Tradition Twednesday: Your Token Division Preview, the 2008 Kansas City Chiefs

The rough focus of this blog touches on the rivalric animosity between the Chiefs of Kansas City (revered by bankmeister) and the Broncos of Denver (beloved by Cecil and old No. 7).

Eight years ago, we started The Tradition, which is a two-part ordeal. Part one involves matriculation from Kansas City to Denver, where the Chiefs faithful take in a visiting-team loss. The other is a Bronco pilgrimage to Kansas City, and that one's kind of a toss up. What both games have in common are proportional inebriation, occasional spousal invitation, and trash-related oration.

We're back, and a day late. Today's club of inspection is the Chiefs of Kansas City, which in Italian, means badflippinass, but we'll keep it in English for now.

Last week, we looked at the Denver Broncos, and decided that they could wind up 10-6, contenders for the division title. But that was a bit of concocted pipe dream for everyone in Bronco Country worrying about the then-looming suspension, now-certain suspension of B-Marsh. Nice spokesmanship, Dre' Bl'y':

"He doesn't deserve any of that because he is not a bad guy...You hear stuff about what the other guys are doing. He is out here working hard, and he is ready to go."

Anyway, the Chiefs. Somewhere around this House is my prediction of how the Chiefs might finish 6-10, but I can't find it, so we'll just run through the schedule again:

Opening Weekend happens on the road in Foxboro. Moving on.

The home opener is against the Raiders. Last year, Lane Kiffin's kids beat the Chiefs at home for the first time since before the States of United were 50. Won't happen again; 1-1 is better than 0-2.

On the road again for week three, and a visit to Arthur Blank's Falconage. Should be a win: 2-1. I mean, the Chiefs could screw this one up, but I doubt it.

The Denver Broncos come to Arrowhead in week four. They'll unknowingly bring two of their best reporters -- Cecil and Old No. 7 -- with them, and all will return to Colorado sad, their Broncos 1-3. Kansas City will be on Cloud Nine, though, sitting pretty at 3-1.

A visit to the Carolinas is next, and Steve Smith will have been back for a few weeks, but if his production in '08 looks anything like it was last year, the Panthers could totally suck, and John Fox will be looking for a job. I'll call it a Chiefs win, and the good guys are 4-1.

(Editor's Note: This ain't looking too bad after all.)

After a week off, the Chiefs are back at home, and in comes the club formerly known as the Oilers of Houston. Coach Herman and his defense couldn't contain the balanced attack of Jeff Fisher's squad. Don't see that changing. KC is 4-2.

Then it's back to the Meadowlands for another game against Herman's old club, and there's only one word I can think of to describe the outcome of this game. Suddenly, it's 4-3, and that ain't describing Gunther's defense.

Home game against the Bucs in early November. Will they employ Old No. 4, he of the Green Bay regime that has gotten next to no coverage this summer? Either way, Jon Gruden likely outwits the Hermster, and the Chiefs are 4-4.

Up next it's a trip to Qualcomm for KC, and though I can't really peg (at this point) just how the Chargers will fare in '08, I can't see us winning in San Diego. Now, this is not because home-field advantage is so massive in southern California. Rather, it's because Norv Turner is stricken with coaching genius. Or, it might just be because they have lots and lots of better players. Chiefs dip below .500, and sit at 4-5.

In from the French Quarter, it's a visit with the Saints. This club's also a mystery. Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and company should have more success this year than their floppage last fall. Count the Chiefs as a victim to this success. Four-six is tres mal, or someting.

Staying at home, it's time for a contest with the Bills of Toronto Buffalo. We haven't been able to handle these clowns in recent history. This time we will, and we hit the road again, for a chance to get back to even: 5-6.

Trouble is, the Raiders are actually re-figuring out how to play football as December looms. They settle the season series with a victory against the Chiefs, leaving the gold and red 5-7.

Next is another road contest against another division foe, those Broncos of Denver. One thing we know about this match is that the cities of Kansas City and Denver have made it illegal for the Chiefs to win at InVesCo, an act punishable with a lifetime of misery for anyone who rallies againt the cause. KC comes home 5-8.

Two home games for the good guys, and it's a split of good news and bad. The bad news comes first as the Chargers come to town. They're likely surging for a post-season run, and steamroll the Chiefs, leaving us 5-9.

(Note: Oh, yeah. Not so fun after all.) The good news is that we host the Dolphins next. There's that sixth win I was looking for.

Finally, the league has decided that the Chiefs and Bengals will play each other every year, regardless of divisional rotations, and right now, the Bengals have the edge, leaving Kansas City's 2008 efforts at 6-10, a sad-but-true improvement over 2007.