Chiefs show toughness for first time in years

For what seems like forever, the Kansas City Chiefs were losers. They lost like them, and they acted like them. When things began to go south, the Chiefs would immediately turtle and fold.

Despite losing 27-20 on Saturday night to the New England Patriots, Kansas City displayed a courage that has not been evident in decades. The Chiefs were completely outmanned by the Patriots, being without Jamaal Charles, Justin Houston, Jeremy Maclin, Phillip Gaines and Ben Grubbs, just to name a few. It should have been a shelling considering how healthy New England was, and yet if that ball deflects off Tamba Hali differently, we could be talking about the AFC Championship game.

There is no shame in losing, especially the way this team went down. Maclin signed a $55 million deal this offseason. He could have easily checked out with a very painful high ankle sprain, and nobody would have questioned it. Instead, Maclin did all he could to fight, proving these are not the same old Chiefs.

It’s been a long time coming, seeing this group show heart that none of us knew they had. This group reminds me of the 2014 Kansas City Royals, who came so close yet fell short. We all know what happened the next year. Sometimes, you need to get knocked down to only make your hunger grow. If this team is healthy in 2016, it will be back with vengeance in its heart.

For once, this wasn’t a Chiefs team that got lucky, made the playoffs and got bounced. This is a group that won’t quit, and that goes a damn long way. With the talent in house and the right coach leading the way (yes, his clock management is terrible, but he can coach), the sky is bright.

While the loss hurts, some of the sting is taken away by the promise of what is to come.