Next Play: KC sports scene rife with high stakes for Chiefs, Sporting, Mizzou, KU, KSU

Jeff Rosen
·4 min read
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The Chiefs have two more regular-season night games, as the 2021 NFL schedule is currently constituted, and the first arrives one week from today against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

But what happens in Vegas happens a week from now, so let’s first concern ourselves with the game at hand: today, Sunday, Nov. 7, at Arrowhead Stadium against the suddenly Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers.

Let’s also pause the Chiefs talk ever so briefly to mention some of the other happenings around the KC sports scene this coming week: a full slate of college sports, for starters, that includes both football and basketball games that count for Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State.

Not to mention a high-stakes Decision Day for our resident Major League Soccer club, Sporting Kansas City.

OK, back to the Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle looks for an opening after hauling in a Patrick Mahomes pass during the first half of Monday night’s game against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle looks for an opening after hauling in a Patrick Mahomes pass during the first half of Monday night’s game against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Jordan Love era

The Chiefs caught a break — and we pause here, too, to say we sincerely hope that Aaron Rodgers is recovering nicely from any COVID-19 symptoms he may be experiencing. But not having to face a Packers team quarterbacked by the reigning NFL MVP is a big deal for the Chiefs, who instead will be pressuring Jordan Love, a backup pressed into the starting role.

We don’t know all that much about Love, but rest assured that the Chiefs do by now. Newly signed edge rusher Melvin Ingram may or may not play Sunday, but the Chiefs will be coming after Love regardless of their defensive personnel. Not to get too analytical here, because that’s Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell’s job, but the Chiefs have an opportunity to make hay in a game that didn’t necessarily favor them when the week began.

It’s especially important to capitalize and beat the Packers because KC’s next game, and the one after that, won’t be any easier: at the Raiders one week from today in prime-time, then home against the Dallas Cowboys ahead of their bye week.

Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes, left, talked to a group of players that included Daniel Salloi during a preseason workout at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes, left, talked to a group of players that included Daniel Salloi during a preseason workout at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Decisions, decisions ... Decision Day!

Games against Real Salt Lake always seem to bring out the saltiness in Peter Vermes and his guys (of course, PV was also plenty salty after his team’s forehead-slapping loss at Austin FC Wednesday night, but that’s a whole ‘nother story).

Expect today’s 5 p.m. game to be a slugfest, if not in the literal sense than in terms of energy and emotion. Sporting KC enters this Decision Day regular-season finale needing a win and some help to secure the 1-seed (or at least a 2, instead of a disappointing 3) in the Western Conference’s alignment entering the soon-to-begin MLS playoffs.

Sporting KC is assured of hosting at least one playoff game by virtue of its locked-in top four finish in the West, but an opening-round bye would be that much sweeter ... and potentially critical as Vermes & Co. seek their first MLS Cup since 2013.

Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson leads the Wildcats into next Saturday’s game against West Virginia in Manhattan, Kan.
Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson leads the Wildcats into next Saturday’s game against West Virginia in Manhattan, Kan.

College football ...

The college football season is getting serious now for teams still hoping to secure bowl bids. And around here, that means K-State and possibly, maybe, Missouri.

The Wildcats play host to West Virginia Saturday, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. Mizzou plays South Carolina in Columbia (the Tigers’ Columbia, not the Gamecocks’ Columbia), while KU, well out of the bowl chase, plays at Texas.

KU coach Bill Self calls a play during the second half of Wednesday night’s exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
KU coach Bill Self calls a play during the second half of Wednesday night’s exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

... and college hoops

The Jayhawks’ first regular-season game of the 2021-22 season should be a good one: Bill Self’s KU team against Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans in a prime-time tipoff at 6 p.m. Central Time Tuesday from Madison Square Garden.

KU then returns to Lawrence to play Tarleton State of Texas on Friday at 7 p.m.

Mizzou’s season begins Thursday and continues next Sunday (Nov. 14) with games against Murray State (7 p.m. Thursday) and Morgan State (2 p.m. Sunday). K-State has one game this week — its non-conference opener Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Florida A&M at Bramlage Coliseum.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez is up for a handful of MLB awards this week. You can watch how he fares in the race for Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers and other honors on television most nights Sunday through Friday.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez is up for a handful of MLB awards this week. You can watch how he fares in the race for Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers and other honors on television most nights Sunday through Friday.

‘Tis the MLB awards season

This is a big week for MLB awards, and multiple Royals are in the thick of the races — no one more so than Salvador Perez. Here is the week-long lineup of events:

Today (Nov. 7): Gold Glove winners announced (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Monday: BBWAA Awards finalists (5 p.m., MLB Network)

Tuesday: Hank Aaron Awards (5 p.m., MLB Network)

Wednesday: All-MLB Team finalists (5 p.m., MLB Network), Reliever of the Year awards (6 p.m., MLB Network)

Thursday: Silver Slugger awards (5 p.m., MLB Network)

Friday: Platinum Gloves, team defensive awards, minor-league Gold Gloves (5 p.m., MLB Network)