This, too, shall pass. It always helps to remember that. Just the same, it takes a lot to disperse lingering ghosts, doesnt it? Especially when the paranoia was almost tangible among Chiefs fans, who have endured a bizarre array of tortured terminations for even their most seemingly promising teams.
At some point, the cynicism became reflexive, almost hard-wired in by a generation of experiences telling you that to believe is virtually the same as asking to get kicked in the teeth. Keep them gritted and watch at your own risk.
Flinching flashbacks remained almost a form of muscle memory you may have experienced as recently as Saturday. Even when for all logical reasons you knew that the dynamics in this equation are different because of the incomprehensible capabilities of Patrick Mahomes.
A blocked punt knee-jerks you back to, say, a quarterback completing a touchdown pass to himself; Mahomes getting up gimpy leads to lumps in throats and a sudden spike in readership about backup Chad Henne on kansascity.com; a fumble deep in Chiefs territory transports your mind to a blown 38-10 lead.
Until … another grim and seemingly cursed ending isnt what happens at all.
And it turns out the Chiefs werent setting you up for another soul-crushing collapse at Arrowhead Stadium, where they had lost an NFL record six straight playoff games since 1994.
And that they reset everything by slingshotting themselves forward with a 31-13 win over a Colts team that had been responsible for so much past misery.
Now, the Chiefs may or may not beat the vaunted New England Patriots on Sunday, when for the first time in their 59-year franchise history they will play host to a league or conference title game.
No doubt some will cling to the notion of the Chiefs still being gripped in some tractor beam of their bleak postseason history since winning the Super Bowl in 1970. Particularly in contrast with the mystique of the Patriots, who, ho-hum, are in this round for the eighth straight year and 13th time in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.
This isnt their first rodeo here, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday, adding that the Patriots are arguably one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the game.
Despite Bradys goofy and laughable assertion Sunday that some vague everybody now thinks the Patriots stink and the fact the Chiefs open as three-point betting favorites, who could be surprised if the Belichick-Brady machine wins a ninth AFC title and even its sixth Super Bowl?
What will be, will be, of course.
But at least this much you can know: True to Chiefs linebacker Justin Houstons line that bears as much repeating as possible, Dont let the past poison your future, echoing Mahomes notion that were a different generation, the Chiefs werent encumbered by their history entering the Colts game.
And, at last, that liberates Chiefs fans, who perhaps might even appreciate now how some things even are falling their way.
For instance, one ridiculous break, a Hail Mary by the Dolphins (7-9) to beat the Patriots in December, helps account for what made this a home game instead of a visit to the funhouse of Gillette Stadium where wacky things happen like, you know, the Patriots being penalized zero times when the teams met in October.
