Are there similarities between the 2015 Royals and 2019 Chiefs? We came up with 10
For the average sports fan in, say, New York or Los Angeles, the Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl LIV will be seen as nothing more than a second major championship in five years for Kansas City.
For them, there is no connection between teams that play different sports.
But closer to home, fans see similarities that run deep between franchises that are Truman Sports Complex neighbors and were celebrated for championships with a parade through the streets of Kansas City.
Here are 10 ways in which the 2015 Royals and 2019 Chiefs are alike.
The need for speed
Jarrod Dyson, Terrance Gore, Lorenzo Cain and their teammates wreaked havoc on opposing defenders, especially catchers, by blazing a path on the basepaths. In the field, batters were left shaking their heads as balls headed for the outfield gap instead landed in the glove of a Royals player.
Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Wakins and their teammates were a nightmare for opposing defenders to try and contain. Whether catching passes or returning kicks, the Chiefs’ speed is unparalleled in the NFL leading some to wonder if they could form a relay team and win an Olympic medal.
Round numbers
The Royals ended a 30-year drought without a championship when they won the 2015 World Series.
The Chiefs’ win in Super Bowl LIV ended a 50-year span without a championship.
Comeback kids
The Royals were the first team to win three World Series games despite trailing in the eighth inning or later.
The Chiefs were the first team in the Super Bowl era to win the championship after trailing by 10 or more points in every game in a single postseason.
A little help
With a week left in the season, the Royals trailed the Toronto Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games for the best record in the American League. But the Royals won their final five games while Toronto lost two of three to both the Rays and Orioles. That gave the Royals home field advantage in the AL Championship Series and they won all three games against Toronto at Kauffman Stadium.
Heading into the season finale, the Chiefs were the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, meaning they wouldn’t get a bye week and likely would have two win two road games to reach the Super Bowl. But the Patriots were upset by Miami, giving the Chiefs a bye. Then top-seeded Baltimore lost in the playoffs and the Chiefs ended up being host to both AFC playoff games.
Coaching criticism
Royals manager Ned Yost, a 61-year-old Californian, had been labeled a “dunce” during the 2014 playoffs and the criticism didn’t stop until after the 2015 World Series.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a 61-year-old Californian, had been labeled as someone who couldn’t win the big one during much of the past decade. He proved everyone wrong in Miami.
Music
After a game in July 2015, the Royals randomly dropped the numbers 17 and 38 into postgame interviews in honor of Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” song. Fans went all in, considering it a good omen whenever the numbers showed up, things such as $17.38 receipts.
After the AFC Championship Game, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce channeled the Beastie Boys and told the Arrowhead Stadium crowd, “You gotta fight for your right to party!” That was played at Super Bowl LIV in Miami and appeared on T-shirts.
Running wild
One of the iconic moments from the 2015 World Series was Eric Hosmer’s “Mad Dash” from third base on a groundout in the ninth inning of Game 5. The thrilling run tied the score and the Royals went on to win the game and the series.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes provided the most thrilling play of the 2019 season when he scored on a 27-yard touchdown run against the Titans in the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes deftly avoided stepping out of bounds and then smashed his way past a Titans defender.
The Houston connection
Facing a 6-2 deficit in Game 4 of their AL Divisional Series at Houston, the Royals put together five straight singles and an error in tying the game. A walk and well-time groundout put the Royals ahead 7-6. In the ninth inning, Eric Hosmer crushed a two-run homer that punctuated the win.
In an AFC Divisional Playoff game, the Texans jumped to a 24-0 lead on the Chiefs and had a 94% chance of winning. Instead, the Chiefs roared back with four touchdowns before halftime and rolled to a 51-31 victory against Houston.
The rallying cry
The Royals’ Mantra in 2015 was “Keep the Line Moving” as they stacked positive plays together via hits and walks in big-scoring innings, such as in Houston.
Here is what Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen said after the Texans game: “You can’t go back and change what’s happened. You just stack positive plays together.”
Heartache/motivation
The Royals had plenty of motivation heading into the 2015 season after losing in the seventh game of the 2014 World Series. With Alex Gordon standing on third as the tying run. That stinging loss proved to be a catalyst for the season.
Dee Ford’s offsides call in the AFC Championship Game negated an interception that would have sent the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIII. Instead the Patriots won in overtime, and the Chiefs used that awful feeling as inspiration that carried them to a Super Bowl LIV title.
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 11:46 AM.
