The Next Play: KC sports week kicks off with Chiefs-Bengals, includes K-State’s bowl
It’s becoming basketball season — league openers for Mizzou and Kansas State (and eventually KU) attest to that. But it’s still football season, too.
For proof, look no further than Sunday’s Chiefs-Bengals game, as the newly crowned AFC West champs look to win their ninth straight game after a dismal 3-4 start.
Or look further south, to Houston, where K-State on Tuesday will play LSU in the Texas Bowl.
It’s really a fun time of the year, and a fine way to start a new year for Kansas CIty-area sports.
Chiefs can clinch No. 1
Last weekend, the Chiefs secured themselves a playoff berth, a sixth straight division crown and consecutive victory No. 8.
This weekend, the stakes are even higher. The Chiefs could emerge from Sunday’s round of games with the No. 1 seed in the AFC. A win, plus a loss by the Titans (who play the Dolphins) would give Kansas City homefield advantage clear through the AFC Championship Game.
If they earn that top seed, they also get a first-round bye. And if they advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will be a record fourth straight edition at Arrowhead Stadium. Game time in Cinci Sunday is high noon.
Those bowling Wildcats
Get ready for a whole lotta purple when K-State and LSU tangle in the Bayou City.
There’s been some low-key concern that the game could be jeopardized by COVID issues, but so far, word out of Manhattan, Kan., and Baton Rouge, Louisiana is that the game will be played as planned. Why is this even a question, when there are no reported cases of COVID within either program?
Ask UCLA, one of several teams that saw its bowl game (the Holiday Bowl) torpedoed by positive test results in the opposing team’s camp. Fingers crossed that the Cats and Tigers are able to get in their game at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Big 12 opener for KU
K-State was still scheduled to play its Big 12-opening men’s basketball game at Oklahoma on Saturday. Kansas wasn’t so fortunate, as TCU was forced to pull out of a Saturday game against the Jayhawks in Lawrence.
KU rallied and found a replacement opponent — and a fun one, at that, in a George Mason team coached by none other than former Missouri Tigers player Kim English. But the Big 12 season is where it’s at, and Bill Self and company will no doubt be fired up to get conference play rolling when they visit Stillwater, Okla. Tuesday to take on the Pokes of OSU. Tipoff is 8 p.m.
Another shot for Mizzou
The Missouri men’s basketball team’s SEC opener at Kentucky didn’t go so well this past week. UK pretty much steamrolled the Tigers, and Cuonzo Martin was forced to miss the game after testing positive for COVID.
Assuming he heals up and clears protocols, Martin should be back in plenty of time for the Tigers’ next crack at a league win: Wednesday at 8 p.m. against Mississippi State in Columbia.
The Tigers have had a rough go of it this season and would love to see things turn in their favor against the Bulldogs.