Can Andy Reid sustain the Chiefs early success this year?
With Andy Reid as head coach, the Chiefs have started fast several times only to eventually fade. Will this season be any different in K.C.?
With Andy Reid as head coach, the Kansas City Chiefs have tended to start fast but fade out as the season goes on. Will this season be different than any of the past six seasons? This year is a bit different with Patrick Mahomes as the signal-caller, but the actual head honcho of the team hasn’t changed.
For the 19 years Reid has been a head coach in the NFL, he holds an all-time record of 188 wins, 120 losses and one tie. But as head coach, he has never won a Super Bowl. Maybe Mahomes has lit a fire in Reid because Mahomes may be Reid’s best project to date. He knew Mahomes was going to be great given the fact that Reid traded Alex Smith and let Mahomes, a second-year quarterback, take his place. Maybe he can be the difference.
First, let’s take a look at the previous seasons.
2013
In Andy Reid’s first season as head coach for the Chiefs, they started the season 9-0. They were the “last man standing” for four weeks until they lost to the Denver Broncos in Week 11 after coming off a bye week. Kansas City ended the season 11-5, and still managed to lose in the AFC Wild Card Game against the Indianapolis Colts.
2014
The Chiefs actually lost their first two games, had a 5-game winning streak until Week 12, but ended the season 9-7. K.C. didn’t make it to the playoffs.
2015
Kansas City won their first game against the Houston Texans, lost their next five and then ended the season 11-5. Although they ended the season stronger than any other team, the Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. The Patriots didn’t go to the Super Bowl that year, if I might add.
2016
The Chiefs didn’t have a winning beginning streak, but they did from Week 6-10. They had a few sprinkled losses here and there but finished the season 12-4. This is the best record the Chiefs have had under Reid so far. KC was in the top 3 of the best records going into the postseason, but nevertheless, lost in the AFC Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers
2017
KC was the only undefeated team up until Week 6 when they lost to Pittsburgh Steelers. We can proudly say that they were one of the three games the Super Bowl Champions, the Eagles, lost to that season. The Chiefs went 10-6 and lost to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card game.
2018
The Chiefs have only won one Super Bowl, on January 11, 1970 in Super Bowl IV, and they have not made an appearance at the Super Bowl since. The Chiefs have not made it past the AFC Divisional Round since Reid became coach even with great regular season records. But, boy, are we hoping this season will be different.
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Not only does Mahomes light a fire in Reid, but he gives this offensive-minded head coach self-assurance. Reid may have found his sixth infinity stone and hopefully everything will come together and fit in place this season. Mahomes has also given us Kansas City fans hope that the Chiefs may go to the Super Bowl. We just need to have faith in Reid.