Bengals at Chiefs - Week 17 - Record: 10-6

Dick Vermeil surely couldn't be more proud of his team in this last game of his five year stint here, a 37-3 trouncing of Cincinnati. With Pittsburgh predictably winning, we're out, and I can't help but think that if we just tackled in the Giants game or we just put away the Cowboys like we should have or held that 17-0 lead against the Eagles, he'd get one more playoff game for us. But the "what if's" don't really bug me-- about half the teams in the NFL could say those same things about any one thing in any one game that could've gone just right for them to get into the post season.

Not too many teams finish with a 10-6 record and don't make the playoffs, and we certainly have reason to be proud. Larry Johnson and our offensive line is phenomenal, and I must say that our linebacking and defensive backfield had pretty decent years. There's a solid foundation for next year. We definitely need help on the D-line and we really really really need to look at developing a quarterback. Trent Green is wonderful, but how much longer can he go? Of course, developing a playoff calibur quarterback of their own-- an absolute requisite for Super Bowl contention, really-- is something we've been wondering for eons if the Chiefs can actually accomplish, since they have never ever done it. Think someone would take half our highest draft picks for the chance to pick Matt Leinart?

As for the new coach, let's hope we get somebody who has mastered the game like no one else and has a passion for his players that gets them to play at that top-flight level that makes it all worth it. Someone like, ohhh, Dick Vermeil. What a joy to have had such an amazing gentleman coach our team for as many years as he did.