How the Kansas City Chiefs can become a “real” Super Bowl contender

A familiar darkness has fallen over the kingdom. 

As the final seconds of regulation ticked off the clock, the prospect of a Super Bowl berth in 2017 wafted away into the fog hovering over Arrowhead Stadium. The Kansas City Chiefs were again victimized by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was quite a different game than the 43-14 drubbing handed to them by the AFC North winner in Week 4. Though, somehow, this loss stung just as much — arguably more. The Chiefs’ aspirations of an early-February trip to Houston were snuffed out in a contest where they didn’t allow an offensive touchdown.

Things were supposed to be different. This team, ostensibly the most viable contender since the Dick Vermeil-led Chiefs of the 2003 season was capable of beating anybody. Earlier in the year, this same squad defeated two teams that qualified for the postseason tournament (away from Arrowhead Stadium). Kansas City had seen its share of top tier quarterbacks in 2016. Ben Roethlisberger did get the best of them in October, but that was before the return of Justin Houston and the emergence of Terrance Mitchell and Tyreek Hill. That game also took place in Heinz Field where the Steelers play their best football.

The stage was set for this regime to take another step towards a Lombardi trophy. Unfortunately, this Chiefs team couldn’t quell the demons it’s been plagued by all season — offensive ineptitude, untimely penalties, drops and turnovers. Kansas City came unglued at the worst possible time. Travis Kelce dropped a would-be touchdown and was penalized two plays later for shoving a Steelers defender to the ground (Unnecessary Roughness). Alex Smith twice missed a streaking receiver wide open down the field. Charcandrick West fumbled the football without being touched as the first half came to a close. The Chiefs imploded and squandered the best chance to advance to the AFC Championship Game this side of a Bush presidency.