in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri.
NFLBy Ken Fang on

When the NFL was in the midst of its rating doldrums in the first half of the 2016 season, it was the Dallas Cowboys which pulled the league out of them. So you would think that the Shield would schedule the Cowboys as much as possible in primetime (Sunday, Monday and Thursday) and they appear five times. However, it’s not the most appearances this season. Of all teams, the Kansas City Chiefs appear six times in primetime.

Now why is that? Well according to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, it’s because of the Chiefs’ fans. The commish paid a visit to the Chiefs’ annual fantasy camp and told the fans what they wanted to hear:

“I personally think it’s a great tribute to the national attractiveness of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Goodell said. “I’ll tell you, every network talks about broadcasting a game from [Arrowhead Stadium] because it’s such a great atmosphere. I can’t emphasize to you enough the importance of how that passion of the fans comes through the television screen. We’re a game where that passion is felt through the broadcast and people are like, “Wow, that sea of red … it’s just a great setting.”

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Now that’s a great politically correct answer and certainly Arrowhead Stadium is one of the best atmospheres in the league. But if one wants to get technical, only three of the Chiefs games will be broadcast from Arrowhead. However, the message has been sent to the other teams that if they want more primetime games, get the fans to show up and have them make some noise.

Here are Kansas City’s primetime games this season:

Thursday, September 7 — Kansas City at New England (NBC)
Monday, October 2 — Washington at Kansas City (ESPN)
Sunday, October 8 — Kansas City at Houston (NBC)
Thursday, October 19 — Kansas City at Oakland (CBS/NFL Network)
Monday, October 30 — Denver at Kansas City (ESPN)
Saturday, December 16 — San Diego at Kansas City (NFL Network)

While the Chiefs haven’t had the success of the Patriots, the league wants to showcase certain teams and markets and Kansas City is certainly being rewarded this season.

[Yahoo]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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