When indispensable star running back Jamaal Charles was waylaid by a season-ending knee injury and the Chiefs tumbled to 1-4 on Oct. 11 against Chicago, well, that surely was about it for the 2015 campaign.
Their presumed fate was only reinforced by a slapstick-laden loss a week later at Minnesota, framed by offensive lineman Donald Stephenson barging into Charles’ previously anonymous replacement, Charcandrick West, to force a fumble.
That all seemed light years ago by Saturday, when the Chiefs steamrolled Houston 30-0 to extend their winning streak to 11 games.
The most lopsided postseason win in franchise history was a proper exorcism for a 22-year playoff victory drought.