The World Series celebration and ensuing hangover are finally showing signs of wearing off. Now we turn our attention to the Chiefs. After being left in the dust during the Royals triumphant run, the Chiefs still have a heartbeat even through the season is half gone. Most of us gave up hope after they lost five of their first six games out of the gate. That epic Thursday night meltdown and loss to Denver is still troubling.

Several national prognosticators picked the Chiefs to dethrone the Broncos and win the AFC West outright. That isn’t happening. The Chiefs held the upper hand in the earlier meeting with the Broncos this year.  That was until the final minute, and they ended up gagging away a double digit lead. Peyton Manning continues his mastery over the Chiefs. He just doesn’t lose to them. He is 7-0 as a Bronco.  He needs only three yards to topple the mark held by Brett Favre. Manning is also one win away from surpassing Favre’s record for most career regular season wins. He’s truly one of the all-time greats.  But, let’s face it, the end is near for Manning. Sunday will be the last time the Chiefs will face Peyton Manning ever!

Manning is having the worst season of his storied career. He’s already thrown 13 interceptions this season. Two of those came in Denver’s first loss of the season Sunday at Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Chiefs victories in Denver have been few and far between. The Chiefs have won only twice in the last 15 years out there. Now is the time to steal one in the Rocky Mountains.

So let’s dream a little. Do the Chiefs really have a snowman’s chance of making the playoffs? After the Chiefs won two games in a row, some feel they are back on track. I refuse to fall into that trap because I don’t think they can win the big one with this quarterback.

The Chiefs win against the Steelers looks good on paper, but Pittsburgh was down to its 3^rd quarterback. The Chiefs broke out of their offensive slump in London by pouncing on the hapless Detroit Lions. Anytime you put up six touchdowns and 45 points in a NFL game, you have to be doing something right even if it’s against a bad opponent like the Lions.

Here’s what concerns me the most about the Chiefs. They still haven’t beaten anyone that’s any good. Now they face three of the next four games on the road. The three road games are against division opponents. I can envision a scenario where the Chiefs could break even in their remaining four games on the road and run the table at home. And yes, this football team isn’t above losing all four on the road either. I’ll take the middle road and predict with any breaks at all that the Chiefs will finish nine and seven with an outside chance of a wildcard spot.  That wasn’t even a pipe dream at Halloween!