Misery in Missouri: When Will It End?

The Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Rams combined to win a total of four games last season, each team winning only two contests.

That's fewer wins than 26 individual teams had last season.

The Rams also posted only three wins in 2007.

Separated by four hours of I-70 pavement, St. Louis and Kansas City boasted some of the most exciting displays of offensive football earlier this decade.

The "Greatest Show on Turf" in St. Louis captured the imagination of touchdown hungry fans, and Kansas City boasted a top-five total offense ranking five consecutive years from 2001-2005.

But the fortunes of these two franchises have turned sour.  Each are struggling with poor on the field performances recently.

The Chiefs and Rams face similar challenges this year.  Each have new coaching staffs, plenty of off-season personnel changes, and stout schedules for the upcoming season.

Each team also suffers from a lack of an identity. Will it be the Chefs and Lambs, or the Chiefs and Rams this year? I think both will improve record wise, but a lot of work remains for these franchises to return to glory.

The glimmer of hope for the Chiefs and Rams is the respective divisions that each play in.

The AFC West division winner last year was the Chargers at an embarrassing 8-8.  The Broncos also finished 8-8, melting down in the late stages of the season. The Raiders finished their season 5-11 with a late-season flurry.

Logical thinking would peg the Chargers as the favorite for the division but they have shown a history of under performing.

The NFC West boasted Super Bowl runner-up Arizona, but also includes the 4-12 Seattle Seahawks and the 49ers who won four of their last five to finish at 7-9.

I'm not predicting either of these teams to repeat what the Miami Dolphins accomplished last year, but it is also not that far of a stretch to see each team at least being competitive in their division.

Misery in Missouri. Take me away! 

Go Chiefs!