While the Kansas City Chiefs finished the 2016 season with a 12-and-4 record, you’d think it was clear sailing most of the year. Nay, I say nay. In fact, the whole year was manic, not just the season itself. The Chiefs had so many ups and downs in 2016, I can’t stop thinking up names for the year: “The Year of the Boom-a-rang,” “Jekyll and Hyde Ride Again,” “The Year of Shock and Aye Yai Yai,,” and one of my favorites, “That can’t true… oh my God, you’re serious!”
So let’s review a little bit of the upsy’s and downsy’s of 2016 for the Kansas City Chiefs.
When Doug Peterson left the Kansas City Chiefs to go and coach the Philadelphia Eagles that was probably the first, and number one most shocking moment in 2016. Peterson had served as Andy Reid’s offense of coordinator for Reid’s first three years in Kansas City. However, Peterson was more like a car-hop of an Offensive Coordinator servicing Andy Reid at his whims and wishes. It was also surprising when the Philadelphia Eagles wanted to hire him to be their head coach but it was good news for many who follow Chiefs closely.
The only problem with that move was that it opened the door for Andy Reid to hire a genuine OC… but he then brought Brad Childress out of the booth and grafted Matt Nagy to his neck… and fans had to wonder all over again if coach Reid would ever relinquish his game calling chores.
When Commissioner Roger Goodell fined the Chiefs for having early communication with Jeremy Maclin — and he took away the third round pick in 2016 and a six round pick 2017 — that was probably the low point of the year to that point in March but still, it was shocking. Then, GM John Dorsey traded back in the draft picking up and extra fourth round pick (#105) LOG Parker Ehinger, and a sixth rounder (#178) DB D.J. White. That was great… until Parker Ehinger got hurt and spent most of the season on injured reserve.
When the draft rolled around, the Chiefs, who are normally very conservative, shockingly selected Tyreek Hill, who has domestic abuse issues because he choked the mother of his daughter, his girlfriend at the time. What’s strange about that whole situation is… Hill turned out to be an incredible player… made the Pro Bowl… and his name was chanted every time he took the field to return a punt.
The Chiefs drafting “strange didn’t stop there. They also took WR Demarcus Robinson who also had off field problems… but he turned out to be a pretty good special teams players so I guess all is forgiven.
The injuries to Josh Mauga, Justin March-Lillard, Alan Bailey, Jay Howard and Derrick Johnson all made the 2016 defense look very different. Especially when you consider that Husain Abdullah, Sean Smith and Tyvon Branch were gone from the defensive backfield. I guess you could say that some of the “downs”… as in injuries… just stayed down and there was no “up” about it.
When the season began and Alex Smith led an overtime, comeback win in game one against the San Diego Chargers we couldn’t believe our eyes. The Chiefs never come back from a deficit much less a 27-to-10 deficit. However, they turned around and looked bad losing to the Houston Texans but came back the next week to eat the New York Jets alive. That cannibal euphoria didn’t last long because the next week the Pittsburgh Steelers made the Chiefs look like they played for a local high school team by crushing them, 43-to-14… and it wasn’t as close as it sounds.
Every week of 2016, it seemed that there was something that made fans “believe”… and worry simultaneously. Eric Berry intercepting a 2-point try and running it all the way back, one-hundred yards for a pick-two and a one point victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, his hometown… late in the game. That was special. Of course, if Berry doesn’t do that, the Chiefs likely end up not winning the AFC West. Then again… they DID win the AFC West and hosted a playoff game in Arrowhead… which the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers… by only two points.
There were many other great “ups” in the 2016 year, like Mitchell Schwartz being signed. What a steal that seemed to be. Of course, they also drafted a cornerback out of Notre Dame named KeiVarae Russell who they made their third round pick… only to cut him late in camp.
You see, for every “Up” there seemed to be a “Down” in 2016. The Chiefs cutting quarterback Kevin Hogan after drafting quarterback Kevin Hogan… Jamaal Charles entrance and then his quick exit… Justin Houston and the anticipation of his return… then watching him play well… and then fade at the end of the year. The Kansas City Chiefs roller coaster year in 2016 never seemed to end.
The Kansas City Chiefs just couldn’t stand success. One good thing would happen and then the next thing you know, they’re left looking up at the downside. It was a great year in many respects. It also had it’s rotten apple moments too. However, I’m sure a team like the Cleveland Browns would love to trade places with the Kansas City Chiefs.