But he was released. Bono was released. No, Chiefs fan. The spirit of Bono endured. His life force is bound to this team, and the team survived. Bono has returned. His checkdowns have multiplied. His fortress of Abad-Throwur is rebuilt in the land of Poorscore. Bono needs only another contract extension to cover all the lands with a second darkness!

Yes, it's true. Alex Smith is the reincarnation of Steve Bono. The reality is more terrifying than any of JRR Tolkien's fantasies, and now we present it.

In 1995, the Kansas City Chiefs started 9-1. They were the toast of the town. Bono was THE MAN. He had scored 20 touchdowns in 10 games and Sports Illustrated was talking about him leading the Chiefs to the Lombardi Trophy.

Bono's own teammates even believed he could take them to the Super Bowl.

But then a funny thing happened on the way to the Super Bowl: the ring was cut from Bono's finger.

In the last seven games of 1995, Bono was absolutely horrible. The Chiefs went from winning because of him, to winning in spite of him. The Chiefs offense took a nosedive in terms of their ability to score points.

Unfortunately, no one at the time really cared, because the Chiefs finished 5-2. I wasn't on twitter, so I couldn't alert Chiefs Kingdom to the obvious doom that was about to befall it. Actually, the 13-year old version of me was convinced Bono was Joe Montana II and THE CHIEFS WE'RE GONNA WIN IT ALL, BABY!

Lesson learned, because I'm not going to be fooled the second time around.

Let's flash forward to 2016. The Chiefs start 10-3. National media outlets are talking about Alex Smith and the Chiefs going to the Super Bowl. But uh, hey we're all ignoring the exact same thing that happened in 1995:

The Chiefs quarterback and offense have taken a nosedive. In fact, it's even worse. Let's compare Bono's final seven games of 1995 with Smith's last six games, and where those numbers would rank over an entire 1995/2016 season.

Yeah, this is not a good look for Alex Smith. He's actually not Steve Bono. He's worse than Steve Bono. He is undeniably a less productive quarterback when you account for the difference in offensive eras.

And yet, just like Bono...the Chiefs are winning more than they are losing. They are getting away scott free despite their quarterback, who can't throw touchdowns, despite their offense, which isn't scoring.

Why? The defense and special teams are compensating.

The 1995 Chiefs racked up seven defensive/special teams scores. That's the exact same number the 2016 Chiefs currently stand at. Not only that, these improbable scores are coinciding EXACTLY with declining offensive numbers.

In four of the 1995 Chiefs wins down the stretch, the Chiefs scored a TD on special teams or defense. Three of those scores proved to be the difference in the game.

In four of the 2016 Chiefs wins down the stretch, the Chiefs have scored a TD on special teams or defense. Four of those scores have proved to be the difference in the game.

The shocking similarities between Bono and Smith's "Super Bowl" teams don't end there, either.

Every game the 1995 Chiefs lost had one thing in common: no defensive/special teams scores, and the offense not scoring enough (11.6 PPG).



Every game the 2016 Chiefs have lost has had one thing in common: no defensive/special teams scores, and the offense not scoring enough (15 PPG).

No one wants to believe this could happen. It's an absolutely unacceptable fact to some that Steve Bono and Alex Smith might be the same quarterback. Wait, didn't you see his come-from-behind heroics this year? Joe Montana III took out the Chargers and Broncos with the clutchest QB play I've seen since...uh...uhm...

Steve Bono?

Yes, friends. Steve Bono led THREE come from behind victories in 1995. Two in overtime. Just like Alex Smith!!!

Down 17-3? Bono has your back.

Down by 10 points in the fourth quarter? Bono strikes again.

Chargers about to beat you in Arrowhead? It's ain't over 'til it's Vanover (It ain't next week 'til it's Tyreek), but Steve Bono is Joe Montana II.

Man do you guys remember that big comeback by the Chiefs QB against the Chargers. That's when I knew we were going to the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/Ud8kYa91KS — Clay Wendler (@ClayWendler) December 21, 2016

In fact he's so Joe Montana we're going to mention Joe Montana three times in this recap.

But Alex Smith is a winner! He's 21-10 in his last 31 Chiefs games. That should be enough to assure us that Alex Smith is not Steve Bono!!! He was not a winn...

Steve Bono is also 21-10 in his last 31 Chiefs games.

He did throw for one more touchdown than Alex Smith during that span, though.

But wait, Alex Smith beat SUPER BOWL teams. Steve Bono never...

DOWN GOES FAVRE!

Good luck, Alex. You have two games to prove you're not Steve Bono. You sure smell like him. Winning is a great deodorant, though.

CAST THE GAME MANAGER INTO THE FIRE! DESTROY IT!

BONUS CONTENT

Did you know that Steve Smith...errr, Alex Bono...errr....Steex Bonith...Aleve Smono...whoever. Did you know his touchdown percentage has now fallen SO LOW that statistically, every Super Bowl team EVER is beyond his grasp? This is what happens when you throw fewer touchdowns than Steve Bono.