Renewing AFC West rivalries
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ah, nostalgia. Misty, water-colored memories of the way things were.
This Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs brings back visions of the AFC West past. And many of those are as painful for Seattle fans as a one-on-one collision with Christian Okoye.
The AFC West treated the Seahawks a little bit like Pete Townsend used to treat his guitars. Seattle went 80-100 in AFC West games over the years. The Seahawks won as many division titles in 23 years – two – as they’ve won in their first four years playing in the NFC West.
Nostalgia? More like flashbacks. The sight of the Kansas City Chiefs may well leave veterans like fullback Mack Strong with a post-traumatic stress disorder.
As much as last season’s historical run to the Super Bowl was about paying homage to the Seahawks’ past, there just wasn’t much there to get excited about.
The Seahawks finished at the bottom of the AFC West six times, and wound up among the bottom three teams 18 times. While Seattle has a respectable, all-time record of 81-75 (.519 winning percentage) in games against NFC foes, it has gone just 148-168 (.468) against the AFC.
For Seahawks fans, remembering the AFC is like remembering that dysfunctional marriage that ended with broken dishes and torn wedding photos. Names like Derrick Thomas, John Elway and Bo Jackson don’t bring back water-colored memories; they warrant the crimson of agony.
And yet, it’s time to reminisce again. The visions are back, like them or not.
For the first time in four years – Seattle moved to the NFC in 2002, but played all four AFC West teams once that year – the Seahawks are about to renew their old AFC West rivalries. A trip to Kansas City will bring back some memories this week, followed by a visit from the Oakland Raiders eight days later and a pair of December games against Denver and San Diego.
It’ll be just like old times for the Seahawks … although they’re hoping for a better ending to this sequel. The AFC West was to the Seahawks like a dog is to a fire hydrant. A baby to a diaper.
I think you get the point.
The Seahawks have been much more successful in the NFC West, sporting an 18-8 record against division opponents since the 2002 realignment. Seattle has a nine-game winning streak in division games and has won the past two NFC West titles.
The trip to Arrowhead will undoubtedly bring back some memories for the long-time Seahawks, the Mack Strongs and Chris Grays and Walter Joneses. But the rest of us might be better served to put that little 23-year history of AFC West play back where it belongs.
In the rearview mirror.
Scott M. Johnson is
The Herald’s pro football writer.
