For the Kansas City Chiefs' players, coaches and staff, the comradery built and work put in over the past three weeks at training camp will now carry them towards a season that's full of hope and optimism.
This was the fifth year that head coach Andy Reid brought his group to Missouri Western State University for camp, and after practice Wednesday, Reid spoke about what he saw from the guys this year.
"We've been able to take it up a notch," Reid said. "These guys have taken that challenge to heart. This group never says anything, they just work. From a head coaching standpoint, that's a beautiful thing. You can get a whole lot done."
The Chiefs had 19 practices in total since the rookies and quarterbacks first reported July 24, and up until Wednesday, they never had to go indoors because of weather.
Kansas City Chiefs players and coaches work on the fifteenth day of training camp at MWSU
And then about halfway through Wednesday's practice, the rain started falling and storms came in that caused the final half of practice to move inside.
It allowed for a pretty cool scene after practice the with military service men and women in attendance for Military Appreciation Day.
Aside from Wednesday, the weather at camp this year was fantastic, which allowed Reid and his group to get a lot of work done.
"I thought we got a lot done this camp," Reid added. "I think schematically we probably got a little more done than in years past. We challenged them like crazy this year in all three phases of the game. With the weather cooperating the way it did, you can get away with doing that.
"I thought the guys functioned at a high level."
Quarterback Alex Smith agreed.
"I think this camp has been great," Smith said. "I feel like every day we have taken a stab, we have gotten better. We have gotten something out of it. Guys have brought it. It is hard some days when you are back to back to back in the pads and the long days in heat. It is easy to slip into the mindset of just kind of trying to get through it.
"I feel like our guys have brought energy every day.
For a Chiefs' team that's gone 43-21 with three playoff appearances over the past four years, the idea that this was their most productive camp and they "took it up a notch" just adds to the optimism surrounding this group.
The Chiefs are set for their second preseason game of the year, which takes place Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. CT against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. The game can be seen locally on KCTV5.
