Another championship Sunday, another with absolutely no local rooting interest.
Lucy pulled the football away from Charlie Brown once again last Sunday night as the Kansas City Chiefs dropped an 18-16 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Another playoff loss. Another playoff loss at Arrowhead Stadium. That makes the Chiefs 0-4 in home postseason games since 1994.
How did this latest one get away? The popular answer is holding, as in the penalty called on Eric Fisher on what would have been the tying 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Was it holding? Yes. Would James Harrison have gotten to Alex Smith without the holding? Probably not, since Smith had stepped up into the pocket while Harrison was talking a circular route to the quarterback.
But even then, the game is just tied with more than three minutes on the clock. Pittsburgh had already driven for six field goals, a seventh was not exactly out of the question.
And only scoring two touchdowns in a home playoff game doesn't say much about the Chiefs offense.
You think it's all about the quarterback play of Alex Smith? OK, find a better one for next season.
There's popular answer - Tony Romo. If Peyton Manning can get the Broncos a Super Bowl title in the waning years of his career, Romo can do the same thing in a similar situation for the Chiefs.
Except: 1. The Broncos won the Super Bowl in spite of, not because of, Manning. He was dreadful the last half of his final season. The Broncos won because of their defense. 2. Romo, and I am a fan, is no Manning.
If Smith stays, how does the offense improve? Start with finding some receivers who can catch the ball.
The Chiefs dropped at least three passes that would have resulted in big gains last Sunday. Jeremy Maclin might have the ability to be No. 1 receiver for a team in the NFL, but he sure wasn't for the Chiefs this year. Totals of 44 catches and two TDs doesn't do it.
Tyreek Hill was a revelation in the last half of the season. The rookie led the team with 61 catches for nearly 600 yards and six scores. But at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, you have to wonder about his durability.
Travis Kelce is the second best tight end in the NFL behind Rob Gronkowski, so the Chiefs appear to be set there for the foreseeable future.
And then there's the running game, that without the injured and likely not coming back Jamaal Charles, was virtually nonexistent. The tandem of Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West were serviceable this season. They are also easily replaceable.
The offensive line, while fine, still needs work.
Then there's the defense.
Let's start with the line. The Chiefs allowed way too many rushing yards this season and it starts up front. Kansas City did lose two starters - Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard - to injuries from this group during the season and that obviously didn't help. Dontari Poe could leave as a free agent.
The linebackers didn't help much with the 26th-ranked run defense. When Derrick Johnson went down with a torn Achilles, the group lost its leader.
The secondary, led by safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters, was outstanding.
It was a good season for the Chiefs, sweeping their AFC West foes on their way to winning the division title. But it sure looks like there is work to be done or the Chiefs will be shut out once again on next season's championship Sunday.