FanPost

A More Positive Note...

Ok. Point taken. I've deleted my former FP. Here's an edited version with the remarks from my previous post in mind.

Following a 2-14 season, the Chiefs drop their season opener against a playoff contender. Is anyone surprised? No one would admit it even if they were. I'm not stunned that we lost. I am admittedly disappointed. After all, a true fan always wants his team to win. Sure, I wanted my team to win.

Frankly there were times during the game where I was surprised that the Chiefs were AHEAD of the Baltimore Ravens! And with about 2:00 left in the game I was wondering if the boys in red were going to at least tie it up and go into OT!

You see, you just can't examine it on paper in order to find the truth. Football is not stats on a paper. Statistics cannot be trusted to win or lose you football games. Football is 60 minutes of 22 guys at a time biting, scratching, clawing for every inch and point. It's Offense, Defense AND Special Teams. It's grinding it out in the trenches and executing spectacular big plays. It's playing hurt. It's strength and muscle and speed. And with five minuetes left in this seesaw battle it was tied at 24 a piece. Who would have thought?

Imagine that! The team with the second worst record last year almost pulls off a regulation tie, a team that was a 13.5pt underdog to a major playoff contender last year. (BTW the only way the Ravens scored 38 was because the Chiefs gave them the last touchdown after the red men went for it on 4th and forever. If the game were about stats the Chiefs would have punted and only lost by 7) In all truth, they only lost by 7 with a backup QB. The Baltimore Ravens didn't underestimate the Chiefs either.

"Well, I don’t think we were underestimating them, everybody was expecting the game to go one way. I think in our heads we thought the game would go one way as well, but you can never overlook any team. I think you have to give the Kansas City Chiefs some credit. They came in ready to play, and they played us tough." TE Todd Heap -- Baltimore Ravens

It was definitely competitive. If Croyle had .5 more seconds to release the ball who knows what would have happened? Had Engram been a yard deeper on his 3rd down routes who knows what would have happened? Had so and so and so and so and so and so done their jobs just a wee bit better, held a block a little longer, cut a little sooner, kept his feet churning a little longer, broke a bit more crisply on a pattern...we'll never know what would have happened. That's why from the good 'ol days this game has beeen referred to as "a game of inches."

As long as this team continues to work to improve themselves as a team, doesn't lose heart, and keeps fighting like we saw yesterday afternoon, we can expect a surprise season. If they give up, you can count on the season going down in flames.

People say the Chiefs are a long way from where they need to be. True. There are dozens of ways they can improve. But are they a long way from winning more games than they lose? Probably closer than you think.

Therefore, what they need from their fan base is positive encouragement. Take a deep breath Chiefs fans and speak the truth, "We nearly pulled off the upset on Sunday."

This Sunday our opponent is the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. This will be a very winnable game. Keep believing in your team Chiefs fans.

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.