No Jets upset, 2 straight Chiefs wins instead

Based on a few www.whatifsports.com replays...

It's commonly said that "The Greatest Game Ever Played" in 1958 is what launched the NFL into prominence now, though when I was young (middle '70s), because of its recency, then namath entering the Hall of Fame quickly, it was presumed Super Bowl III, where the Jets upset the Colts, was just as much of a catalyst.

Suppose that the Chiefs make it and upset the Colts, 24-6 (score of the replayed Super Bowl I did with the two), then follow it up next season going 13-1 and beating the Colts? I see a couple results from this:

1. Namath's overall accomplishments are looked at more; he may still get in, but probably not till the Veterans' XCommittee starts looking at other AFL stars. Still, being from New York, and with the first 4000 yard passing season, he might get in.

The Chiefs are looked at like the Browns of the old AAFC (1946-1949). Some people might even complain about the merger (though it was agreed upon before their last 2 wins), saying that only the Chiefs and maybe Raiders and 1-2 others clubs should have been added. They would seen as far more the class of that league, though they hadn't won an AFL title before the Super Bowl era.

Effect on the NFL's popularity? Not sure. 20-30 years ago, people would have said it was a big boost, but now, I'm not so sure. I think rather, it was a big boost to the *Super Bowl's* popularity. It might take a series of close games for it to really reach its height; say by the first Dallas/Pittsburgh one at the latest. (Although the replayed Super Bowl after the '69 season, when both the Chiefs and Vikings made it, could have also helped. Jan Stenerud kicked a field goal, one of 5 in the game, to win 9-6 as time expired!)

What do you all think?
 
1968

That is a pretty interesting question. If the Chiefs beat the Raiders in the AFL West one-game playoff that year, beat the Jets, and then upset the Colts, maybe they don't go back in 69. Len Dawson had an injury that year, and, if they would have already had a ring, maybe he rests that year instead of trying to get back too quick, and then the Jets, not the Chiefs, are in SBIV against the Vikes, and they win. As for the merger, I heard that, after the Jets won in 68, that the AFL was thinking about staying separate from the NFL, but Paul Brown would have filed a lawsuit. He didn't want an AFL franchise, but he took the Bengals because of the promise of the merger.
 
In the long run I don't see much changing. The Chiefs went into the crapper from the day Dawson retired until the day Schottenheimer came in to save the franchise. The Chiefs best chance for multiple titles came in the 1990s. For example:

1993: No fumbles in the AFC Championship game and the Bills are upset 20-13. Derrick Thomas eats Aikman alive in the SuperBowl and Montana stands alone as the only five time winner.

OR:

1995: DAMN YOU LIN ELLIOT!!! A better place kicker (Morten Andersen) gets the team to the big game, where Thomas eats Aikman alive.

OR:

1997: Gannon remains the starter. Not sure how the game would play out.
 
I never knew about this whatifsports.com site, has some interesting discussions. I have a TL I'm thinking about where Marty doesn't resign after '98, but in the meantime, here are some:

'89 Chiefs - Chiefs make the playoffs by winning the regular season game against Cleveland instead of the tie.

'90 Chiefs - Derrick Thomas sacks Dave Krieg on the last play of the game (instead of losing 17-16, they win 16-10) finish 12-4 and win tiebreaker against Raiders and win AFC West. OR Dave Szott doesn't commit the holding penalty that moved Nick Lowery's kick back 10 yards and the Chiefs win the playoff game against Miami.

'93 Chiefs - didn't Joe get a concussion or something in that game? Take that away and Chiefs may not even be in a position to fumble.

'95 Chiefs - completeley agree about the season(but that was the beauty of a lot of those Marty teams, they weren't overly dominant, they just didn't make mistakes and tended to make you pay for yours). I still remember Tim Brown being pissed by the umpire stepping into his route and letting Hasty get that pick. But that playoff game was lost because the #1 rushing team in the league almost exclusively threw the ball in the second half, on a day that was a balmy 10 degrees.

