The Kansas City Chiefs Should Host Prime Time Games In 2014
Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; General view of the Arrowhead Stadium during the NFL game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City 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 home 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. Both turned out to be solid games with Kansas City losing both. The two games 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 hosting a couple prime time games. The dates and times for the 2014 schedule won’t be released by the NFL until April, so we’ll know for sure then.
What games are you looking forward to most and what games should the Chiefs have in prime time? Comment below and make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to get the best content on all things KC sports related.