Season Recap - 2010 Kansas City Chiefs

Final Record: 10-6 (0-1)

Finished: 1^st Place in the AFC West; Lost in the Wild Card Round

2011 Draft Position: 21^st

Preseason Ranking:   26
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

The Chiefs are going wildcat! In desperate need of a new identity they have decided to steal one for themselves- but only if they can make it work. There are few things better than 4-12 teams struggling at the bottom of their division who try to reinvent themselves by running with the latest craze.

Where’s the originality? Where’s the pride? In a copy-cat league, variations of the wildcat offense have spread from sideline to sideline. But which team used the wildcat last year to win the Super Bowl or even go deep into the playoffs? Of all the playoff teams, only Dallas, with their three-headed running back monster, used the formation with any kind of success and even they only used it as a change-up for a few plays a game.

Miami, the originator of the offense, used it quite extensively last year to finish an underwhelming 7-9 last season with far better players than Kansas City has. Who do you have to run the wildcat effectively, KC? The rookie McCluster? The emerging Charles? The veteran Thomas Jones?

Even Coach Haley is already downplaying the effectiveness of the formation by saying, “I think it all comes down to the players you have and that’s really kind of the process we’re in and you check out who can do what and if it’s something we want to do, we’ll expand on it. If we don’t, we’ll still have an advantage of letting our defense see something else.”

I agree with him. It is good for your defense to get as much practice as possible. With an offense going nowhere anytime soon, the defense will be on the field far too long to be effective.

And the wildcat? If no team uses it to great effectiveness this season to propel them deep into the playoffs, the offensive scheme should be put out of its misery like the run-and-shoot craze of the early 90’s.

Week 1: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 21-14

Ranked – 19

LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE GUYS RUN! Not only were your special teams outstanding last night, but the vaunted Chiefs defense kept San Diego out of the end zone when it mattered most. The football gods even blessed your game with adverse weather. Always a plus when a sunny-weather team like San Diego comes to town.

Week 2: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 16-14

Ranked – 12

I'm starting to believe, but still not buying it, Kansas City. 2-0 is a nice start, but barely beating Cleveland is not nearly as impressive as surprising San Diego.

Week 3: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-10

Ranked – 3

I am starting to believe. Come out of the bye week and upset the Colts at home and nobody will ever doubt you the rest of the season.

Week 4: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 1

As the only undefeated left in the young 2010 season, how can the Chiefs not be ranked #1?

Week 5: Lost at Indianapolis Colts, 19-9

Ranked – 11

Holding Peyton Manning to zero touchdown passes is a feat few defenses can accomplish. However, not scoring any touchdowns for yourself does not help you stay undefeated.

Week 6: Lost at Houston Texans, 35-31

Ranked – 14

The last of the unbeatens now has a two-game losing streak.

Week 7: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 42-20

Ranked – 10

Another stumble by the Chargers and the Chiefs suddenly look like they could be the defacto division champion.

Week 8: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 13-10

Ranked – 7

Everything the Chiefs have accomplished this season will mean nothing if they can't beat the Raiders on Sunday.

Week 9: Lost at Oakland Raiders, 23-20

Ranked – 11

The Chiefs were one catch away from taking complete control of the division, but apparently 2,000 beer-waving Darth Vaders in the stands were too much for them to overcome.

Week 10: Lost at Denver Broncos, 49-29

Ranked – 14

Two straight bad division losses. Not exactly how you want to enter the second half of the season.

Week 11: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 31-13

Ranked – 11

Warning: Chargers in the mirror are closer than they appear.

Week 12: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 42-24

Ranked – 11

Two straight division contests will make or break the Chiefs' season.

Week 13: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 10-6

Ranked – 11 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[Concerned about his upcoming rematch with Philip Rivers, Matt Cassel looks for some comforting advice]

           

Matt Cassel:  Do you think I beat him the last time?

Coach Haley: We got the victory.

Matt Cassel: Coach, we won! But I didn't beat him!

Week 14: Lost at San Diego Chargers, 31-0

Ranked – 12

Nothing like an emergency appendectomy to take all the momentum out of a surprising season.

Week 15: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 27-13

Ranked – 9

Cassel returns and the Chiefs win. This team, with their quarterback intact, could actually do some damage in the post-season, if they don't stumble over the final two games.

Week 16: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 34-14

Ranked – 7

The best surprise team of the season and a young team that may surprise a lot of people in the playoffs, especially if they can manage to avoid New England until the championship game.

Week 17: Lost to Oakland Raiders, 31-10

Ranked – 9

Kansas City's surprising season ended with a dud against the Raiders and young teams can't afford any setbacks if they hope to be successful come January.

Wild Card Game: Lost to Baltimore Ravens, 30-7

Final Rank – 12

Tomorrow, the 2010 Indianapolis Colts…