Andy Reid Silences Lots Of Doubters With Landmark Chiefs Win
By Erik Lambert
Prior to their 30-0 pounding of the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs had endured one of the more painful droughts without a playoff victory in NFL history. The last time they had won a game in postseason play was 1994. Ironically that was on the road, against the Houston Oilers. Since then they’ve endured a number of close, gut wrenching defeats in every form or fashion from shootouts to defensive battles.
Perhaps the man who should feel the most pride about the victory is Andy Reid. For the second time in his coaching career he took a perennial underachieving franchise and turned them into a contender who can win in the playoffs. More than ever the Philadelphia Eagles have to be kicking themselves. In the heat of the moment they chose to fire him after a difficult 4-12 finish in 2012, starting fresh with Chip Kelly as his replacement.
After making the playoffs in 2013, the Eagles steadily declined until they finished 7-9 this season, firing Kelly after just three years. In that same span, the Chiefs have posted three-straight winning records and made the playoffs twice under Reid.
On day @eagles reportedly reach out to interview Tom Coughlin, Andy Reid breaks @chiefs 21-year playoff win drought. Can't make it up.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 10, 2016
Doubters will continue to say he doesn’t have a ring and all that, but there is no more disputing the facts. Andy Reid is one of the best head coaches of this generation. His long track record of success proves that. He’s 172-120-1 in his career and won 11 playoff games. He’s turned the likes of Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia and Alex Smith into Pro Bowlers and demonstrated a clear ability to judge not just offensive but defensive success as well.
If this continues for another few years, it will be time to consider him for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, whether he eventually does get that ring or not.