The talent on this team is just not good enough to overcome KC and we have one difference maker on the roster. You need year one starters from your first and second round picks, and you need at least a couple difference makers on the roster. Outside of Allen, it hasn't happened.
My main tenet is there is something fundamentally wrong with Beane's drafting/ talent evaluation for early round picks. Is it the scouting? Beane himself? McDermott wanting small quick guys? I don't know, but the defense just does not have what it takes to get us there. It took a couple miraculous plays by the offense to even get us close today. It's been the same story for several years now. We need some talent margin at multiple places across the field, especially to overcome superior coaching.