NFL Power Rankings: Kansas City Chiefs Get Biggest Dis from ESPN

[KristofLaw]

NFL Power Rankings: Kansas City Chiefs Get Biggest Dis from ESPN

If There was a Team Who Got Snubbed, it was the Chiefs

When ESPN released their preseason 2011 NFL Power Rankings, the Kansas City Chiefs were ranked No. 14.

They were the second lowest division champion only to Seattle, but by comparison for 2011, Seahawks haven't improved like the Chiefs.

Despite finishing with an 11-5 record, winning the AFC West for the first time since 2003, and having the game's best ground attack, it apparently wasn't enough to garner any respect.

Even division rival San Diego was ranked in front, and they only finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

Other teams ranked in front of them are the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both of which also missed the postseason in 2010.

Then you have the injury stricken Indianapolis Colts, who have a QB in Peyton Manning who's underwent two neck surgeries in his career, and hasn't played in the preseason.

Not to mention all their other injuries, and the skeptical defense they possess.

As for the Chiefs?

Well, although K.C. finished ranked No. 30 in passing, QB Matt Cassel still earned a Pro Bowl selection by throwing for over 3.100 yards, with 27 TDs and only seven picks.

And for this season?

Well, they have boosted the receiving core with slot man Steve Breaston (from the Cardinals), and rookie Jonathan Baldwin (despite attitude problems, still has a lot of talent).

Defensively they may be just as good.

Eric Berry has a year under his belt with Brandon Flowers in the secondary, while LB Derrick Johnson and DL Glenn Dorsey lead the front seven.

Not to mention there's rookie LB Justin Houston from Georgia, and young veteran Andy Studebaker at OLB.

In addition, Dexter McCluster is one of the game's best return men, as is Javier Arenas.

This season the Chiefs are a more all-encompassed franchise, and have no business not winning the AFC West.

Obviously all that remains to be seen, however, for what they accomplished last season, and for how they improved this offseason, Kansas City deserves to be ranked higher than mediocre.

Here's the link to the article:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/8...-dis-from-espn

[matthewschiefs]

What killed the Chargers last year was partly turnovers. Only 8 teams had a worse takeaway/giveaway ratio. But it was mostly special teams. They were terrible, and ST has a huge effect on the game. It's partly because they usually had such bad field position, that they were able to put up so many yards.

With the new rule pretty much eliminating kick returns, it helps level the playing field for the Chargers. But they do have a very difficult schedule and have a tendency to always start out slow.

Hopefully that trend will continue and the Chiefs can get a bit of a lead on them early to carry us through the toughest part of our schedule.

That's a big reason that we were able to get the divison last season. The chargers start slow we got them week 1. They lost early to a couple teams in the NFC west (weak teams)

The media love the Chargers and for some reason some are on the Faiders ban wagon. The Chiefs despite winning the divison get no love. They are seen as a team that only won because of the weak schedule blah blah blah. Not many point out that the Chargers went 2-2 against the WORST DIVISON IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL and we went 4-0. The Chargers have a big name at QB so of course they get the love from the media. I say the Chiefs just go out and go 19-0 win the superbowl and FORCE the media to give them some love whos with me.

[Hayvern]

Well, they had won the division four straight years prior to last season, when they had the number one offense and defense in The NFL.

Pretty easy to chalk-up 2010 to a major underachievement.

The team didn't really lose a whole lot, and all of their divisional competition (Chiefs included) have yet to prove that they are at the same level.

Should The Chiefs, or The Raiders be as competitive as they were last season, then I think they will start to be taken as seriously as The Chargers, by the masses.

The general view of The Chiefs is going to be a team that benefited from The Chargers' mishaps, more than a team that proved themselves as a real force in The AFC West.

But, when you have last season's top rated defense, and the top rated offense, as well as having won the division for four consecutive years prior.... I think it's pretty reasonable to expect big things from you.

Chief31 and I disagree on a lot of thigns, but when it comes to football we agree a lot. I agree with him here. We might want to say that we are better than San Diego and we may be, but we are never going to get that respect until we prove it.

San Diego is a proven commodity and with Rivers at quarterback they are always going to get the benefit of the doubt.

[Chiefster]

That's a big reason that we were able to get the divison last season. The chargers start slow we got them week 1. They lost early to a couple teams in the NFC west (weak teams)

The media love the Chargers and for some reason some are on the Faiders ban wagon. The Chiefs despite winning the divison get no love. They are seen as a team that only won because of the weak schedule blah blah blah. Not many point out that the Chargers went 2-2 against the WORST DIVISON IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL and we went 4-0. The Chargers have a big name at QB so of course they get the love from the media. I say the Chiefs just go out and go 19-0 win the superbowl and FORCE the media to give them some love whos with me.

Chief31 and I disagree on a lot of thigns, but when it comes to football we agree a lot. I agree with him here. We might want to say that we are better than San Diego and we may be, but we are never going to get that respect until we prove it.

San Diego is a proven commodity and with Rivers at quarterback they are always going to get the benefit of the doubt.

I say disrespect us all ya want, every day, out loud; fuel that fire!

[chief31]

Chief31 and I disagree on a lot of thigns, but when it comes to football we agree a lot. I agree with him here. We might want to say that we are better than San Diego and we may be, but we are never going to get that respect until we prove it.

San Diego is a proven commodity and with Rivers at quarterback they are always going to get the benefit of the doubt.

BAH!

We don't disagree on much.

Just eveything not football.

[SIC J]

Rivers sucks. I don't care what anyone says. Rivers is GOOD in games that don't "really matter". When it comes to the games that COUNT, he chokes. That's a fact!

As long as SD has Rivers, they are going no where.

As far as getting love from the media, what does every big named team have in common? A name branded QB. Chiefs have never really had one so therefore they will get no love.

Who cares. I love being the underdog!

[AussieChiefsFan]

Remember, this is the same company that owns Disney... Can we take them that seriously, knowing that?

LOL well said.

But this is my facial expression to this:

[AkChief49]

Rivers sucks. I don't care what anyone says. Rivers is GOOD in games that don't "really matter". When it comes to the games that COUNT, he chokes. That's a fact!

As long as SD has Rivers, they are going no where.

As far as getting love from the media, what does every big named team have in common? A name branded QB. Chiefs have never really had one so therefore they will get no love.

Who cares. I love being the underdog!

Yeah it usually takes just a sack or two or a fumble and he's fuming at his team mates. The media calls that being "competitive". I call it as him being a crybaby sometimes.

[azchiefsfan]

Yeah it usually takes just a sack or two or a fumble and he's fuming at his team mates. The media calls that being "competitive". I call it as him being a crybaby sometimes.

That is the point I have made many times. When he starts getting hit a little bit or his receivers drop a couple passes, he will start screaming at his team mates and totally lose his composure. He is the ultimate diva. Now it's true he has the skill to back up his diva status, but it's hard to keep a squad together in the toughest games (like the playoffs) when they know their diva is going to start going off on them when it gets tough. He has been the biggest key to their success and the biggest reason they can't get over the hump.