1-3...I will take that as long as we beat Denver!

Anyone that knows me well knows that I like to watch NFL football. No, you cannot find me every Sunday planted in front of the TV and, no, I don't know every player on every team. But I do love to watch the Chiefs (yes...I still admit that) and I love to rant and rave over games.

Since I was a kid (or since I moved to Missouri and gave up on my love for the Dallas Cowboys), I have loved the Kansas City Chiefs. Maybe it was my infatuation with living within driving distance of the team. Maybe it was my brother's influence who has the arrowhead tattooed on his arm. Or maybe it was my die hard Chiefs fan friend named Danni. Either way, I have had a love for the team that can never seem to find a winning season, the best combination of players or the best record. One thing I can say - the Chiefs have the best fans and I am one of them.

While sitting around the lake this weekend at the boat races, I found another friend of mine that may possibly love the Chiefs more than me....Cari. Much to her husband, Jason's, argument and after some screaming "turn it up!!!", Cari and I listened to the game of the year...the KC Chiefs pounding the Denver Broncos. (Watch the highlights here.)

Now you might remember me posting previously that I had to find it somewhere in my heart (against my better judgment) to begin kind of liking the Broncos. It has been painful to sit there rooting on a team that I was destined to hate from the beginning....a team that is in our conference....a team that could very well whoop our butts and keep us out of the playoffs. But I had too compromise since Danni's husband, Casey, became the Center for the Denver Broncos. It wasn't rough at first....Casey was going to be 2nd string - he is 35, in his 13th year with the NFL and ready to retire. He was going to sit quietly on the bench - so I didn't really have to root for the Broncos. But then suddenly, the Center had an injury and Casey has started all games for the Broncos and is kicking some booty. Secretly, I have been hoping for Bronco victories ever since the first game.

But this weekend, it was on like Donkey Kong!! The Broncos entered in to Chiefs territory (Tomahawk Chop!) My 0-3 Chiefs took on the 3-0 Broncos and I knew deep down inside that the Chiefs had to win this to even begin their comeback. I heard Casey's name often (and praises of his performance as a "former Chief") as I listened from the Sherrow's boat. Cari screamed and hollered....we slapped high fives on every great play. We even yelled at Blaine for trying to share his cookie recipe while we were trying to hear the game - for crying out loud.

The Chiefs came out on top (33-19), we finally saw their A game. Larry Johnson decided to show up and earn his Mayback driving pay, Damon Huard finally took off his blinders and made some great throws, Derrick Johnson clobbered Denver's offense forcing a pair of turnovers and some QB sacks and the Chiefs finally found a kicker, Matt Prater. (I am still bitter about the 1995-96 playoff game against the Colts where we were doomed with -9 degree wind chill and a stupid kicker. Lin Elliot - or Lin Idiot as I renamed him - missed 3 field goals in that game to lose to Indy 10-7. I was at that game with Blaine and Ronnie where we had bussed with a radio station from Springfield to KC for tailgating and the game. I cannot even describe how cold it was in the upper level.)

But now....My Chiefs finally won a game in 2008. I knew they could...and I am guessing that this game just might be the single most important win in the past 20 years. This week we are off to take on the Carolina Panthers on the road. Our confidence is boosted, the plays are finally tweaked and all of the newbies have finally figured out each others flaws and strengths to work together to actually look like a winning team.

Although Casey's return to Arrowhead was not what he was dreaming of (read the story here), it was a dream come true for a true Chiefs fan! This week I will be cheering for the CHIEFS and secretly...the broncos. Shhhh.....