Next Play: KC Chiefs play twice, lots of bowls, lunch with Roos + appreciation on ice
The Chiefs are running an AFC gauntlet as the end of the regular season approaches.
Winners of five straight since starting the season 3-4, the Chiefs have gone from being the NFL’s most curious slow-motion train wreck to a still-flawed team that no one should look forward to playing.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill remain capable of wrecking games single-handedly or in unison, and now the Chiefs’ defense is making life difficult for opponents.
Facing strictly AFC competition the rest of the way, including today’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders and Thursday night at the L.A. Chargers, Kansas City has its eye on the conference’s top seed.
Here’s a look at the Chiefs’ two games this week, plus some other highlights ahead for KC-area sports fans.
AFC West two-step
Both of the Chiefs’ games this week are against division-mates from the AFC West. And one of them offers a shot at redemption.
After playing host to the Raiders (6-6) at Arrowhead Stadium today at noon, the Chiefs have a quick turnaround before playing the Chargers (7-5) Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Chiefs beat up the Raiders pretty thoroughly in Las Vegas last month, winning 41-14. But that’s the last time we really saw their offense hum. Their wins since have been driven by dominance on defense and special teams.
Non-conference hoops
The Kansas, Missouri and K-State men’s basketball teams are inching closer to conference play.
The Tigers welcome the Utah Utes to Mizzou Arena next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The same day, KU takes on Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. in Lawrence.
Before either of those games happens, K-State gets a visit today from Green Bay. Tip time is 4 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.
‘Tis the bowl season
It’ll be a while yet until the teams from Kansas State and Missouri suit up for their respective bowls, but college football’s postseason begins on Friday.
On the calendar for Dec. 17 are the Bahamas Bowl (Middle Tennessee vs. Toledo) and Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina). And next Saturday’s an even bigger day for bowl lovers.
No fewer than seven games are on the docket for Dec. 18:
- Boca Raton Bowl (Western Kentucky vs. Appalachian State)
- Celebration Bowl (South Carolina State vs. Jackson State)
- New Mexico Bowl (UTEP vs. Fresno State)
- Independence Bowl (UAB vs. BYU)
- LendingTree Bowl (Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty)
- Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl (Utah State vs. Oregon State)
- New Orleans Bowl (Louisiana vs. Marshall)
The Jimmy Kimmel Bowl? Welcome, friends, to silly-season football.
Roo Up for women’s hoops
The Kansas City Roos women’s basketball team entered this weekend atop the standings in the Summit League at 8-0. No conference games have been played yet, but the Roos have been scoring in the 80s and 90s of late.
They’re at Tennessee State today at 1 p.m., and then they return to Swinney Recreation Center to play an 11 a.m. game on Tuesday against Santa Clara. The Roos are a torrid 5-0 at home so far this season.
Mavs’ Military Appreciation
Members of the military are eligible for reduced-price tickets to two KC Mavericks hockey games at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence this week.
The Mavs play host to the Iowa Heartlanders on Friday and Saturday. The team says $20 tickets for military personnel are available at the Cable Dahmer Arena box office.