing Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry the Chiefs, for better or worse, still out played a supposed offensive juggernaut in Denver. To be right there, right there, and not come away with a victory is a heart breaker to say the least. However if the Chiefs kingdom looks past the win loss record there is a still a good team laying there underneath it all. I side with Lyle, who had a great piece by the way, when he said he had mixed emotions about the game. It is hard to see the good in any loss to any team. But there are a few reasons to be hopeful in the next few games.

Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano (80) makes a catch during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Offense Was Vastly Improved

If you take a look at Alex Smith week 1 and Alex Smith week 2, it is like looking at a completely different player. Week one Smith completed less than 55% of his passes, week two nearly 62%. Week one Smith threw 3 interceptions to the Titans, week two Smith threw none. While this was not a dramatic turn from week one to week two it showed that he has the ability to have a short memory and put the weeks last game behind him.

Also, despite Charles being out, backup Knile Davis can take the ball and run when called upon. Davis showed a sign of what is to come when he rushed for two scores against a “better” Denver defense.

Tight end Travis Kelce continued to show signs that he is the future tight end for this team as he hauled in four passes for 81 yards. Kelce along with magic hands (occasionally) Anthony Fasano can be a formidable team when called upon.

2. The Defense Was Better Prepared

Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball (28) runs with the ball during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

No one could have expected the Tennessee Titans to come marching into our town and make this defense that was a top ten last year look like a bottom ten. Manning and the Broncos once again picked on second year cornerback Marcus Cooper, matched against Demaryius Thomas. However after the long played that torched the secondary Thomas was held mainly in check as he only got 62 yards on 5 receptions with one score, much improved.

We even managed to get a sack on the “elusive” Manning something that we have not been able to do in recent games. Yes there were holes that were opened, and Peyton is still one of the best QB’s ever but to be able to contain that potent offense was a vast improvement over week one.

Is this team perfect? No. Is this team built to air it out when behind? Not really. But this team has shown that it can turn it around, and that is the main point.

This team can turn this around.

The hardest part of their schedule is up next but with these improvements there is a fine layer of hope on the horizon. So what say you Addicts? Did the way the Chiefs played the Denver game give you a little hope, or are we hopeless in the coming weeks as the Chief prepare to get back on track?

Sound off below!

Go Chiefs!