Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs: Jekyll and Hyde

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) carries the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats (55) and outside linebacker Jarvis Jones (95) defend during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

So far the 2016 Kansas City Chiefs seem less like a Super bowl contender and more like the story of Jekyll and Hyde.

The Kansas City Chiefs were straight out embarrassed last Sunday night in prime time against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Andy Reid was out shined by the entire Steelers’ coaching staff, as the Steelers looked prepared to play and KC was not. Normally this team does not play this bad, but as the facts state; they have never won a Sunday night football game…ever.

What is going on with this team? At the beginning of the season, even without star running back Jamaal Charles, and all-pro linebacker Justin Houston, this team was set to go places. Quarterback Alex Smith was looking to ditch his “captain check-down” nickname. The defense was poised to show what it can do even when down a few key players. This was (is) a team that was meant to go deeper into the postseason. So what happened?

It seems like this team (who has a lot going for them in talent and coaching) is looking more like the teams of the past than the team of the future. It kind of seems like they are a Jekyll and Hyde football team. Now, in no way is their story the same about a man who transforms into another who does deplorable acts, but take a look at the past four weeks of the season.

Sep 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a reception as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Phillip Gaines (23) defends during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 19-12. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1. The Chiefs, dead in the water, down by three touchdowns in the third quarter. This team was doomed. Then, a surge unlike any seen before by this team; to come from behind and win. This was the team we were hoping for. Even though they are down and dead in the water they come back with fire and shock us. They win the game in overtime and there was much celebrating in Chiefs Kingdom; this was our Super Bowl team.

Week 2, the foe, the Houston Texans that were humiliated in the post season victory by the Chiefs in 2015. Something different from what we saw just a week before. The offense was not clicking, the defense was struggling and all they managed to come away with was 4 field goals. They lost, to a team they destroyed twice last year in a game that had a lot of us shaking out heads; who was this team?

Week 3, opponent for the day the New York Jets, and the outcome was much better. This was the team we saw two weeks earlier, a team playing with heart. Eight turnovers, two returned for scores, another two picks for the reigning defensive rookie of the year cornerback Marcus Peters. All phases of the game were on point with each other, and we screamed, “How bout them…CHIEFS!!!!” Last week was a fluke, a bad game, only one of 16 nothing to be scared of, our team was back.

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Week 4, traveling in the rain to face off against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that was themselves dismantled a week before; primetime, under the lights, go Chiefs. Then it happened. Turnovers, costly mistakes and probably the worst quarter of football played by any team this year, that was the Kansas City Chiefs play that game. When the dust settled at the end of the game, the team lost 43-14 and Big Ben Roethlisbergerthrew for five touchdowns and not a single turnover for the Chiefs. This was not the team we knew we had, not even close.

If one were to take a look at the Kansas City Chiefs week by week, it truly is a tale of two teams. The first tale is a team that knows it can come back from the brink, which knows they can win any week. This is the team that Chiefs fans knew we had. A dominating make it hurt defense paired together with a little or no mistakes on offense and this is a team that can go places.

The other tale of this team is one that is unprepared, out coached and severely out played. Nothing works, and those mistakes they are known for not making, they make, and make a lot. The defense, usually standing their ground not only bends but breaks. Nothing works for this team, nothing they try, nothing they change, everything is just quicksand. One thing after another, then another, tell they can’t breathe, like quicksand. (Bonus points for who gets that reference.)

Jekyll and Hyde, two different types, both the same team; the Kansas City Chiefs. But, this is not the end of the season, there is a lot of football left for the year and things can turn around. They can go from being Mr. Hyde back into Dr. Jekyll. They can come back from making mistake after another, back to winning. The Chiefs are still a good football team; they know how to win, and how to not make mistakes. The only thing that remains is who they want to be; Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde.

Thanks for reading.

GO CHIEFS!!!!