The Kansas City Chiefs saw enough in a closing three-game spell to hand interim head coach Romeo Crennel the full-time position as he signed a three-year contract.
The former Cleveland Browns head coach went 2-1 over the closing three games after replacing Todd Haley, who was fired after a disappointing season.
A win over the unbeaten Green Bay Packers, their only loss of the regular season, undoubtedly helped Crennel's cause no end, and enabled him t beat off competition from elsewhere.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli also spoke to former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio but in the end settled on Crennel.
"The three games had a lot to do with where we arrived at this decision," Pioli said. "Some of the things we saw was a great deal of accountability and consistency. There was also a different energy to the football team. A lot of it had to do with those last three games."
Defensive
Crennel is a defensive whizz and that came through in the closing stretch, but a major decision he has to make is on offence with a choice between veteran quarterback Kyle Orton and regular Matt Cassel - who missed a lot of the season with injury.
The new man certainly has experience, coaching in six Super Bowls during his 30 years as an NFL coach and being in charge of the Browns between 2005-08, and although coy over his staff he did say he could call the plays himself on defence.
"I'm not exactly sure what a player's coach is," Crennel said. "Sometimes I think players think that a coach who is on their side is a player's coach, who always rules in favour of them may be a player's coach.
"I know that's not always the case with me. I think that basically, I'm a good guy. And I think this is what players appreciate - players appreciate honesty. Players appreciate you telling them like it is.
"They don't always want to hear it. But that's what they appreciate. I try to tell them what I believe, what I feel and how I think it should be done."
The Chiefs have flattered to deceive over the last couple of years, threatening to take hold of the AFC West but somehow failing - although injuries did not help Haley out at all this season.
Losing Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles, one of the league's best playmakers, for almost the entire campaign was a huge blow for the Chiefs to overcome, but it was not their only one.
They also lost talented tight end Tony Moeaki early on and then starting quarterback Cassel went down for the season meaning they never really got going on offence - that will have to change if they are to challenge for the play-offs next year.
