Next Play: Chiefs’ season is off and running, and college football is roaring, too
If you’re like us, you’ve no doubt noticed the feel of fall all around, even if the temps aren’t quite yet cooperating: Halloween decor in stores, football on the tube and playoffs near for MLB teams close enough to have a shot at qualifying.
The Royals don’t pass muster for that last sign of autumn, not this season, but they do have games left ... and the Chiefs, Mizzou Tigers, K-State Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks are all still just getting started.
Busy and fun times to be a KC sports fan. Here’s a look at what’s in store this week for your favorite teams.
Chiefs hit the road
Win or lose, one game doesn’t define a football season. Two don’t, either. But after this coming weekend’s game featuring the Chiefs at the Baltimore Ravens, we’ll have a clearer picture of how things should stack up in the AFC race toward Super Bowl LVI.
Plenty of storylines for this one, too. The Chiefs have handled Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ star quarterback, pretty well the past few years. Former Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins is now catching his passes. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh is a former Andy Reid assistant. And the Chiefs’ new left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr., was with Baltimore through last season before signing a free-agent contract in Kansas City.
As far as early season showdowns go, sign us up. This one, in prime time Sunday night, figures to be fierce.
Home games for MU, KU, K-State
Get ready to tailgate: The area’s three Division I football teams all play home games this week.
Mizzou plays a morning game Saturday against Southeast Missouri State. SEMO would love to leave Columbia with a win, but Eliah Drinkwitz’s squad should cruise.
K-State, meanwhile, plays host to Nevada on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in game that should certainly be considered eminently winnable for the Cats.
Kansas has the toughest task awaiting Saturday: Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks welcome the Baylor Bears to Memorial Stadium, and the green and gold is always a fast, tough opponent.
Midweek soccer showdown
Sporting KC has one game this week, and it’s on Wednesday night at home against Minnesota United FC.
After Wednesday night’s game (7:30 p.m. start, by the way), Sporting KC has 11 days off, next playing Sept. 26, also at home, against the Seattle Sounders.
The KC NWSL women’s pro team is off until a Sept. 26 game at the Washington Spirit.
Royals in the spoiler role
After a scheduled day off Monday, the Royals enter the final couple of weeks of this season with a homestand against the Oakland A’s (Tuesday-Thursday) and Seattle Mariners (Friday-Sunday).
While the Royals are prepping for next season at this point, both the Mariners and Athletics have plenty left to play for right now. They’re trailing the Houston Astros in the AL West but have a shot of making up ground this week.
The Royals, of course, won’t be keen on helping either club move up in the playoff race. Ah, to be a spoiler ...
How about some volleyball?
The Horejsi Family Volleyball arena in Lawrence will be rocking Thursday night.
It’s a non-conference volleyball matchup with plenty of local appeal as the Kansas Jayhawks play host to the Kansas City Roos of UMKC in the Jayhawk Classic.
Match time is 6:30 p.m. Other teams competing in the Classic this year are Missouri State and Albany.