KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have gained six straight AFC West titles, one thing by no means earlier than achieved, and can be internet hosting a report fourth consecutive convention championship sport when Cincinnati visits Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
They’ve been to the previous two Tremendous Bowls. Received a championship. Set so many league-best marks behind the unparalleled play of Patrick Mahomes and the sensible teaching of Andy Reid that the remainder of the NFL has ample purpose to be jealous.
So, are the Chiefs following within the footsteps of the Patriots as the following soccer dynasty?
Or, are they simply the newest “it” staff that everybody desires to look at?
“I feel it was 2008 or 2009 that (Chiefs chairman) Clark Hunt made the assertion that we’re going to attempt to create a corporation that persistently competes for championships,” staff president Mark Donovan recalled this week, “and right here we're, internet hosting our fourth straight championship. By no means been performed earlier than. It’s particular occasions to be a Chiefs fan, and particular occasions to be a part of this group. I do know Andy says it, and I’ll say it: We’re grateful for this chance we’re given.”
Maybe that’s as a result of they don’t need to look far into their historical past to recollect what it’s wish to dwell on the backside.
When Hunt made that daring proclamation, the Chiefs have been a floundering franchise that hadn’t gained a playoff sport in additional than 20 years. They usually hadn’t even bottomed out, both. That got here a couple of years later when, throughout a season wherein a participant killed himself within the apply facility car parking zone, the Chiefs have been the two-win laughingstock of the league.
They quickly started the seek for a brand new coach, and in a case of coincidence or destiny, the Eagles had simply moved on from their very own. Hunt rapidly flew to Philadelphia and met with Reid, refused to let him out of the room with out agreeing to return to Kansas Metropolis, and in a single weekend modified the course of the group.
The Chiefs went from two wins to 11 the very subsequent 12 months, one of many nice turnarounds in NFL historical past, and haven’t had one other shedding season. The previous seven have ended within the playoffs, the previous 4 within the convention championship sport and, with a win over the Bengals on Sunday, the previous three could be within the Tremendous Bowl.
However is sort of a decade of relative dominance sufficient to name the Chiefs a dynasty?
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Don’t rely on Reid to hazard a guess.
“Pay attention, I would down the highway someplace,” he stated of placing the previous few years into perspective, “however proper now, we’re transferring onto Cincinnati. There’s no time to attend. ... It’s essential that we bought on that and ensure our bases are lined.”
That doesn’t imply others can’t — and gained’t — opine on the topic. In spite of everything, dynasties are purely subjective. The textbook definition, a minimum of from Merriam-Webster, is that they contain “a sports activities franchise which has a protracted run of profitable seasons,” although in fact that doesn’t outline something.
How profitable? And for the way lengthy?
Listed below are some info: The Chiefs have gained six straight residence playoff video games, one of many 10 longest streaks because the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. They're amongst seven franchises to succeed in 4 straight convention title video games, and the primary to host all of them. A 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl look would match the Dolphins of Don Shula within the early ‘70s and the Patriots of Invoice Belichick from 2016-18 as the one franchises to make that many in a row with a minimum of one victory.
(Sure, the Payments went to 4 straight Tremendous Bowls. With out successful one, are they worthy of being known as a dynasty?)
After all, there are some NFL dynasties which might be tough to debate.
The Packers that gained six championships below Curly Lambeau from 1929-44. The Bears of George Halas gained 4 titles in seven seasons throughout the Nineteen Forties; Paul Brown’s groups in Cleveland seemingly by no means misplaced within the ‘50s. The Vince Lombardi-led Packers of the ’60s gained the primary two Tremendous Bowls. The Nineteen Seventies Steelers of the famed Metal Curtain protection, the 49ers within the ‘80s and the Cowboys of the ’90s paved the way in which for the Patriots of the previous 20 years.
In addition to longevity and success, most have one thing else in widespread: historic quarterback-coach combos. Lombardi had Bart Starr. Chuck Noll had Terry Bradshaw in Pittsburgh. Invoice Walsh coached Joe Montana and George Seifert had Steve Younger in San Francisco. Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer relied on Troy Aikman in Dallas. Belichick had Tom Brady.
Sort of like Reid and Mahomes in Kansas Metropolis.
Whether or not the Chiefs are already a dynasty or one within the making is up for debate. However with Reid firmly ensconced within the coach’s workplace, Mahomes signed for a lot of the subsequent decade and a plethora of playmakers below long-term contracts — guys comparable to Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Chris Jones — the Chiefs don’t seem like going away quickly.
“So long as we hold the folks that we have now on this group on this staff, with the coach we have now, I feel we have now an opportunity to be good year-in and year-out,” Mahomes stated. “There’s a whole lot of nice soccer groups on this league, you perceive that. However on the similar time, you simply need to attempt to get higher and be higher yearly you are available.”
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