FanPost

We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us

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From the FanPosts. -Chris

If the past few games or the past few years has not opened our eyes to the seriousness of our situation or the daunting task that awaits us...then let me help.  There is a saying, "We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us".

At some critical juncture in time, the opposing team stopped being the enemy and he became us.  The wounds increasingly became self inflicted.  The hurdles more in-house.  All in front of our unsuspecting eyes.

Two months ago I presented a similar post attempting to create a baseline that would establish any floundering NFL franchises since 2000.  In a nutshell, that baseline consisted of any NFL team that met the criteria of a .250 winning percentage for 2 consecutive years.

Record after Hitting Floundering Line
Yr Rams
Raiders
 Lions
2009 1-12
4-8
2-10
2008 2-14
5-11
0-16
2007 3-13
4-12
7-9
2006
2-14
3-13
2005
4-12
5-11
2004

6-10
2003


5-11
2002


3-13
2001


2-14

 

That's right...just three.  And they have not had a winning record since. 

Actually four, the Chiefs.

There seems to be a common misconception that all NFL teams can make a quick turnaround.  The norm in the NFL might be for most franchises to have "quick turnarounds".  The exception would seem to be franchises with perpetual losing seasons.  Two consecutive losing seasons of .250 or below, to be exact.

It is my contention that when a team reaches the floundering line, all bets are off.  The norm is no longer the rule.  Things are worse then a fan would normally conclude.  The franchise is floundering.

A franchise reaches the "floundering" stage by making  a series of bad drafts, bad player signings, bad coaching moves, and a miscalculation (at some point) of the condition of their team.  The Kansas City Chiefs have no doubt had their share of all of these.

The Kansas City Chiefs are floundering.

The Chiefs went 4-12 in 2007 and the very next year recorded a 2-12 record.  It is realistic to conclude that this year will produce yet another season below the floundering line.  However, getting above the floundering line is not the only problem after you have reached it.  As you can see with the Bengals and Browns, below.

The problem is that teams since 1999 who have reached the floundering stage have yet to have back to back winning seasons.

Record after Hitting Floundering Line
Yr Chiefs
Browns
 Bengals
2009 3-9
1-11
9-3
2008 2-14
4-12
4-11
2007 4-12
10-6
7-9
2006
4-12
8-8
2005
6-10
11-5
2004
4-12
8-8
2003

5-11
8-8
2002

9-7
2-14
2001

7-9
6-10
2002

3-13
4-12
2001

2-14
4-12

 

In fact, the Browns and Bengals have had only two winning seasons in nine years since reaching the floundering stage.  Only two. 

No one has figured it out yet...no one.  The Lions and Raiders keep getting it wrong.  The Browns and Bengals have been at it for longer than any of them...and can't get it right.  The Rams and Chiefs are newcomers.  They are optimistic.  They are the exception, right?

Wrong.

The Rams and Chiefs have proven this year just what every team that had reached the floundering stage before them had shown.  Its worse than you think.  The Chiefs and Rams are even attempting to set new lows:  3 consecutive years below the floundering line.

How do you get out?  And if some illusion called "progress" confronts us, like the Browns 2001and 2002 season.  How do we know it is real progress and not simply a easy schedule mirage that hides a lack of life sustaining talent.

That is the zillion dollar question in which I hope Piolo has an answer.  But I can tell you the answer is not just "spend money".  The Redskins have proven that point.  Millions upon millions of dollars into free agents and the Redskins still can't get to the playoffs.

I think Pioli, Haley, and the KC fans underestimated the depths at which this team was floundering before the 2009 season.  They underestimated the lack of talent and the fundamental foundation that every team must have to contend from year to year...depth.

This is where we have all done our part.  We have ignored the critical signs.  All of us...and especially the people that run the Kansas City Chiefs.  We think, like most fans, that  we can turn it around next game.  Or tell ourselves we are at least not like the Lions, the Raiders, the Rams.

From this perspective we are what our record says we are.  We are a floundering team.  This is not to heap coals on an already tumultuous year.  It is to simply put into perspective how difficult the task before us will be.  It is intended to prepare us for what will come the next four games.

Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Oakland, Saint Louis, all think they will at least get a win against the Chiefs.  They all say...

Welcome to the club...

Would you like a nice rice pilaf with that flounder?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.