2006 Kansas City Chiefs

In a different division, the Kansas City Chiefs' respectable 10 wins/6 losses could have resulted in a berth in the NFL Playoffs, but in the AFC West that honor went to the 13- and-3 Denver Broncos. Just the same, Kansas City and their loyal fans outpaced the Denver in one area: selling tickets. The Chiefs jammed Arrowhead Stadium by averaging just shy of 78,000 tickets per game!

Kansas City has a new coach, Herman Edwards, who more than once took the New York Jets to the playoffs. What's staying the same is the Chiefs' top-rated offense, led by QB Trent Green and featuring tackle Willie Roaf, guards Will Shields and Brian Waters, and center Casey Wiegmann. What fans will be watching for will be more defense than they have been used to. These seasoned pros are poised to go all the way this year, so get your tickets to see it happen at Arrowhead Stadium in 2006.

Some Kansas City Chiefs history: Originally formed as the Dallas Texans in 1959 by owner Lamar Hunt, the Texans became a charter member of the AFL in 1960. Hank Stram was hired as the team's first head coach and within two years produced a powerful offense with quarterback Len Dawson and running backs Abner Hayes, and Curtis McClinton. The three stars led the Texans to the AFL title in 1962. Dawson was named the player of the year, McClinton rookie of the year, and Stram coach of the year.

In 1963 the franchise moved to Kansas City and was renamed the Chiefs. Kansas City won its second AFL title in 1966 behind wide receiver Otis Taylor, running back Mike Garrett, and kicker Mike Mercer, who made four field goals in the AFL Championship Game. In winning the AFL crown, the Chiefs earned the right to play the NFL-champion Green Bay Packers in the very first Super Bowl. Kansas City lost the game 35-10.

Stram guided his team to a league-record third AFL title in the 1969 season. The Chiefs upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.

Kansas City joined the NFL in 1970 when the NFL and AFL merged. In 1971 Stram led the Chiefs to the AFC Western Division title. That year, in a double-overtime divisional playoff game on Christmas Day, the Miami Dolphins defeated Kansas City in the longest game in NFL history. It lasted 82 minutes 40 seconds.

1988 marked their third trip to the Super Bowl, but the Chiefs lost to the Washington Redskins, 42-10. In 1990 coach Marty Schottenheimer guided the Chiefs to the first of six consecutive trips to the playoffs. The club brought together veteran superstars Marcus Allen and Joe Montana in 1993. That year Kansas City won its first division crown since 1971, and the Chiefs remained one of the AFC's tougher teams throughout the 1990s.

In 2001, Dick Vermeil was named head coach, after winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams. Kansas City had the highest 2002 scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 29.1 points per game. Yet, they were 4-4 in games which they scored 30 or more points because their defense gave up 24.9 points (390.5 yards allowed) per game.