CFZ “Curses” aren’t what has been holding this team back

[Bobhaze]

I’m not at all a superstitious person so I don’t believe in curses. Sure it would be great if the 28 year drought we‘ve had was all about Jerry not putting Jimmy in the ROH. But unfortunately our playoff drought is really more about roster building, decision making, culture, toughness, habits, and sadly not playing our best football during the playoffs. JJ and SJ of course are at the center of all that.

In fairness, Jerry and Stephen have certainly done some good things for which credit is due:

• The elevation of Will McClay a few years ago has made our drafts so much better and delivered a major influx of talent.
• The hiring of Mike McCarthy (who is light years better than Garrett), has so far delivered back to back 12 win seasons and playoff appearances, which hadn’t happened since the 90s.
• The team finally won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 years.

Those are all good and all worthy of the almighty “credit” JJ so desperately craves.

But the next hurdle this team has to clear isn’t about some mysterious curse. It’s about playing great against the better teams in the playoffs. For a multitude of reasons, we have not played our best football when it mattered most. Until THAT changes, we won’t be rescued by a ROH induction, although I’m certainly glad to see it finally happen.

The breaking of curses are fun to talk about in sports. But in reality, winning playoff games is 100% dependent on the team’s ability to play its best when the stakes are at its highest.

 

[Brax]

I’m not at all a superstitious person so I don’t believe in curses. Sure it would be great if the 28 year drought we‘ve had was all about Jerry not putting Jimmy in the ROH. But unfortunately our playoff drought is really more about roster building, decision making, culture, toughness, habits, and sadly not playing our best football during the playoffs. JJ and SJ of course are at the center of all that.

In fairness, Jerry and Stephen have certainly done some good things for which credit is due:

• The elevation of Will McClay a few years ago has made our drafts so much better and delivered a major influx of talent.
• The hiring of Mike McCarthy (who is light years better than Garrett), has so far delivered back to back 12 win seasons and playoff appearances, which hadn’t happened since the 90s.
• The team finally won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 years.

Those are all good and all worthy of the almighty “credit” JJ so desperately craves.

But the next hurdle this team has to clear isn’t about some mysterious curse. It’s about playing great against the better teams in the playoffs. For a multitude of reasons, we have not played our best football when it mattered most. Until THAT changes, we won’t be rescued by a ROH induction, although I’m certainly glad to see it finally happen.

The breaking of curses are fun to talk about in sports. But in reality, winning playoff games is 100% dependent on the team’s ability to play its best when the stakes are at its highest.

Curses, tell Bill Buckner about there ain’t no curses

 

[Hagman]

And to do that you need better, tougher players, and better tougher coaches. In a better tougher winning culture. Which requires a better owner, who will hire a better, tougher, smarter general manager.

Love your stuff, Bob. You've posted about the culture many times.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Remember when the Chiefs didn't have any culture until they drafted Mahomes?

You have talent or you don't. Culture is a product of talent. The Jones matter insofar as they collect talent - the rest is superficial and doesn't matter.

 

[john van brocklin]

I’m not at all a superstitious person so I don’t believe in curses. Sure it would be great if the 28 year drought we‘ve had was all about Jerry not putting Jimmy in the ROH. But unfortunately our playoff drought is really more about roster building, decision making, culture, toughness, habits, and sadly not playing our best football during the playoffs. JJ and SJ of course are at the center of all that.

In fairness, Jerry and Stephen have certainly done some good things for which credit is due:

• The elevation of Will McClay a few years ago has made our drafts so much better and delivered a major influx of talent.
• The hiring of Mike McCarthy (who is light years better than Garrett), has so far delivered back to back 12 win seasons and playoff appearances, which hadn’t happened since the 90s.
• The team finally won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 years.

Those are all good and all worthy of the almighty “credit” JJ so desperately craves.

But the next hurdle this team has to clear isn’t about some mysterious curse. It’s about playing great against the better teams in the playoffs. For a multitude of reasons, we have not played our best football when it mattered most. Until THAT changes, we won’t be rescued by a ROH induction, although I’m certainly glad to see it finally happen.

The breaking of curses are fun to talk about in sports. But in reality, winning playoff games is 100% dependent on the team’s ability to play its best when the stakes are at its highest.

This team appears to be mentally soft against the good teams.
Until that gets resolved, hard to see us making a deep playoff run.

 

[FanofJerry]

Maybe you have one limb to hang on with contracts given out...

