Josh Kingsley
This was the perfect time for the Bye Week for the Kansas City Chiefs. Each NFL team gets one Bye Week during the season, and this year they started on week 6 and end week 14. The Bye Week exists because football is violent and people need time to heal. I consider teams like the San Francisco 49ers unlucky for having the Bye Week in week six (6), and can picture a world where a better placed week could prevent injuries like the one Deebo Samuel just sustained. A week off could prevent the groin strain that will keep him off the field against Seattle and Cincinnati. The 49ers are in the middle of a playoff push and could use their #1 WR, but the Chiefs ended up in a good spot: near the middle of the long season. The Bye Week placement was great for fans as well.
I Love Thanksgiving. It is my annual, no-question trip home to Hays in Western Kansas and an opportunity to see family and reconnect with friends. This year was no different. We were still a year (hopefully) early for the big gathering, but I saw both my sisters, my parents and many others. The drive out was a slightly less direct method that allowed for another friendly connection in South Dakota with some other wedding service friends. Plus, the weather was great, and I am talking 70 degrees on Friday great. Here are my favorite highlights.
In my mind there are few ways better to spend a nice day than a round of golf. I was able to hit a full round at the municipal course with my brother in law, and we followed that up with a burger at the local sports bar called The Golden Q. November golf is rare, and I was thankful for it.
My hometown of Hays, KS has done real work on downtown revitalization. This all started when I was going to college at Fort Hays State, and has continued through the work of many of my professors and classmates. A fine example is the Paisley Pear Wine Bra, Bistro and Market. This is a great spot in a corner shop on Main Street. I will add that it is a 5 second walk to a brewery tap room called Gella’s, a 2 minute walk to another called Defiance, and about 5 minutes from the Q… and now you know my food and drink recommendations if you are in town. Vinyl night.
The Paisley Pear is my mom’s coffee spot of choice as well. A couple months ago she set me up with a Friday night gig playing vinyl records. I have mentioned being a wedding DJ previously, so this is up my alley. My love for music is deep and broad, and I absolutely love vinyl. This was a great chance to raid my parent’s collection and do some needle dropping. Added bonus: Saturday was my dad’s birthday. He wouldn’t want a bigger deal made than a mention (and not sure he’d want this either, haha).
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The NFC side of the game slate was just plain fun. The Bucs — who were taken to the to the brink by Indy, who looks tougher every week — were eventually bolstered by RB Leonard Fournette’s Herculean effort, which sealed the win for them. The NFC West showed further wear with the Rams and Seahawks taking harsh losses. This lets the above mentioned 49ers back into the fold. If the post season started today the West would have 3 teams in the bracket. Week 13 sends the Cardinals to Chicago with the #1 seed on the line thanks to the Packers big win over the Rams. The 3 wild card spots will be a wild ride to end the season, and as of now the 7 belongs to WFT with a losing record. The AFC is a better conference, and the Chiefs need to stay focused and finish strong.
The Bye Week is always a relaxing week to watch football. It’s even better when things change for the positive for the Chiefs. The Broncos drew the AFC West even among the non-Chiefs teams by solidly beating the Chargers at home. This puts the Chiefs firmly in the driver’s seat with 4 division matchups and a game lead. The NFL recognized the gravity of the game, and flexed the Chiefs vs Broncos to Sunday Night Football. I expect a positive performance by the Chiefs, and a Bengals home win over the Chargers at noon will provide potential for a 2 game lead in the division. It will take a Raiders loss at home to WFT to solidify, and I expect that too.
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It was a great long weekend, but it did have its downsides. The first imperfection was Saturday’s news of the passing of Curley Culp. Culp was a key cog in the Chiefs Super Bowl IV win over the Vikings. He lined up at NT and gave Vikings Center, Mick Tingelhoff, fits, and helped solidify the 3-4 front as a legitimate scheme. Culp leaves a sterling football legacy as a 6-time Pro Bowler, 1975 Defensive Player of the Year, 2008 Chiefs Hall of Famer, and 2013 NFL Hall of Famer. He will be missed by the Chiefs and Chiefs Kingdom alike, including the Oilers/Titans, and NFL. I extend my personal sympathies to his wife, Collette and all his family.
F#$@-ing cancer!
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The second imperfection came courtesy of Sporting KC. It was lining up to be the perfect cap to the week:
My wife and I got up early Sunday morning to hit the road from Hays to Kansas City, and we met up with a college friend. We rolled into the Hollywood Casino just after noon, and grabbed the shuttle over to the Park. The atmosphere was electric as we strolled the supporters club and found our spots in the Cauldron.
The crowd wildly booed the Real Salt Lake players as they stepped on the pitch, and the whole building expected a win. Welcome to Blue Hell RSL. We chanted and sang about painting the wall and loving the club, and the guys took the lead on a Johnny Russell PK in the 24′. The mission was simple: keep pressing, get a second, stay tight on D, get out with a win in FT, and get ready to host a conference final. Halftime came, and everything was on schedule.
The second half lacked attack. I commented to my neighbors about RSL parking the bus in the first half. That terminology describes a team content to play for a draw as opposed to attacking for a win. By the end of the match RSL had 11 shots with 5 on goal to more than double SKC’s 5/2. RSL drew the game level at 72′ with the Julio header, and put the game away right as stoppage time started with Bobby Wood’s goal. Game over. Season over.
MLS ultimately ended the regular season with a great team — New England Revolution in the East — a handful of good ones — SKC, Seattle, Colorado, Portland in the West and Philly and Nashville in the East — and then a bunch of playoff teams within striking distance. This has led to compelling playoffs with upsets in the West, and the East going on seed script. My projection: Portland ends RSL’s run, but this is the New England Rev’s year.
UPDATE: the New England Revolution was beaten 5-3 by the New York City FC in a shootout last night, after finishing the game in a 2-2 tie.
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As promised I am holding firm on my projections made last week:
The week 12 slate of games upped the ante on pretty much all of these, but the Steelers game. That’s a bad team there. The rest have justifiable playoff ambitions. Buckle up y’all!! Let’s add a wrinkle.
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Josh Kingsley — ArrowheadOne
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