2010 Chiefs & 2011 Broncos - A Parallel?

by u2nspenserfan on Jan 4, 2012 5:36 PM CST

Over the last few days, I've spent some time reflecting on this Chiefs season, and it struck me how similar the 2011 Broncos were to the 2010 Chiefs. Bear with me here - I know it's hard to stomach the comparison.

In 2010, Matt Cassel struggled out of the gate, then as he limited his mistakes, we started winning ballgames based on our running game and defense. They won a lot of games against bad teams. The last 2 games of the season, we finished with a whimper as Cassel stopped putting up numbers and turned the ball over 5 times, something he did only 3 times in his previous 12 games.

In 2011, Tim Tebow was not the starter out of the gate, and the team was struggling. He started some games, and the team started winning behind its running game and defense. They won a lot of games against bad teams. In the last 2 games of the season, he stopped putting up numbers and turned the ball over 6 times, something he did only 6 times in his previous 9 games.

It's not an exact parallel, of course, but the similarities are apparent. The Broncos enter the playoffs on a low note much the same as the Chiefs did last year, and it's not hard to imagine an experienced defense like Pittsburgh man-handling the Broncos much the same as the Ravens did to the Chiefs last year.

I think it's pretty obvious what the common thread is here: In the NFL, you can win games with a mediocre quarterback if all other elements are very good, but as a rule you cannot expect to win consistently and when it matters.

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.

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he most certainly was NOT

In 2011, Tim Tebow was not the starter out of the gate

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by upamtn on Jan 4, 2012 5:52 PM CST reply actions

I'm glad we agree, I guess?

by u2nspenserfan on Jan 5, 2012 8:53 AM CST up reply actions

Better parallel

The 49ers this year, good defense, good run game.. Smith at QB

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jan 4, 2012 7:19 PM CST reply actions

But they didn't slump into the playoffs like the chiefs did IMO.

by u2nspenserfan on Jan 4, 2012 8:16 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah

because Alex Smith has taken care of the football and is a lot better QB than Cassel who stunk it up in the raiders and the ravens game.

by andrew33 on Jan 5, 2012 12:34 AM CST up reply actions

Not an elite team though

Nor as good as their record, took advantage of the NFC West.

Everytime I see that team, it reminds me of the Chiefs last year. I don’t see them making it far in the post season, Smith can not put that team on his back like Cassel can not do it here

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jan 5, 2012 5:36 AM CST up reply actions

my thoughts exactly

Smith is a boat anchor on the team. Shut down their running game and they are done.

by aFan4Life on Jan 5, 2012 8:25 AM CST up reply actions

That defense is better than ours last year IMO

The number 1 thing being that they have the 2 Smith who consistently get into the backfield, where Hali was our only truly consistent guy in that area.

I definitely get the comparison, though.

by u2nspenserfan on Jan 5, 2012 8:52 AM CST up reply actions

they have a very strong defense indeed

if they had a real QB to go with running game they could be a relatively tough team to contend with

by upamtn on Jan 5, 2012 9:21 AM CST up reply actions

I feel sorry for alex smith. Got out of school, drafted, 4 different OC

4 different style, people hating him, and now he’s starting to grow

and people are still hating on him

by Chiefshero on Jan 5, 2012 11:15 AM CST up reply actions

wouldn't feel too badly for the guy ... he seems to be making a decent living :-)

by upamtn on Jan 5, 2012 12:22 PM CST up reply actions

and looking to get payed ever more during this offseason.

by dbaty7 on Jan 5, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely NOT

2010 Chiefs – 2nd year as Head Coach Todd Haley (a joke, unproven HC)
QB never started in college

2011 Broncos – 1st year as Head Coach John Fox (not a joke, proven HC, proven track record) QB won National Championship and was a 3 year starter

Todd Haley - Crennel just prove to the world that you're a f***ing Joke! Matt Cassel - Orton showed with 3 weeks of practice you can beat the world champions. #7 your legacy is...you don't have one, you're a backup all along. Should never have been a starter in the NFL.

by 58 was my friend on Jan 5, 2012 1:27 PM CST reply actions