But Jerry and Stephen picked a goodin in McClay.

Cant deny that. Dude is straight putting players on the field for Dallas.

And...I dont blame Jerry or Stephen for wanting to pay guys. Do you stay at Businesses that dont pay and you work your tail off all day? Got ya.

Jerry and Stephen could go the route of New England and let talent go before a contract is due. Maybe they should with McClay in their pocket. But I dont fault them.

I watched a youtube a few years ago breaking down Dallas' contract problem...have not clue if it is true or not...I admittedly didnt do the research...but it basically said Dallas was giving out 1 Max contract more than everyone other team. Example...if every other team was paying a total of 5 guys Max(depends on position and total of cap...but you get it)...Dallas was paying 6...killing their cap space. Again...I dont know if that is totally true...the youtube made a solid case for it. Edit...Key position is the better way to word it. Dallas was paying 6 key positions max and every other team would be paying 5 key positions Max.

 

[_sturt_]

Until yesterday, I knew nothing about the supposed curse. Today, though, I'm fully embracing/enjoying it... I mean, what is there to lose? Let's see if it makes for a great story in February.

 

[JD_KaPow]

The reason teams play poorly against better teams is that those teams are better, and better teams make lesser teams look bad. It's not because the players are cursed or "mentally soft" or have a bad culture, it's because the other team is better (or just happens to match up really well).

 

[Nova]

Not true

We're cursed with Jerry

 

[elcowboi]

I’m not at all a superstitious person so I don’t believe in curses. Sure it would be great if the 28 year drought we‘ve had was all about Jerry not putting Jimmy in the ROH. But unfortunately our playoff drought is really more about roster building, decision making, culture, toughness, habits, and sadly not playing our best football during the playoffs. JJ and SJ of course are at the center of all that.

In fairness, Jerry and Stephen have certainly done some good things for which credit is due:

• The elevation of Will McClay a few years ago has made our drafts so much better and delivered a major influx of talent.
• The hiring of Mike McCarthy (who is light years better than Garrett), has so far delivered back to back 12 win seasons and playoff appearances, which hadn’t happened since the 90s.
• The team finally won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 years.

Those are all good and all worthy of the almighty “credit” JJ so desperately craves.

But the next hurdle this team has to clear isn’t about some mysterious curse. It’s about playing great against the better teams in the playoffs. For a multitude of reasons, we have not played our best football when it mattered most. Until THAT changes, we won’t be rescued by a ROH induction, although I’m certainly glad to see it finally happen.

The breaking of curses are fun to talk about in sports. But in reality, winning playoff games is 100% dependent on the team’s ability to play its best when the stakes are at its highest.

I'm not superstitious either but there is definitely a curse around Jerry.

 

[FanofJerry]

Until yesterday, I knew nothing about the supposed curse. Today, though, I'm fully embracing/enjoying it... I mean, what is there to lose? Let's see if it makes for a great story in February.

You think Jimmy doesnt have the God's by the gonads. Have you seen the fire in that guy? I bet he has a way with the Football God's and told them to tap the breaks until he gets in.

Granted...that fire didnt work in Miami...but you get it.

Jimmy was the man.

 

[Bobhaze]

Remember when the Chiefs didn't have any culture until they drafted Mahomes?

You have talent or you don't. Culture is a product of talent. The Jones matter insofar as they collect talent - the rest is superficial and doesn't matter.

We disagree on that Mac. There are loads of studies that show how important culture is for all organizations. You must have talent and lots of it. BUT - Talent alone is never enough.

About ten years ago, Bill Parcells wrote a great article for the Harvard Business Review about how important culture is to winning in football. It was called ”The Tough Work of Turning Around a Team”. Link: https://hbr.org/2000/11/the-tough-work-of-turning-around-a-team

There are lots of teams of sports team at all levels who had loads of talent but can’t win often enough with it.
Just a few examples:

• Texas A&M has had a top ten recruiting class 4 years in a row, including the #1 class in 2022, and haven’t won more than 8 games in that time. Tons of talent. Not enough wins.
• Univ of Texas- also tons of talent year after year. Usually top talent in the Big 12. They are doing very well this year at 10-1. But they haven’t won the Big 12 in over a decade despite having loads of talent. Several Texas players who used to play there say culture has been bad for years.
• The Washington Capitols in the NHL had THE best player in Alex Ovechkin for years, winning tons of regular season games only to falter in the playoffs. Poor team culture was often mentioned as a problem.
• 1980s NY Yankees- The Yankee teams of the 1980s were centered around Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Steve Sax and Jesse Barfield. Most talented team in the league, hands down. HOFers galore and highest payroll. Never won a World Series.
• The 2004 Olympic “Dream Team”- had NBA superstars Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Dwyane Wade. They finished 3rd. A lack of chemistry and culture was cited.