'96 Chiefs - quite simply they don't collapse after starting 4-0 (9-7 isn't a collapse per se, but after going 4-0 to finish 5-7, and not make the playoffs, is at least a disappointment).

'97 Chiefs - maybe the refs discover silicon on Broncos jersey like the Chiefs were saying. ;)

'99 Chiefs - don't kick the ball out of bounds and give the last regular season game and thus the division crown to the Raiders.

'03 Chiefs - just make Indy punt once. ONCE!

'05 Chiefs - my favorite. The 10-6 Chiefs some how make the playoffs as the six seed instead of the Steelers...and, you know :D.

I'm generally a fan of the NFL but the Chiefs are my favorite, specifically the Marty era (especially as Dave mentioned, we were mostly dead after Hank until Marty - I'd argue that Marv was giving us hope, but that's another TL for another time).
 
Chiefs

In 89, if what should have happened did, the Chiefs would have had a record of 9-6-1, and probably would have had a Wild Card. The Browns, who also should have lost to the Vikes and at Houston, finishes 7-9. Then, the Steelers and Chiefs would have played in the WC game. The game would have been at KC, because the Steelers were 9-7. Still, the Steelers were the hotter team, and I think they would have won. Then, you have the Steelers still losing in Denver, and Houston beating Miami at home(if, in week 1, Marino doesn't throw that late INT to Odomes and the Bills don't march down and beat Miami on the last play, Miami is 9-7 and wins the East). Then, Denver beats Houston, but still loses to SF in the SB.

In 1990, if what should have happened did, then, Thomas makes the sack and KC goes 12-4, but the Raiders are 13-3(they end up winning the game that they gave away on a Sunday Night in Buffalo earlier in the season). Then, Miami wins the East at 12-4(Buffalo is 11-5 because they shouldn't have beaten Denver at home, either), and the Bengals finish 10-6(they should have beaten SF at home). In the first round, the Chiefs host the Bills, and beat them behind Okoye's 120 yards rushing and Word's 115. The Bengals still beat Houston. Then, in Round two, The Raiders beat KC at home behind Bo Jackson's 120 yards rushing(it butterflies away his injury), and Miami beats Cincy at home. Then, the Raiders take Miami at home, but lose to the Giants in SB XXV.

As for Levy, here is a timeline for Chief fans:
Jan. 1983: Lamar Hunt, after taking things into consideration, decides to give Levy another chance. He has been making progress every year, and, Hunt realizes that the strike was bad for everyone.
March 1983: Dan Marino, in for a workout, impresses Chief scouts with his fire and competitiveness.
April 1983: NFL Draft. The Chiefs want Marino, and pick 7th overall. They realize that, after the rumors, that they can get him later. They trade their 7th pick in the first round to Buffalo for the Bills' 12th and 13th picks. The Bills take Kelly, and the Chiefs take Marino and TE Tony Hunter.
Summer 1983: I hate to say it, but I think that the Joe Delaney tragedy still happens. He spent his offseasons at home in Mississippi, and he usually played ball with the local kids. What he did in trying to save those kids was the way that he was.
1983 Season: Kenney plays the whole year, giving Marino time to learn. The Chiefs still finish 6-10.
1984: The Chiefs draft RB Herman Heard first. Marino starts the year, as Kenney is traded away to the Steelers for RB Frank Pollard. The Chiefs finish 10-6, and make the playoffs on the last day after Bill Kenney's Steelers knock the Raiders out in the Coliseum. The Chiefs lose in the Kingdome, 17-14. Denver goes on to upset SF in SB XIX on a fumble recovery TD with 55 seconds left.
That is a start. I don't feel like going too far, but, with Marino, the Chiefs would have been a contender the rest of the decade. Levy probably stays there, and never goes to Buffalo. Miami ends up going to mediocrity two years earlier. KC goes to the SB in 85 and 86, with Denver going back in 87(but still loses to Wash). Cincy still goes in 88, and then the Chiefs, with Okoye and Marino, go to the SB in 89, and lose to SF.
 
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