The Kansas City Chiefs Deserve Primetime Games In 2014
Sep 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL is releasing each teams full regular season schedule this evening, and the Kansas City Chiefs deserve to have some primetime games in 2014.
The Chiefs will be playing the seventh-toughest schedule in 2014 after having the best turnaround season in NFL history. Because they only finished with a record of 2-14 in 2012, the Chiefs got overlooked by broadcast companies when it came to prime time games in 2013.
Of course, the Chiefs had to play on the road in week 3 for a Thursday night game- every team has to play one Thursday night game- and were flexed into a Sunday night game at Denver after their 9-0 start. So after finishing 11-5 and earning a spot as a wildcard in the playoffs, Kansas City should be rewarded with some prime time games in 2014.
Since the NFL has gone to Thursday Night Football regularly in 2012, the Chiefs have had to play both of their Thursday games on the road- leaving you to think that they should be able to host on Thursday night for a change. It’d be awesome for the Chiefs to host Denver or San Diego on Thursday night, considering it is a little harder on the traveling team for that short week of preparation.
Another thing the Chiefs have going for them is their strength of schedule at home. Kansas City will have the toughest home schedule in 2014 (.570). That number is based on their opponents cumulative winning percentage from 2013. Not only do they host the normal foes in Denver, Oakland, and San Diego, but also Seattle, New England, New York Jets, Tennessee and St. Louis.
I would love to see either New England or Seattle get a prime time spot at Arrowhead. Imagine how electric of an atmosphere it would be if the Chiefs got to play host to the defending, Super Bowl champs on Monday or Sunday Night Football.
Heck, if it happens, the Chiefs should invite The Guiness Book of World Records back to measure the sound decibels and take back the world record. Wouldn’t that be something?
The Chiefs also have a solid away schedule that includes Alex Smith‘s return to San Francisco. I bet the NFL has that one circled for prime time as it will be the first time in the regular season that Smith will face off against his former team, and, the man who took his job in Colin Kaepernick.
Kansas City has to play at the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014, and the last two meetings between the two were prime time games. The last two turned out to be solid games with Kansas City losing both. They both came down to the final possessions and both ended with interceptions thrown by Chiefs quarterbacks, Tyler Palko and Matt Cassel. Thank goodness those days are over.
The Chiefs normally get snubbed in prime time slots but 2014 should be different. With a solid roster, a tough schedule and a great home field advantage, Kansas City should be rewarded with a couple of prime time games in 2014.
We’ll know for sure after 7 PM CDT tonight. Are there any games you would like to see in primetime?
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