This list could go on and on. Talent is a must in order to win. We certainly agree on that. But the teams who win when it matters most have a lot more than talent.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

We disagree on that Mac. There are loads of studies that show how important culture is for all organizations.

Didn't say culture doesn't matter. I said culture is defined by talent.

Don't have a quarterback, don't have a prayer. It is true for the Patriots and the inverse is true for the Chiefs.

 

[Bobhaze]

Didn't say culture doesn't matter. I said culture is defined by talent.

Don't have a quarterback, don't have a prayer. It is true for the Patriots and the inverse is true for the Chiefs.

Wow. Have you seen the SB winning teams that had Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Joe Thiessman, Jim McMahon, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles? About 1/5th of all SBs were won by pedestrian QBs.

Of course having an Elway or Brady or P. Manning or Mahomes is huge. But that alone isn’t enough.

 

[shabazz]

I’m not at all a superstitious person so I don’t believe in curses. Sure it would be great if the 28 year drought we‘ve had was all about Jerry not putting Jimmy in the ROH. But unfortunately our playoff drought is really more about roster building, decision making, culture, toughness, habits, and sadly not playing our best football during the playoffs. JJ and SJ of course are at the center of all that.

In fairness, Jerry and Stephen have certainly done some good things for which credit is due:

• The elevation of Will McClay a few years ago has made our drafts so much better and delivered a major influx of talent.
• The hiring of Mike McCarthy (who is light years better than Garrett), has so far delivered back to back 12 win seasons and playoff appearances, which hadn’t happened since the 90s.
• The team finally won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 years.

Those are all good and all worthy of the almighty “credit” JJ so desperately craves.

But the next hurdle this team has to clear isn’t about some mysterious curse. It’s about playing great against the better teams in the playoffs. For a multitude of reasons, we have not played our best football when it mattered most. Until THAT changes, we won’t be rescued by a ROH induction, although I’m certainly glad to see it finally happen.

The breaking of curses are fun to talk about in sports. But in reality, winning playoff games is 100% dependent on the team’s ability to play its best when the stakes are at its highest.

Agree 100% that it’s not curses….it’s merely shrinking in the biggest moments and not finishing.

Its systemic and theres been many fine athletes and teams that are unable to produce in the clutch.

We can blame owner, players or officiating but curses have nothing to do with it.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Wow. Have you seen the SB winning teams that had Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Joe Thiessman, Jim McMahon, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles? About 1/5th of all SBs were won by pedestrian QBs.

Of course having an Elway or Brady or P. Manning or Mahomes is huge. But that alone isn’t enough.

A lot of those guys were not pedestrian at all for their eras. I strongly disagree with your take here. The facts are that by far your best bet to win SBs is to get an elite QB.

 

[GMO415]

After last night, the iggles are clearly the best team in the NFL. I still think we'll beat them at home, but we can forget about winning the NFCE

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Wow. Have you seen the SB winning teams that had Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Joe Thiessman, Jim McMahon, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles? About 1/5th of all SBs were won by pedestrian QBs.

Of course having an Elway or Brady or P. Manning or Mahomes is huge. But that alone isn’t enough.

They are irrelevant to the modern NFL. Pedestrian QBs don't win right now.

The Chiefs went 50 years between Super Bowls. What got them over the hump was talent. Inversely, the Pats - and The Patriot Way - lost their talent and now are terrible.

Talent drives culture. The All Blacks aren't good because they sweep the sheds, they're good because they have the best players.

 

[Risen Star]

Robert, you football atheist.

The football Gods have been satisfied and blessings will now rain down upon us as a result.

Repent or spend eternity in football hell listening to Jason Garrett asking you how you're doing over Stephen's nose whistle.

 

[Bobhaze]

Robert, you football atheist.

The football Gods have been satisfied and blessings will now rain down upon us as a result.

Repent or spend eternity in football hell listening to Jason Garrett asking you how you're doing over Stephen's nose whistle.

Candles have been lit. I’ve seen the light!