we beat the Chiefs, who had one of the top rushing games on offense that season (Larry Johnson had about 1,800 yards rushing that season), while we had a horrible run D all year...The Ravens had the #1 D that season... The Pats had the #2 D and # 7 offense... I think we would have won either way... a big part of me also thinks that we would have won in 2009, had we played our starters the whole year and gone for the undefeated season...
I think 2005 was probably our best team...and we were rusty because every year as soon as we locked up our spot in the playoffs, we rested starters... and we were a timing and rhythm offense. You take that timing away, and we looked rusty by the time we played our first playoff game each year (normally having a bye in the 1st round).