12/21/24
September 28, 2010
Kansas City Chiefs Start 3-0: With victories over San Diego, Cleveland and San Francisco, the Kansas City Chiefs have opened their season 3-0 for the first time since 2003. Head coach Todd Haley downplays the significance, reminding the team of his days as an assistant coach on a 2000 New York Jets team that opened 4-0 but finished out of the playoffs at 9-7. "Nobody else remembers that team but those of us who were on it," he said. The Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL's only other 3-0 teams.
Haley was a young assistant on a New York Jets team that started 3-0, made it to 4-0, then tailed off to a nondescript 9-7, non-playoff-qualifying finish. "Nobody else remembers that team but those of us who were on it,"
I remember that god damn team. It was Al Groh's one and only year as Head Coach after Parcells had "transformed" the team into winners.
And not only were they 4-0, they were 6-1 after the Monday Night Miracle over the Dolphins (after being down 30-7 in the 4th quarter, they came back to win 40-37 in overtime). But two three game losing streaks killed them.
posted by cjets at 09:09 PM on September 28, 2010
I'm not sure beating the Browns and 49ers counts as much right now. Yes, the Chiefs are 3-0, but let's wait on this one.
posted by Bonkers at 11:11 PM on September 28, 2010
In re: Bears being undefeated, there are quite a few fans who might add an asterisk to that after week 1. Or maybe Wilbon on PTI today was the only one.
posted by boredom_08 at 01:07 AM on September 29, 2010
The Bears should have lost week 1. They should have lost week 3 too, except for the gift of a record number of Packers penalties. The Chiefs, as mentioned above, beat the Browns and the 49ers.
Good for both of them, but I'll bet those insufferable old dudes from Miami aren't worried about having to skip their annual champagne party just yet.
posted by fabulon7 at 08:49 AM on September 29, 2010
The Chiefs have a good a chance as any other team of winning the NFC West. I think they are a great surprise. They were truly awful and not they are good, probably not great, but at least they are good. That's probably only have to be pretty good to make the playoffs anyway.
The Bears are a fake 3-0. It's great that they are winning the close games. Still, they can't continue to count on the other team being either screwed by the refs or collapsing on their own week after week.
Finally, it's an amazing surprise and a credit to the coach and players of the Steelers that they are playing so well without their starting QB.
posted by bperk at 08:57 AM on September 29, 2010
The Chiefs have a good a chance as any other team of winning the NFC West. I think they are a great surprise. They were truly awful and not they are good, probably not great, but at least they are good. That's probably only have to be pretty good to make the playoffs anyway.
I'm guessing you meant AFC West. They probably could win the NFC West easily. I think all you need to do that is finish above .500.
The AFC West, while more competitive, isn't looking awesome either.
posted by Bonkers at 09:20 AM on September 29, 2010
(after being down 30-7 in the 4th quarter, they came back to win 40-37 in overtime)
LALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
The Chiefs 3-0 start is a mirage. The beat a weird looking Chargers team - from the way he reacted to the rain I can only assume that Pip Rivers is one of the aliens from the movie SIGNS - limped past Seneca Wallace's Browns and then beat a Niners side who seem to be about two weeks away from making Singletary spontaneously combust.
Fortunately for the Chefs, they're in the AFC West, so a few accidental victories could win you the division.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:24 AM on September 29, 2010
What should it matter as to how or why both the Chiefs and Bears are 3-0, this is what it's all about.
posted by BornIcon at 10:01 AM on September 29, 2010
Matt Cassel = awesome fantasy fodder. That is, if you were clever enough (like me) to pick him up before the season began. This week, maybe not so much.
I hope they win, I hope they win. Cassel put in a performance worthy of a playoff spot in '08 and didn't get in, and that made me sad. I really hope he gets to the playoffs this year.
(and I can never see their name without wanting to say, "Who own da Chief?")
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:05 AM on September 29, 2010
OwwwnnnSSSS, OwwwnnnSSSS
posted by tahoemoj at 11:04 AM on September 29, 2010
lbb,
good to see someone stick up for Cassel. The guy has been taken alot of heat for last year, but did anybody know that the Chief led the league (by far I think) in catchable balls dropped? I remember one series where he threw 3 straight great passes in the hands, all drops. Then he walked back to the sidelines clearly frustrated. BUT, he played hard all year, & didn't complain.
As a KC fan, I really like him, and although the 1st couple games had me worried, he played his best game yet as a Chief last week. Excited to see what he can do with real athletes with hands (McCluster, Moeaki, etc). Speaking of that, how about McCluster? Guy has been amazing. At this pace, ROTY this year.
Sadly, it's a long year yet.
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:17 PM on September 29, 2010
I wasn't a huge fan of Cassel in his time in New England, but he definitely showed promise and I loved his (apologies in advance) "escapability". He's faster and more mobile than he's given credit for.
posted by yerfatma at 04:38 PM on September 29, 2010
Finally, it's an amazing surprise and a credit to the coach and players of the Steelers that they are playing so well without their starting QB.
Or maybe it proves that while Ben is a top tier QB, on that team he doesn't matter as much?
posted by brainofdtrain at 05:36 PM on September 29, 2010
I'm looking more and more hopefully at that 100-1 ticket I mentioned in The Hoser last week.
Jinx now fully enabled.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:03 PM on September 29, 2010
The mystic oracle has ordained that one or more former key associates of Bill Belichick will open the season with an undefeated streak.
Last year it was McDaniels. This year, it's Weis, Crennel, Pioli, etc.
When I asked the oracle if this meant that next year belonged to Mangini, the floor beneath my feet suddenly parted, and I fell into a deep pit full of large upholstered creatures that resembled angry dogs.