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KC Replay: KC Chiefs learn details of 2022 schedule, Witt Jr. homers, Sporting KC wins

Jeff Rosen
·4 min read

No league pushes and pulls the hype-machine levers quite like the NFL.

For weeks now, we’ve been seeing/hearing/reading about the coming reveal of the 2022 schedules for all 32 teams, the Chiefs included.

The big unveiling occurred during a special NFL Network show on Thursday evening. Elsewhere, Bobby Witt Jr. was the hero for the Royals in Wednesday’s 8-2 win against the Rangers not far from his Texas hometown, and Sporting Kansas City prevailed at home in a round-of-32 tournament soccer match against another team from Texas.

Here’s this week’s KC Replay, recapping notable sports headlines from the past week across the region.

Fans at Arrowhead Stadium celebrate with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after his game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in a Jan. 23 AFC Divisional Round playoff game.
Fans at Arrowhead Stadium celebrate with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after his game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in a Jan. 23 AFC Divisional Round playoff game.

The big (NFL) reveal

As announced Thursday evening, the Chiefs will open their 2022 season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 11, then play their home opener on Thursday Night Football against the L.A. Chargers on Sept. 15.

The Chiefs also get a Super Bowl LV rematch against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida on Oct. 2 (Sunday Night Football). Here’s the Chiefs’ full schedule for the 2022 season (home games in ALL-CAPS):

September — 11: at Arizona, 3:25 p.m., CBS; 15: CHARGERS, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime (TNF); 25: at Indianapolis, noon, CBS

October — 2: at Tampa Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC (SNF); 10: RAIDERS, 7:15 p.m., ESPN (MNF); 16: BILLS, 3:25 p.m., CBS; 23: at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., FOX; 30: bye

November — 6: TITANS, 7:20 p.m., NBC (SNF); 13: JAGUARS, noon, CBS; 20: at L.A. Chargers, 3:25 p.m., CBS; 27: RAMS, 3:25 p.m., FOX

December — 4: at Cincinnati, 3:25 p.m., CBS; 11: at Denver, 7:20 p.m., NBC (SNF); 18: at Houston, noon, CBS; 24: SEAHAWKS, noon, FOX

January — 1: BRONCOS, noon, CBS; 7/8: at Las Vegas Raiders, TBD.

Kansas City Royals rookie Bobby Witt Jr. connects for a two-run double in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
Kansas City Royals rookie Bobby Witt Jr. connects for a two-run double in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

Witt wins day in Arlington

Hometown kid-turned-MLB phenom returns home to Texas, helps struggling squad beat team for which he grew up rooting.

That would be cool enough for Witt, but there’s this, too: He did it on his dad’s birthday.

That’s right, Witt’s excellent evening — a two-run double and third RBI off a fielder’s choice — occurred on May 11, 2022, the 58th birthday of his pops, former big-league pitcher Bobby Witt. The elder Witt spent 11 seasons with the Rangers and the family still lives in Texas, so a lot of familiar faces witnessed Witt’s tour de force.

“It’s always great to be able to play with friends, family and a lot of people here in front of you and be able to live out my dream,” he said.

Sporting Kansas City forward Khiry Shelton (No. 11) is surrounded by teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal in extra time during a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against FC Dallas on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Sporting Kansas City forward Khiry Shelton (No. 11) is surrounded by teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal in extra time during a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against FC Dallas on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Big night for Sporting KC

Playing a midweek match against FC Dallas, Sporting KC beat the visitors 4-2 in extra time on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park.

It’s hyperbolic to say this was a must-win for Sporting — it wasn’t a league match, so it doesn’t help them in the MLS standings — but if any team needed a pick-me-up, it’s this one.

Tuesday’s home victory, on the heels of a pair of ties, was about regaining some momentum. It also advanced Sporting to the Round of 16 for this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. SKC newcomer Marinos Tzionis scored a game-tying header in the 98th minute and Khiry Shelton was the man in extra time, inducing a Dallas own-goal and scoring one of his own as the hosts rallied for a 4-2 decision.

KC forward Kristen Hamilton (No. 25) splits the Houston Dash defense during the Current’s NWSL home opener last Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
KC forward Kristen Hamilton (No. 25) splits the Houston Dash defense during the Current’s NWSL home opener last Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

KC Current drop 3rd straight

After a torrid run through the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Kansas City Current hit a winless stretch.

The latest setback, their third straight defeat, arrived in the form of last Sunday’s 2-0 home loss to the Houston Dash — a frustrating outcome for the Current in their league home opener at Children’s Mercy Park.

The Current entered this weekend’s match at the Orlando Pride with a 0-2-0 record in NWSL games ... but steadfastly undeterred.

“We know we are so good and we’re just waiting for it to click and get over that hump,” said Current midfielder and NWSL veteran Lo LaBonta, “because then I think we’re going to be very deadly.”