tk13
04-14-2005, 01:12 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/11387130.htm
Tough road ahead for KC
Some big games will be away from Arrowhead
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Pleasant memories of the 2004 season are few for the Chiefs and coach Dick Vermeil. They're desperately trying to look ahead to what they hope are better times.
Vermeil's first glance at this season's schedule, though, reminded him too much of last year.
It's just like last year's schedule, Vermeil said with some exasperation after the NFL released the schedule for the Chiefs and the other 31 teams on Wednesday. They're sending us on the road to play two big games at night where the biggest advantage goes to the opponent.
After beginning the season on Sept. 11 with a home game against the New York Jets, the Chiefs have a Sunday night game against the Raiders and newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss at Oakland, and then a Monday night game at Denver.
Their first two road games in what would become a disappointing 7-9 season last year were at night, in the opener on Sunday at Denver and on Monday at Baltimore. The Chiefs lost to the Broncos and beat the Ravens.
Playing on national television on the road may not be appealing to Vermeil, but the NFL apparently likes the Chiefs in that role.
The Chiefs have two more national TV appearances besides the Sept. 18 game at Oakland and the Sept. 26 game at Denver. The others are a Sunday night game on Nov. 20 at Houston and a 4 p.m. Saturday game on Dec. 17 against the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.
A fifth national TV appearance was possible, but the league passed on a chance to send the Chiefs to Dallas on Thanksgiving to play the Cowboys. The Broncos were sent on that mission instead, and the Chiefs will play the Cowboys on Dec. 11.
Meanwhile, all eight of the Chiefs' regular-season home games are on Sunday and seven will kick off at noon. The Dec. 4 game against Denver will start at 3:15 p.m. at Arrowhead.
But the home schedule features two holiday games a year after the Chiefs played a Christmas game at Arrowhead. The Chiefs were given home games on Christmas Eve (against the San Diego Chargers) and New Year's Day (against the Cincinnati Bengals).
The Chiefs have their bye on Oct. 9. The bye coincides with the NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway for the second straight year.
Competitively, the Chiefs' schedule could have been friendlier. After the arduous opening three-game stretch, the Chiefs play the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs and Vermeil need no reminders that their 2004 season was ruined in the opening weeks by a 1-4 start.
Then, in the middle of the 2005 season, the Chiefs have a stretch of four of five games on the road.
But if they can survive until then, the closing stretch should be accommodating for a playoff run. Four of the last six games including the final two will be played in the comfort of Arrowhead Stadium, where three times in the last 10 seasons the Chiefs went undefeated during the regular season.
All in all, it appears to be a challenging schedule. As Vermeil pointed out, there's an easy remedy for that one the Chiefs can control.
If we do what's required, he said, it doesn't matter who we play or when or where.
Tough road ahead for KC
Some big games will be away from Arrowhead
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Pleasant memories of the 2004 season are few for the Chiefs and coach Dick Vermeil. They're desperately trying to look ahead to what they hope are better times.
Vermeil's first glance at this season's schedule, though, reminded him too much of last year.
It's just like last year's schedule, Vermeil said with some exasperation after the NFL released the schedule for the Chiefs and the other 31 teams on Wednesday. They're sending us on the road to play two big games at night where the biggest advantage goes to the opponent.
After beginning the season on Sept. 11 with a home game against the New York Jets, the Chiefs have a Sunday night game against the Raiders and newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss at Oakland, and then a Monday night game at Denver.
Their first two road games in what would become a disappointing 7-9 season last year were at night, in the opener on Sunday at Denver and on Monday at Baltimore. The Chiefs lost to the Broncos and beat the Ravens.
Playing on national television on the road may not be appealing to Vermeil, but the NFL apparently likes the Chiefs in that role.
The Chiefs have two more national TV appearances besides the Sept. 18 game at Oakland and the Sept. 26 game at Denver. The others are a Sunday night game on Nov. 20 at Houston and a 4 p.m. Saturday game on Dec. 17 against the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.
A fifth national TV appearance was possible, but the league passed on a chance to send the Chiefs to Dallas on Thanksgiving to play the Cowboys. The Broncos were sent on that mission instead, and the Chiefs will play the Cowboys on Dec. 11.
Meanwhile, all eight of the Chiefs' regular-season home games are on Sunday and seven will kick off at noon. The Dec. 4 game against Denver will start at 3:15 p.m. at Arrowhead.
But the home schedule features two holiday games a year after the Chiefs played a Christmas game at Arrowhead. The Chiefs were given home games on Christmas Eve (against the San Diego Chargers) and New Year's Day (against the Cincinnati Bengals).
The Chiefs have their bye on Oct. 9. The bye coincides with the NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway for the second straight year.
Competitively, the Chiefs' schedule could have been friendlier. After the arduous opening three-game stretch, the Chiefs play the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs and Vermeil need no reminders that their 2004 season was ruined in the opening weeks by a 1-4 start.
Then, in the middle of the 2005 season, the Chiefs have a stretch of four of five games on the road.
But if they can survive until then, the closing stretch should be accommodating for a playoff run. Four of the last six games including the final two will be played in the comfort of Arrowhead Stadium, where three times in the last 10 seasons the Chiefs went undefeated during the regular season.
All in all, it appears to be a challenging schedule. As Vermeil pointed out, there's an easy remedy for that one the Chiefs can control.
If we do what's required, he said, it doesn't matter who we play or when or where.