Chiefs of ’18 or ’03: Which Team is Better?
by Laddie Morse
Will the Kansas City Chiefs version in 2018 be better than the Kansas City Chiefs of 2003? Now, I realize we don’t even know how well the 2018 version will turn out but, it’s not true that we have no idea. With that in mind, let’s do a compare and contrast and see what we’ve got. Before we go any further I must say, the reason this piece is even being written is that I’ve heard the clamoring out there about this topic so I thought I’d give you my take, although, the 2003 team finished 13-3 and I just don’t think that’s anywhere in the cards for this year’s team.
On the other hand: if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl this coming February then no matter what I end up writing here, this year will be the winner by a landslide.
The Chiefs 2003 Defense
While the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the Chiefs 2003 team is usually the offense, it’s their defense that kept them from succeeding in the playoffs. So, let’s find out just how crumby they were.
- Rushing Defense – 30th in the NFL
- Passing Defense – 20th in the NFL
- Total Defense – 29th YPG (19th in total points allowed)
The Chiefs 2017 Defense
So, how does that compare with the 2017 Chiefs?
- Rushing Defense – 25th in the NFL
- Passing Defense – 29th in the NFL
- Total Defense – 28th YPG (15th in total points allowed)
While the 2003 defense is completely a known, the 2018 defense is designed to be better than the defense they ran out onto the Arrowhead field last year. However, there is a chance it could be worse. Then again, the 2017 Chiefs had a goal line stand mentality and were only 15th in total points allowed and that makes the likelihood that this year’s defense will be a smidgen (expected to be) better than the 2003 group.
The Chiefs 2003 Offense
It’s true, the 2003 Chiefs won the AFC West Championship and the Missouri Governor’s Cup (for the best NFL team in this state) but, the team’s real success began with a great foundation. Right out of the gate you have to consider that those Chiefs had Willie Roaf and Will Shields on the offensive line and they’re both in the NFL Hall of Fame. Considering that the best Tight End to ever play the game, in Tony Gonzalez, was catching passes in red and gold that year, and it’s hard to imagine anyone taking sides against this group.
It’s not like those were the only stars on that team either. RB Priest Holmes, my favorite Chiefs running back of all time, was toting the ball and scored 27 rushing touchdowns that year. No… not 27 all-purpose TDs, he scored 27 touchdowns on the ground. Of course, he never really touched the ground the way he spread his arms out to his side and jumped over the goal line. He alone was worth watching the Chiefs that year and from purely an entertainment point of view, that team was as much fun to watch — for me — as the Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis. After all, the 2003 Chiefs scored 484 points that year (to lead the league) and 30.3 points per game.
QB Trent Green wasn’t half bad either with over 4,000 yards passing and TE TonyG wasn’t the only recipient either and he caught 10 TD passes that season. We also had WR Eddie Kennison who had 853 yards receiving and Johnny Morton who had 740. Those weren’t the only notable players for the Chiefs on offense either: there was FB Tony Richardson and RB Derrick Blaylock and coach Dick Vermeil drafted a guy named Larry Johnson that year too… although he was still in diapers that season.
Then again… the 2003 Chiefs team also had that legendary character… that guy who could catch and run pretty well too… and his name is Dante Hall. Remember him? Good, I hoped you hadn’t forgotten. He made watching punts “a thing.” May be never forget the X Factor!
https://twitter.com/WeAreAAWOL/status/1016448513205526528
The 2018 Chiefs Offense
Granted, Tyreek Hill may be the fastest human in the NFL and he may be an excellent punt returner, but he’ll still have a long ways to go before he passes Dante Hall up as the Chiefs greatest return man ever. Not only that but, coach Reid may be trying to phase Hill out of the return game and use him at WR which is where Hill has done a tremendous amount of work this offseason.
The strength of this year’s team will be the wide receivers and while Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Chris Conley should get the nod over the 2003 wide receiving corp, this is where the advantage ends.
I’ve said this previously and it bares repeating, the best #27 in Chiefs history, when all is said and done, will be Kareem Hunt. I still believe that’s true but if I had to choose between running backs Hunt and Holmes, I’d take Holmes. Especially the 2003 Holmes.
It’s hard to have a Trent Green vs Patrick Mahomes compare and contrast conversation. What a first year starting QB like Mahomes will do this year is such an unknown, that it almost makes this whole conversation unfair from the get-go. PMII would have to average more than 252 passing yards per game to exceed what Green accomplished. However, if Mahomes can help the team to the playoffs and then help win a playoff game… Chiefs fans will likely enshrine Mahomes as one of the KC Sports Gods no matter what happens after that.
Lastly, do the 2018 K.C. Chiefs have a Hall of Fame performer on their offensive line? Or anyone near to that? That would be no and no. Yes, these Chiefs have a half way decent OL, a middle of the pack OL. An offensive line that has the potential to be a top 10 or a top 12 OL… but they’re still a long ways off. Once we see what they’re able to do this year, that might change. They do have continuity going for them but there’s a gaping hole at LG and the 2003 OL group was much batter from top to bottom.
Closing this Debate
Some fans think Travis Kelce cancels out the effect of Tony Gonzalez but let’s be real, Gonzo was the best ever. Patrick Mahomes could turn out to be a Hall of Fame QB too. Who knows. Then again, a lot of fans used to like Brodie Croyle. That’s kind of the point. We know exactly how good/bad the 2003 team was… fantastic offense… abysmal defense. If this year’s defense can exceed expectations… and then this year’s offense can lead the team to a playoff victory… then this debate won’t matter. Why? Because fans will be happy and they’ll stop looking back so far and asking these kinds of questions. Probably.
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