FanPost

The 2016 Chiefs: Kansas City's worst playoff team ever?

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

So, as is my wont, the other night I sent out this tweet.

On it's own, it's pretty shocking that this team is ranked so poorly in all four categories of football. For a little perspective: not even the worst team in Chiefs history, the 2012 Chiefs, were that bad. They were fifth in rushing.

By the way, when I say "the worst team in Chiefs history," that's not hyperbole. It's statistical fact, according to Pro Football Reference's simple rating system. So, assuming this 8-3 juggernaut doesn't blow it and makes the playoffs, we'll start in there in our quest: Are the 2016 Chiefs the worst Chiefs playoff team ever?

First off, a more recent comparison: the 2016 Chiefs are definitely the worst team of the Andy Reid era.

With an SRS of 3.6, it's not even close. The 2015 squad comes in #1 at 9.0, followed by 2013 at 6.1 and 2014 at 5.6. This seems to be almost entirely due to the offense, which at an Offensive SRS of -1.0 is the 16th worst offense in Chiefs history. Ouch.

What about the other Chiefs playoff teams?

There are several that come in below 3.6, but it bears repeating the initial point: not a single one of them ranked 20th or worse in passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense and rushing defense.

In fact, it's not even close. You can almost get there with the 2013 Chiefs, but they had a top 10 rushing offense. Even the complete playoff frauds of 2010 stopped the run better than the 2016 Chiefs.

So yes: this is the worst Chiefs playoff team of all time. In terms of being terrible at moving the football and stopping the opposition, they have no equal. If nothing changes, they will be the first Chiefs playoff team to ever rank 20th or worse in all four categories.

They would, naturally, be the first Chiefs team to win a playoff game owning such a dubious character trait. I don't know about you, but that doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Which is why I end up tweeting things like the above.

But we're not going to stop there.

Maybe there's a non-Chiefs team...maybe even a Super Bowl team...that we can lean on to provide some historical context for this overachieving team? Can we find some optimism?

Sorry: there is none. A quick look at all the Super Bowl participants since 1966 reveals that not a single winner OR loser ranked 20th or worse in passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense and rushing defense.

In fact: no one even comes close. Your closest doppelganger is the 2001 Patriots, but they were top 20 in both rushing and run defense. This Chiefs team is ranked 10 spots behind them in both categories. This doesn't work.

What about every playoff team in NFL history? This is difficult to research, but crazy people like me can do it. And here's what you get:

There is not a single playoff team in NFL history that ranked as poorly as the 2016 Chiefs do in passing, running, pass defense and run defense.

If nothing changes with this squad (and why would it?), they will be in a league of their own as the only team to ever qualify for postseason play holding such a distinction.

Let us try to find one last glimmer of hope, though. I am actually a Chiefs fan, you realize. I'd like to find something to make me feel good about the 2016 Chiefs.

If you really want to find a true historical equivalent to the 2016 Chiefs, here it is: the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.

They don't quite achieve the 4x20 greatness this team, but they come close at 19/31 27/21.

And while they finished 7-9 and allowed Matt Cassel to waltz into their own house and beat them, you should know:

They did win a playoff game.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! And pass the checkdowns.

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.