KC Sports Replay: Loss for Chiefs, win for Mizzou, developments in KU probe + hockey

Jeff Rosen
·4 min read
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It seems a bit odd to look all the way back to last Sunday for our lead to this week’s KC Replay, but that’s life in big-time pro football.

We’ll totally understand if you want to skip the parts about that Chiefs loss at Arrowhead Stadium. There wasn’t a lot of good to be taken from a 38-20 defeat that left the home team bruised and battered and bearers of a 2-3 record.

We will tell you this, if you’re a Chiefs fan and you’re still reading: One month of a season that season does not define. This team has Patrick Mahomes at the controls, is coached by one of the most beautiful minds to ever draw up NFL plays, and still has, as of today, 12 more regular-season games on the schedule.

There’s still a lot to like about the Kansas City Chiefs’ chances, in other words, even if their first five games (the opener excepted) have gone about as well as a dumpster fire at a lighter-fluid factory.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes leaves the field after last Sunday’s prime-time loss to the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes leaves the field after last Sunday’s prime-time loss to the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.

Ah yes, the Chiefs

Not so long ago, the Chiefs played so poorly, so consistently, that they fired their defensive coordinator. We’re not at that point right now, probably not even close, but these facts cannot be overlooked (we’ll get to the turnovers in a minute):

  • total defense: 437.4 yards per game allowed (ranks 31st in the NFL)

  • yards per play allowed: 7.1 (ranks 32nd)

  • points per game allowed: 32.6 (ranks 32nd)

  • sacks made, as a team: seven (ranks 32nd)

Those are some of the stats the Chiefs’ defense has compiled through five games. And then you’ve got turnovers: 11 in their last four games. Mahomes has accounted for five through interceptions.

OK, enough. The Chiefs played last Sunday night, the Chiefs lost last Sunday night. But just one more thing: Can we do away with the red-on-red uniform combo now?

The Missouri Tigers’ Tyler Badie outran a pack of Mean Green en route to a touchdown against North Texas last weekend in Columbia.
The Missouri Tigers’ Tyler Badie outran a pack of Mean Green en route to a touchdown against North Texas last weekend in Columbia.

Homecoming victory in CoMo

By the time you read this, Mizzou has lost to the ranked Texas A&M Aggies, at Faurot Field. But let’s set that aside and recall how the Tigers beat North Texas on Homecoming.

The 48-35 final score wasn’t as close as it sounds. When Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo returned a pick-6 in the fourth quarter, the Tigers led 41-14. The Mean Green rolled up some fairly ugly yardage (491), and yes, MU lost this weekend to the Aggies, but the Tigers had their homecoming game won by halftime.

The Jawhawk statue outside the KU student union building stands sentinel on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence.
The Jawhawk statue outside the KU student union building stands sentinel on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence.

Developments in Lawrence

Hard to talk about Mizzou without thinking about KU. Or maybe that’s just us. Anyway, the Jayhawks were in the news this past week, too. Our Jesse Newell reported that the Independent Accountability Review Process, through which KU’s NCAA infractions case is proceeding, is ongoing. This indicates we’re still probably months away from any sort of outcome in the case.

Also coming out of Lawrence this past week was news that a violation against former KU football coach David Beaty has been withdrawn, so he’s no longer part of this complicated and protracted process.

Kansas City community leaders posed for photos to celebrate a newly wrapped KC Streetcar promoting the city as an ideal host site for World Cup matches in 2026.
Kansas City community leaders posed for photos to celebrate a newly wrapped KC Streetcar promoting the city as an ideal host site for World Cup matches in 2026.

Beep, beep! ‘New’ streetcar

With FIFA soccer delegates due to visit KC this week as part of their evaluation of Kansas City’s ability to host World Cup games in 2026, bid officials here on Thursday unveiled a cool blue World Cup-themed streetcar.

The streetcar is but one small (if visceral) part of KC’s bid. Eighteen cities across the U.S. are vying to be among the final 11 in America that will serve as co-hosts for the month-long soccer extravaganza. Three other cities in Mexico and two in Canada will eventually complete the final, shared North American menu of host sites.

It’s expected that the final 11 in the U.S. will be unveiled sometime in early 2022.

The Kansas City Mavericks open their season on the road Friday, then return for their home opener at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence on Saturday.
The Kansas City Mavericks open their season on the road Friday, then return for their home opener at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence on Saturday.

Back in the saddle

The Kansas City Mavericks, the minor-league hockey affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames and AHL’s Stockton Heat, played a preseason tuneup Friday night against the Iowa Heartlanders at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.

The Mavs went 31-31 in 2020-21 and missed the Kelly Cup playoffs. Their road to redemption begins for real this coming Friday in Coralville, Iowa, against those same Heartlanders. Then, on Saturday, the Mavs return home to play their home opener, which also happens to be against, you guessed it, Iowa. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.